" I don't even look at mens. That's the truth. I look at women, tho, cause I'm not scared of them." (pg 5)
Explanation: This is what Celie wrote in one of her many letters to God. She was telling God that her Pa had beat her for 'winking at another man in church.' Celie tells God that she was not winking at any man and that if she did it was because she had something in her eye. She is saying she knows she wasn't winking at another man because she doesn't even look at men. She then goes on to say that she is not scared of women. This allows the reader to see that she is afraid of men because she has been poorly treated by the men in her life. This is a very important sentenceas meant to show the plight of women.
"Well, next time you come you can look at her. She ugly. Don't even look like she kin to Nettie. But she'll make the better wife. She aint smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own. But she can [[#|work]] like a man." (pg. 8)
Explanation: This is stated by Pa. He does not want Mr. _ to take Nettie away from him because Nettie is still young and is prettier than Celie. He would rather Mr. _ take Celie because she is ugly and means nothing to him. He tells Mr. _ that she will make a better wife because she works like a man and Nettie does not. He is only lying because he wants to keep Nettie and does not care about Celie. This quote shows how controlling Pa is.
"I don't say nothing. I think bout Nettie, dead. She fight, she run away. What good it do? I don't fight, I stay where I'm told. But I'm alive." (pg. 22)hi
Explanation: This quote also shows the plight of women. Celie allows the men in her life to abuse her both sexually and physically. She never fights back and she never tries to get away from it, she just takes it as it comes. On the other hand, her sister, Nettie, will not allow any man to abuse her. Nettie knows that she should have respect and she will do whatever she has to, to be sure she has it.
"Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. _ say, Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn. All women good for--he don't finish." (pg. 22)
Explanation: This quote allows the reader to see that the men at this time found it was common to beat their wives, like it was what they deserved. His immediate response to why he beats her is that she is his wife. It is though Mr. _feels that just because she is his wife he has permission to beat her, like she is his property. It is like he believes she is nothing compared to him because she is female. This also presents the plight of women.
"Harpo say, I love you, Squeak. He kneel down and try to put his arms round her waist. She stand up. My name Mary Agnes, she say." (pg. 97)
Explanation: This quote is taken from Celie’s forty-first letter. Squeak makes an important act of resistance when she decides to put an end to the nickname Harpo has given her. By renaming herself, Mary Agnes, she is able to resist the controlling words and symbols Harpo has imposed upon her. Alice Walker repeatedly stresses the importance of language and storytelling as a way of controlling situations and as the first steps toward liberation. Mary Agnes renames herself to show her refusal to let the man in her life gain control over her.
"The boys now accept Olivia and Tashi in class and more mothers are sending their daughters to school. The men do not like it: who wants a wife who knows everything her husband knows? they fume. But the women have their ways, and they love their children, even their girls." (pg. 172)
Explanation: The quote is portraying the discrimination issues with education. Nettie wrote this to Celie in her letter. Girls were not supposed to go to school and become educated. The boys were the only ones attending school at the time. The women were bossed around by their husbands. The husbands took control and held the power in the home. The men felt offended when the females knew as much as they did.
"Yeah, I say, and he gave me a lynched daddy, a crazy mama, a low down dog of a step pa and a sister I probably won't ever see again. Anyhow, I say, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling, forgetful and lowdown." (pg. 193)
Explanation: This particular quote is expressed by Celie. The quote presents the sorrow that she is dealing with. First of all, Celie did not even know that she had a true-blooded father besides pa. She thought that pa was her true father. Celie never remembers her biological father. Celie's mama was crazy and died because of an illness. Celie's step pa raped and abused her. In addition, Celie does not know if she will ever see her sister, Nettie, ever again. At this time, Celie did not know where her sister was and if she was okay physically and emotionally.
"Well, us talk and talk about God, but I’m still adrift. Trying to chase that old white man out of my head. I been so busy thinking bout him I never truly notice nothing God make. Not a blade of corn (how it do that?) not the color purple (where it come from?)." (pg. 198)
Explanation: This quote is taken from the seventy-third letter in the novel. Celie feels that God is a white man who has nothing in common with her. Shug suggests that instead of being mad at God for his injustice, Celie should imagine God as a figure or image that she can connect to. Shug yhhyg urges Celie to feel and see the presence of God in everyone and everything.
- " I don't even look at mens. That's the truth. I look at women, tho, cause I'm not scared of them." (pg 5)
Explanation: This is what Celie wrote in one of her many letters to God. She was telling God that her Pa had beat her for 'winking at another man in church.' Celie tells God that she was not winking at any man and that if she did it was because she had something in her eye. She is saying she knows she wasn't winking at another man because she doesn't even look at men. She then goes on to say that she is not scared of women. This allows the reader to see that she is afraid of men because she has been poorly treated by the men in her life. This is a very important sentenceas meant to show the plight of women.- "Well, next time you come you can look at her. She ugly. Don't even look like she kin to Nettie. But she'll make the better wife. She aint smart either, and I'll just be fair, you have to watch her or she'll give away everything you own. But she can [[#|work]] like a man." (pg. 8)
Explanation: This is stated by Pa. He does not want Mr. _ to take Nettie away from him because Nettie is still young and is prettier than Celie. He would rather Mr. _ take Celie because she is ugly and means nothing to him. He tells Mr. _ that she will make a better wife because she works like a man and Nettie does not. He is only lying because he wants to keep Nettie and does not care about Celie. This quote shows how controlling Pa is.- "I don't say nothing. I think bout Nettie, dead. She fight, she run away. What good it do? I don't fight, I stay where I'm told. But I'm alive." (pg. 22)hi
Explanation: This quote also shows the plight of women. Celie allows the men in her life to abuse her both sexually and physically. She never fights back and she never tries to get away from it, she just takes it as it comes. On the other hand, her sister, Nettie, will not allow any man to abuse her. Nettie knows that she should have respect and she will do whatever she has to, to be sure she has it.- "Harpo ast his daddy why he beat me. Mr. _ say, Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn. All women good for--he don't finish." (pg. 22)
Explanation: This quote allows the reader to see that the men at this time found it was common to beat their wives, like it was what they deserved. His immediate response to why he beats her is that she is his wife. It is though Mr. _feels that just because she is his wife he has permission to beat her, like she is his property. It is like he believes she is nothing compared to him because she is female. This also presents the plight of women.- "Harpo say, I love you, Squeak. He kneel down and try to put his arms round her waist. She stand up. My name Mary Agnes, she say." (pg. 97)
Explanation: This quote is taken from Celie’s forty-first letter. Squeak makes an important act of resistance when she decides to put an end to the nickname Harpo has given her. By renaming herself, Mary Agnes, she is able to resist the controlling words and symbols Harpo has imposed upon her. Alice Walker repeatedly stresses the importance of language and storytelling as a way of controlling situations and as the first steps toward liberation. Mary Agnes renames herself to show her refusal to let the man in her life gain control over her.- "The boys now accept Olivia and Tashi in class and more mothers are sending their daughters to school. The men do not like it: who wants a wife who knows everything her husband knows? they fume. But the women have their ways, and they love their children, even their girls." (pg. 172)
Explanation: The quote is portraying the discrimination issues with education. Nettie wrote this to Celie in her letter. Girls were not supposed to go to school and become educated. The boys were the only ones attending school at the time. The women were bossed around by their husbands. The husbands took control and held the power in the home. The men felt offended when the females knew as much as they did.- "Yeah, I say, and he gave me a lynched daddy, a crazy mama, a low down dog of a step pa and a sister I probably won't ever see again. Anyhow, I say, the God I been praying and writing to is a man. And act just like all the other mens I know. Trifling, forgetful and lowdown." (pg. 193)
Explanation: This particular quote is expressed by Celie. The quote presents the sorrow that she is dealing with. First of all, Celie did not even know that she had a true-blooded father besides pa. She thought that pa was her true father. Celie never remembers her biological father. Celie's mama was crazy and died because of an illness. Celie's step pa raped and abused her. In addition, Celie does not know if she will ever see her sister, Nettie, ever again. At this time, Celie did not know where her sister was and if she was okay physically and emotionally.- "Well, us talk and talk about God, but I’m still adrift. Trying to chase that old white man out of my head. I been so busy thinking bout him I never truly notice nothing God make. Not a blade of corn (how it do that?) not the color purple (where it come from?)." (pg. 198)
Explanation: This quote is taken from the seventy-third letter in the novel. Celie feels that God is a white man who has nothing in common with her. Shug suggests that instead of being mad at God for his injustice, Celie should imagine God as a figure or image that she can connect to. Shug yhhygurges Celie to feel and see the presence of God in everyone and everything.