Woman''s Problems And The Struggles Against Man Domination As Reflected In The Color Purple

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WOMAN'S PROBLEMS AND THE STRUGGLES AGAINST MAN DOMINATION AS REFLECTED IN THE COLOR PURPLE

A THESIS

ZEN ELVIA BR BANGUN REG. NO. 110705047

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA MEDAN 2015

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WOMAN'S PROBLEMS AND THE STRUGGLES AGAINST MAN DOMINATION AS REFLECTED IN THE COLOR PURPLE

A THESIS

ZEN ELVIA BR BANGUN REG. NO. 110705047

SUPERVISOR CO-SUPERVISOR

Dra. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum. Drs. Parlindungan Purba, M.Hum. NIP. 195707201983032001 NIP. 196302161989031003

Submitted to Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara Medan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from Department of English

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA

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MEDAN 2015

Approved by the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara (USU) Medan as thesis for The Sarjana Sastra Examination.

Head, Secretary,

Drs. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS. Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. NIP. 19541117 198003 1 002 NIP. 19750209 200812 1 002

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Accepted by the Board of Examiners in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Sarjana Sastra from the Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara,Medan.

The examination is held in Department of English Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara on Monday JULY 13, 2015

Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies University of Sumatera Utara

Dr. Drs. H.Syahron Lubis, MA NIP.19511013 197603 1 001

Board of Examiners

Drs. H. Muhizar Muchtar, MS. ………... Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A., Ph.D. ………... Dra. Siti Norma Nasution, M.Hum. ……... Dra. Martha Pardede, M.S. ...

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AUTHOR’S DECLARATION

I, ZEN ELVIA BR BANGUN DECLARE THAT I AM THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS THESIS EXCEPT WHERE REFERENCE IS MADE IN THE TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS CONTAINS NO MATERIAL PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE OR EXTRACTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM A THESIS BY WHICH I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR OR AWARDED ANOTHER DEGREE. NO OTHER PERSON’S WORK HAS BEEN USED WITHOUT DUE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS IN THE MAIN TEXT OF THIS THESIS. THIS THESIS HAS NOT BEEN SUBMITTED THE AWARD OF ANOTHER DEGREE IN ANY TERTIARY EDUCATION.

Signed :

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COPYRIGHT DECLARATION

NAME : ZEN ELVIA BR BANGUN

TITLE OF THESIS :WOMAN'S PROBLEMS AND THE

STRUGGLES AGAINST MAN DOMINATION AS REFLECTED IN THE COLOR PURPLE QUALIFICATION : S-1/SARJANA SASTRA

DEPARTMENT : ENGLISH

I AM WILLING THAT MY THESIS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LIBRARIAN OF DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, FACULTY OF CULTURAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SUMATERA UTARA ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT USERS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR OBLIGATION UNDER THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First of all, the writer want to thank to the Almighty God for giving the health, the strength, and the ability to the writer to finish this thesis and for every bless and every answered prayer.

Secondly, the writer want to thank to the Chief of English Department, H. Muhizar Muchtar, M.S, and the secretary of English Department, Rahmadsyah Rangkuti, M.A. Ph.D who have given the writer an opportunity and support to make and to finish this thesis. The writer is also very thankful to her great supervisor, ... and her co-supervisor ... for their help, guidance, understanding, contribution, and all of the advice and the motivation that have been given to the writer to improve this thesis until she can finish the thesis properly. and then the writer want to thank to Mrs. Tika as the administrator staff of English Department for all of her help and contribution in finishing the administration matters.

Especially, the writer want to deliver a big thanks and a big appreciation to her beloved parents; Mr. John Bangun and Mrs. Tarianna Sembiring and her brothers and sister; Robert Bangun, Ardo Rado Bangun, and Sofia Bangun. Thank you so much for everything Dad, Mom, Brothers and Sister, for all your unconditional love, pray, moral support, and material support in writer's life and in finishing this thesis.

Special thanks to the writer's lover, Muhammad Jarot Prayitno, S.S. The one who is always be in writer's side from the beginning to the end of the process of writing of this thesis to help, to support, to motivate, to accompany, and to give some inspiration to the writer. Thank you so much for all that you have done and you have shared in this moment and for the love that you have given in writer's life.

Then, the writer do not forget to thank to her friends, 011 batch, especially to Shinta Dwiliana Hutabarat, Verina Afra Zahirah and Dedhad Nughraha Manurung. Thank you for your support in completing and finishing this thesis, and thank you so much for every moments and laugh that we have shared in these four years, Guys.

Finally, the writer realize there are still many weakness in this thesis. However, the writer hopes this thesis can give some contributions to the others. The

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writer very welcome if there are critics from the reader that is sent to her to make her to be better in writing in the future.

Medan, JULY 13, 2015 The Writer

Zen Elvia Br Bangun REG. No. 110705047

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ABSTRAK

Woman's Problems and the Struggle Against Man Domination as Reflected in The Color Purple adalah sebuah skripsi yang membahas tentang kehidupan seorang wanita yang bernama Celie yang mana juga merupakan tokoh utama dalam novel tersebut. Dalam skripsi ini dibahas mengenai apa saja yang menjadi masalah Celie selama hidupnya, menjadi seorang anak yang sejak kecil dibawah tekanan dominasi laki-laki dan bagaimana perjuangan Celie menghadapi masalahnya dan bagaimana pula peran wanita-wanita disekitarnya dalam membantu dan mendukungnya untuk berjuang melawan dominasi laki-laki sampai akhirnya Celie berhasil menjadi seorang wanita yang memiliki emansipasi dan mendapatkan kebebasannya. Adapun metode yang digunakan dalam menganalisis skripsi ini adalah metode kualitatif yang mana metode ini menggambarkan dan menganalisis data dari novel dan kemudian memberikan beberapa interpretasi dan penjelasan. Dari hasil analisis, penulis memperoleh kesimpulan bahwa pria dan wanita seharusnya memiliki kedudukan yang sama agar tidak ada lagi para wanita yang tertindas di bawah tekanan dominasi laki laki.

Kata kunci : Woman's Problems, Celie's Problem, Man Domination, Woman's Struggle, Celie in the Color Purple

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ABSTRACT

Woman's Problems and the Struggle Against Man Domination as Reflected in The Color Purple is a thesis that discusses the life of a woman named Celie which is also the main character in the novel. What Celie problem during her lifetime, being a child who since childhood under the pressure of male domination and how Celie struggles to face her problems and how the role of women around her to help and to support her to struggle against man domination until she finally successes to become emancipated woman and gets her freedom . The method used in analyzing this thesis is a qualitative method which this method describes and analyzes the data from the novel and then give some interpretations and explanations. From the analysis, the author takes the conclusion that men and women should have the same position so that no more women are under pressure of male domination.

Keywords : Woman's Problems, Celie's Problem, Man Domination, Woman's Struggle, Celie in the Color Purple

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TABLE OF CONTENT

SUPERVISOR'S APPROVAL SHEET...

DEPARTMENT APPROVAL SHEET...

BOARD EXAMINERS' APPROVAL...

AUTHOR'S DECLARATION ...

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...

ABSTRAK ...

ABSTRACT ...

TABLE OF CONTENT ...

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ... 1

1.2 Problem of the Study ... 8

1.3 Objective of the Study ... 8

1.4 The Scope of the Study ... 8

1.5 Significance of the Study ... 8

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ... 10

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2.2 First-Wave Feminism ... 13

2.3 Second-Wave Feminism ... 14

2.4 Third-Wave Feminism ... 14

2.5 The History of Feminism Theory ... 15

2.6 Theory of Feminism ... 17

2.7 Types of Feminism ... 19

2.7.1 Liberal Feminism ... 20

2.7.2 Radical Feminism ... 20

2.7.3 Socialist and Marxist Feminism ... 21

2.8 Woman's Problems as Reflected in Celie ... 21

2.9 Hermeneutics Theory ... 23

CHAPTER III METHOD OF RESEARCH ... 25

3.1 Research Design ... 25

3.2 Data Collection ... 26

3.3 Method of Data Analysis ... 26

CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS ... 28

4.1 Celie's Problems ... 28

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4.1.2 Celie's Physical Abuse ... 31

4.1.3 Celie's Psychological Abuse ... 33

4.1.4 Lack of Education ... 35

4.2 Sisterhood and It's Role in Celie’s Struggle Toward Man Domination... 37

4.3 Celie's Struggle ... 44

4.3.1 Education ... 44

4.3.2 Celie's Struggle for Her Physical and Economic Freedom ... 45

4.3.3 Celie's Struggle for Her Spiritual Freedom ... 47

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ... 50

5.1 Conclusion ... 50

5.2 Suggestion ... 51

REFERENCES ... 52

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ABSTRAK

Kata kunci : Woman's Problems, Celie's Problem, Man Domination, Woman's Struggle, Celie in the Color Purple

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ABSTRACT

Keywords : Woman's Problems, Celie's Problem, Man Domination, Woman's Struggle, Celie in the Color Purple

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Writing with the purpose of changing people‘s pessimistic views about women of achieving gender equalities and denouncing the injustices inflicted to women became the main goal for feminist writers and activists. They aimed at creating a world, at least in literature, where women would be able to live as individuals. Women often depicted as the inferior gender, a passive object that could not survive on its own and that could do nothing for itself. Women, in literature, could only exist through the eyes, minds and lives of men but never for themselves. Beautiful and obedient, they could never think on their own. They were obliged to occupy a secondary place in the male's world not because of their capacities but rather because of imposed cultural and social forces. This representation led to deny women's dignity and even worse their identity.

The history of patriarchy reveals a variety of injustices women suffered from. They represented, in a way, the oppressed class that had always been subject to men‘s domination through male self-interest and had been prevented from full development as human beings. Sexism, under patriarchy, was the norm that ruled gender relationships for men were in control of everything.

According to Simone de Beauvoir, in The Second Sex (1949) Women have been made inferiors and the oppression has been compounded by men's belief that women are inferiors by nature. Viewed from the religious side, humans believe that the woman was created from one of the rib of man, it is one which makes the

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assumption that a woman is under a man. Men are culturally different from women. Physically, men are strong while women are weak. Men’s nature is rude and women’s is gentle. Men’s idea is always authoritative and women’s is dependent. Men are always active and become determiner while women are only passive and become receiver. There are many more things that can show the women are in the secondary place. like a woman should stay at home to cook, look after the children and serve her man, and then a woman should keep in silence when a man speaking. These issues finally cause women to start questioning this kind of gender inequality and struggling to fight against the superiority of men, called Feminism.

Feminism is a phenomenon in the society. In discussing feminism, people will talk about women. Feminism is a kind of social changing which derives from women’s suffrage movements in the nineteenth century in Europe and America. It is closely related to the social changing of gender issues. Mary Wollstonecraft, the first feminist who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), encourages woman writers to insert feminism in their literary works. Finally, feminism has been widely spreading.

The term feminism can also be used to describe a political, cultural, or economic movement that is aimed at establishing equal rights and legal protection for women. Feminism involves political, cultural and sociological theories, as well as philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. It is also a movement that campaigns for women’s rights and interests.

Feminism is defined by different feminist. They define feminism according their own point of view. As they think differently so their definition too is different

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from others. But all the definition is almost same in the main point. Here the writer is going to put some definition of the most popular feminist in the world.

• Estelle B. Freedman (2003:285) said in his book ‘No Turning Back’: “Feminism is a belief that women and men are inherently of equal worth. Because most societies privilege men as a group, social movements are necessary to achieve equality between woman and man.”

• Rosalind Delmar (1986:13) said in her book ‘What is feminism’ that :“Feminism is usually defined as an active desire to change women’s position in society.”

• Christina Hoff Sommers (1994: 22) said, in the book ‘Who Stole Feminism’ that : “a concern for women and a determination to see them fairly treated” • Ratna (2004:184): "Dalam pengertian yang paling luas, feminisme adalah

gerakan kaum wanita untuk menolak segala sesuatu yang dimarginalisasikan, disubordinasikan, dan direndahkan oleh kebudayaan dominan, baik dalam bidang politik dan ekonomi maupun kehidupan social pada umumnya." (In its broadest sense, feminism is a women’s movement which rejects the marginal, subordinated and underestimated things by the dominating culture either in politics, economics or social life in general). • Awuy (2002:1) in his essay Feminisme di Persimpangan Jalan states:

"Feminisme merupakan sebuah fenomena kultural. alasan kemunculannya ialah berdasarkan ketidakpuasan terhadap realitas yang dianggap sebagai konstruksi patriarkal". (Feminism is a cultural phenomenon of unsatisfactory to the reality of patriarchal construction).

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Feminism has finally changed traditional perspectives in a wide range of area in human’s life. Many feminist activists have campaigned for women’s legal rights such as rights of contract, property rights, and voting rights. Nowadays they are also promoting women’s rights to bodily integrity and autonomy, abortion rights, and reproductive rights. They have struggled to protect women and girls from domestic violence, sexual harassment, and rape. On economic scopes, feminists have advocated for workplace rights, including maternity leave and equal pay. In addition to that, they also fight against other forms of gender specific discrimination against women.

The reason of why feminism exists is because the patriarchal construction has subordinated and repressed the essence of women during the last decades. In a patriarchal society, men have the power, dominate social or cultural systems, and have authority over women and children. Men’s superiority, which is also supported by the culture, finally creates significant injustice as portrayed in Alice Walker's novel 'The Color Purple' which become one of the problems of the study that will be discussed in this thesis.

Alice Walker an American author and activist who excelled in literature often emphasize in her works the importance of regaining feminine entity, self-esteem, fulfilling self-realization and achieving sexual awareness. The concern of black women, the impact of racism and sexism as well as their impact on black women were the main themes of these black writers. In their fiction, the female characters are able to change, to progress and excel in all aspects of life. (en.m.wikipedia.org)

Alice Walker aims to portray the experiences of black women in her novels. “…deepen our understanding of the limitations and possibilities of lives of black

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Americans…” (Bell, 1987: 269). She is African-American writers. “This is evident in the way that Walker has passed on some of Southern heritage in her fiction” (Lauret, 2000: 96).

Alice Walker‘s epistolary novel, " The Color Purple is one of the best literary works that clearly illustrate the sufferings of African-American women from patriarchy, sexism and racism. Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. The Color Purple is the story of Celie, a poor, barely literate Southern black woman who struggles to escape the brutality and degradation of her treatment by men” (Gates, Jr-Appiah, 1993: 16). Walker’s novel The Color Purple published in 1982 begins with the scene of rape. When the protagonist of the novel, “…Celie is 14…stepfather, whom she believes is her father, begins to rape her…” (Walker, 1996: 50) She cannot tell this trauma to anybody. At first, her stepfather starts to do this when her mother is not at home. Then he says “…you better shut up and git used to it” (Walker, 1985: 3). Celie’s expressions show how difficult position she stays. “But I don’t never git used to it. And now I feell sick used to it. I be the one to cook. My mama she fuss at me an look at me. She happy, cause he good to her now. But too sick to last long” (Walker, 1985: 3).

The rape scene of the novel “…is based on Walker’s great-great-grandmother, who was raped and impregnated at age 11 by her master Walker’s great-great-grandfather” (Winchell, 1992: 85). As seen, this abuse is related to a real event and it is written by the writer to demonstrate what a black female live. This event reveals “…the portrayal of black family…” (86) The writer suggests that “…child-rape, incest…” (Birch, 1994: 222) is an undeniable fact of most blacks’ lives.

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The reason of significance of the Celie’s rape scene is that there is not a race issue. Celie is black and her stepfather is black, as well. This incident displays that being a member of a black family is dangerous for a female. These facts are the representatives of a black female’s life. Celie is demonstrated “…the black woman as oppressed …”(Evans, 1984: 163)

The Color Purple does not only describe but even goes beyond that purpose. In fact, Alice Walker‘s true intention from writing this novel is not only to give voice to black women but also to provide them with a path to be followed in getting their freedom. Walker shows us the evolution of her major character, Celie, from being a sexually abused child to a passive wife and finally to an emancipated woman. Emancipation is any of various effort to procure economic and social right, political right or equality, often for a specifically disenfranchised group, or more generally in discussion of such matters. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/emancipation

In The Color Purple, the sense of hope even in despair is one of the most characteristics that impress the reader. Although Celie, the main character, suffers deeply from the effects of sexism and racism, she does not give up and even ends triumphant and victorious. Celie, a black, poor and uneducated woman is able to free herself from the evils of patriarchy, so the question to be raised is how is that possible? What is the path that Celie follows in order to struggle against man domination? Celie, at the end of the novel, becomes a totally independent woman; she frees herself spiritually, physically and economically. A sisterhood relationship with her sister Nettie, Stepdaughter Sofia and close friend Shug Avery are some of the key elements in Celie's freedom. "Feminist movement must align under a common banner, that "sisterhood" will strengthen and increase feminist exposure"

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(Hooks 1984:44) Celie's relationship with these women helps Celie to achieve spiritual freedom and gain economic freedom. The Color Purple may be fiction, but it would be a very powerful and wonderful way to teach moral development as we see the main character Celie.

The analysis underlying this paper assumes that Celie, the protagonist, is able to free herself through writing letters and with the help of women around. Thus, close attention is given to sisterhood, this magic and strong female relationship that gives Celie physical, spiritual and mental strength in order to get rid of males' oppression. Her sister Nettie, her stepdaughter Sofia and her close friend Shug are of great help and support in her emancipation. In addition, the central character, Celie, expresses herself through writing letters. Pouring her sufferings down into a paper is a therapy that enables her to survive and even to liberate herself.

What motivated this work is a personal interest in women‘s struggle for emancipation. The author want to represent that all of women in this world should be able to achieve gender equalities and denouncing the injustices inflicted to women and no longer be the oppressed creatures that is a passive object that could not survive on their own and that could do nothing for themself. Nowadays, Men and Women have had the same right. Women have no longer occupy the secondary place but they have been equal to men in society. As a female, I appreciate authors such as Alice Walker who are concerned with women‘s problems and sufferings. In this novel, a woman is able to free herself and change radically and that really fascinates me. Moreover, Alice Walker‘s novel is an example of hope as it provides the reader with a sense of optimism that the reader can experience when reading the novel.

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More importantly, the novel offers a model of inspiration for women‘s struggle against man domination.

1.2 Problem of the Study

In this analysis, there are questions that need to be answered : 1. How are Celie's problems portrayed in the novel "The Color Purple" ? 2. How are Celie's struggle for her freedom from man's domination ? 1.3 Objective of The Study

Based on the problem of the study above, the objective of the study are : 1. To identify the problems that cause Celie suffer deeply

2. To describe celie's struggle for her freedom from man's domination 1.4 The Scope of The Study

As limitation of further analysis in this thesis, scoping the main cause of the problem will be needed to prevent wider analysis in the thesis. The scope of the study is only focused to the main character problems that consist of sexual abuse, physical abuse, Psychological abuse, uneducated and the struggle of achieving her freedom without the description about any other character of the novel.

1.5 Significance of The Study

The significance of the study is the writer want to represent that all of women in this world should be able to achieve gender equalities and denouncing the injustices inflicted to women and no longer be the oppressed creatures that is a

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passive object that could not survive on its own and that could do nothing for itself. Nowadays, Men and Women have had the same right. Women have no longer occupy the secondary place but they have been equal to men in society.

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CHAPTER II

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Background of Feminism

Human civilization is made by and for both the man and woman. They both live here in a coordinated social system. Both the species have their own right and needs to live with modest admiration. But the history of human society does not tell us the equivalent existence of both man and woman. Man always dominate on women and women had no way to complaint against it. But in time gradually a change come into women’s brains and they understood that they need to be conscious about their own right. So women move up their voice against women oppression. To do so they had no way but to take some practical actions. All these actions are known as women’s movement against oppression. And the scheme to achieve the goal is called feminism.

Women’s position was changed in various times in the history. Their position did not flow in the same current at all the time. Today oppressed, suffered, violated, ignored. Dominated and so on negative terms are often used to describe women’s position in society. But if we look back to our history, we will get an elegant and striking story of women when women played as significant role as played by men now. And at time we have to confess that women did not give any pressure on men and men live a fair and free life like now they do. Probably this kindness let the men to alter the ruling system and to take over the power from women and turn the free and lively women into their subject. Men put their own made system in such a

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way that it seems the women are by nature and from the beginning of the history were in this oppressed and subjugated position.

French philosopher “Rousseau” in his book Social Contract (Book I : Chapter II )said “Man is born free, but everywhere they are in chains” This comment is completely true for women in society. By nature women born free, but continue their life as a subject of men in society.

How the free and lively women turn into men’s subject, how their relation to men positioned against nature, how women become inferior to men is some unanswered questions in society which have no clear and dependable evidence. In almost all the civilizations women gradually lost their power and men took the power. Men turned all in one in the society. Men did it by a special social system known as patriarchy.

Patriarchy is such a type of society where male control of the public and private worlds and everything done according his will. Patriarchy is the structuring of society on the basis of welfare of the family and have the authority of his family. The concept of patriarchy is often used by extension (i the expectation that

The word patriarchy comes from twpatēr (father) and archē (rule). In Greek, thepatēr is patr-os, which shows the Greek word archē is actually "beginning" (hence

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first words ofEn archē ("In the beginning"). However, archē is also use things.

Different scholars defines Patriarchy from their own point of view. Allan G. Johnson said in his ‘The Gender knot’ (1997, 2005: 14) that - “Patriarchy is an obsession with control as a core value around which social life is organized. As with any system of privilege that elevates one group by oppressing another, control is an essential element of patriarchy: men maintain their privilege by controlling women and anyone else who might threaten it.” Elizabeth Cady station said in her ‘The Women’s Bible’ (1895) that - “Women was made after man, of man and, for man, an inferior being, subject to man.” Sylvia Walby said in her ‘Theorizing Patriarchy’ (1990 : 19) that -“A system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women.”

Patriarchy create such a social environment where all manly behavior e.g. – assertiveness, aggressiveness, hardiness, rationality or ability to think analytically and abstractly, ability to control emotion, high ambition, independence are considered as positive for social development, beneficial and control. On the other hand all feminine traits e.g. – gently, modesty, humanity, sportiness, sympathy, compassionateness, tenderness, naturalness, sensitivity, intuitiveness, emotionality, dependence are considered as negative, faulty and against social development, control and stability. Developing a gender difference in society and putting men in higher position than women patriarchy established a false concept that, men should be the leader in society and women should stay under men’s subjugation, this system

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is good for society as its definitely defined by nature and the natural relationship between men and women.

2.2

First-wave feminism refers to a period of "first-wave," was coined retrospectively after the term to be used to describe a newer feminist movement that focused as much on fighting social and cultural inequalities as further political inequalities. In Suffragettes campaigned for the women's vote, which was eventually granted − to some women in 1918 and to all in 1928 − as much because of the part played by British women during the the championing women's right to vote. Other important leaders include range of women, some belonging to conservative Christian groups (such as diversity and radicalism of much of Anthony, which Stanton was president). In the to have ended with the passage of the

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2.3

Second-wave feminism refers to a period of early 1960s & lasting through the late 1980s. Second Wave Feminism has existed continuously since then, and continues to coexist with what some people call Third Wave Feminism. The second wave feminism saw cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked. The movement encouraged women to understand aspects of their own personal lives as deeply politicized, and reflective of a power. If first-wave feminism focused upon absolute rights such as suffrage, second-wave feminism was largely concerned with other issues of equality, such as the end to discrimination.

The Third-wave of feminism began in the early 1990s. The movement arose as responses to perceived failures of the second-wave. It was also a response to the backlash against initiatives and movements created by the second-wave. Third-wave feminism seeks to challenge or avoid what it deems the second wave's definitions of experiences of upper middle class white women. A of gender and sexuality is central too much of the third wave's ideology. Third wave feminists often focus on "micro-politics," and challenged the second wave's paradigm as to what is, or is not, good for females. In 1991, Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas, an African-American man nominated to the Supreme Court, of sexual harassment that had allegedly occurred a decade earlier while Hill worked as his assistant at the U.S. Department of Education. Thomas denied the accusations and after extensive debate, the Senate voted 52-48 in favor of Thomas. In response to

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this case, Rebecca Walker published an article in a 1992 issue of Ms. titled "Becoming the Third Wave" in which she stated, "I am not a post-feminism feminist. I am the third wave." Hill and Thomas’ case brought attention to the ongoing presence of sexual harassment in the workplace and reinstated a sense of concern and awareness in many people who assumed that sexual harassment and other second wave issues had been resolved. The history of Third Wave feminism predates this and begins in the mid 1980s. Feminist leaders rooted in the second wave like voice. They sought to negotiate prominent space within feminist thought for consideration of race related subjectivities. This focus on the intersection between race and gender remained prominent through the Hill-Thomas hearings, but began to shift with the Freedom Ride 1992. This drive to register voters in poor minority communities was surrounded with rhetoric that focused on rallying young feminists. For many, the rallying of the young is the emphasis that has stuck within third wave feminism.

2.5 The History of Feminist Theory

A feminist is to advocate or to support the right and equality of women. Hooks, Bell. (2000). Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. Pluto Press. Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical or philosophical fields. It encompasses work in a variety of disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, economics, women's studies, literary criticism, art history, psychoanalysis and philosophy. Feminist theory aims to understand gender inequality and focuses on gender politics, power relations, women's rights and sexuality.

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The history of differed in causes, goals, and intentions depending on time, culture, and country, most Western feminist historians assert that all movements that work to obtain (or do not) apply the term to themselves.

Nancy Cott draws a distinction between modern feminism and its antecedents, particularly the struggle for suffrage. In the United States she places the turning point in the decades before and after women obtained the vote in 1920 (1910-1930). She argues that the prior woman movement was primarily about woman as a primarily concerned with social differentiation, attentive diversity. New issues dealt more with woman's condition as a gender identity, and relationships within and between genders. Politically this represented a shift from an ideological alignment comfortable with the right, to one more radically associated with the left. In the immediate postwar per provided a Deuxième Sex than activist, she did sign one of the Movement de Liberation des Femmes manifestos. The resurgence of feminist activism in the late 1960s was accompanied by an emerging literature of what might be considered female associated issues, such as concerns for the earth and spirituality, and environmental activism. This in turn created an atmosphere conducive to reigniting the study of and debate on

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Matricentricity, as a rejection of of capitalis having a number of phases. The first she calls "feminist critique" - where the feminist reader examines the ideologies behind literary phenomena. The second Showalter calls "the language; the trajectory of the individual or collective female literary career [and] inscription and the literary effects of the model has been criticized by account of the situation for women outside the west.

2.6 Theory of Feminism

Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment (Hawkesworth, 2006:25-27 ; Bealey 1999:3-11). Or we can say that feminism is a process that aims to create a better relationship between both genders to improve and better to the society (Nugroho, 2008:61). Mary Wollstonecraft, the first feminist who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), encourages woman writers to insert feminism in their literary works. Finally, feminism has been widely spreading.

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Feminism is defined diferent by different feminist. They define feminism according their own point of view. As they think differently so their definition too is different from others. But all the definition is almost same in the main point. Here the writer is going to put some definition of the most popular feminist in the world.

• Rosalind Delmar (1986:13) said in her book ‘What is feminism’ that :“Feminism is usually defined as an active desire to change women’s position in society.”

• Christina Hoff Sommers (1994: 22) said, in the book ‘Who Stole Feminism’ that : “a concern for women and a determination to see them fairly treated” • Ratna (2004:184): "Dalam pengertian yang paling luas, feminisme adalah

"Feminisme merupakan sebuah fenomena kultural. alasan kemunculannya ialah berdasarkan ketidakpuasan terhadap realitas yang dianggap sebagai

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konstruksi patriarkal". (Feminism is a cultural phenomenon of unsatisfactory to the reality of patriarchal construction).

From above definitions it’s clear to us that feminism is a doctrine, a thought, a movement that tell us the oppressed position of women in the world, it is such a philosophy in where women’s worked are valued and their political, economic and social rights are preserved. Feminism is for women’s equality in world. It let the women to prove their power to work in the same rhythm of men in society.

Feminism has altered predominant perspective in a wide range of areas within Western society, ranging from culture to law. Feminist activists have campaigned for women's legal right (rights of contract, property rights, voting rights); for protection of women and girls from domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape; for workplace rights, including maternity leave and equal pay; and against other forms of gender-specific discrimination against women. Simone de Beauvoir wrote that " The first time we see a woman take up her pen in defense of her "sex" was Christine de Pizan who wrote Epitre au Dieu d'Amour (Epistle to the God of Love) in 15th century. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Modesta di Pozzo di Forzi worked in the 16 century. Marie Le Jars de Gournay, Anne Bradstreet and Francois Poullain de la Barre wrote during the 17th ".

2.7 Types of Feminism

Feminist ideology have developed over the years. They vary in goals, strategies, and affiliation. They often overlap, and some feminists identify themselves with several branches of feminist thought. There are liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, Marxist feminism, cultural feminism,

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multiracial feminism, post-colonial feminism, third-world feminism, new age feminism, post-structural feminism, post-modern feminism, etc. But in this thesis, the writer only use three types of feminism in analyzing the problem of Celie; the main character in " The Color Purple". They are liberal feminism, radical feminism, multiracial feminism and socialist feminism which the definition of each will be explained below.

2.7.1 Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminism asserts the equality of men and women through political and legal reform. It is an individualistic form of feminism, which focuses on women's ability to show and maintain their equality through their own action and choices. Liberal feminism uses the personal interactions between men and women as the place from which to transform society. According to liberal feminists, all women are capable of asserting their ability to achieve equality, therefore it is possible for change to happen without altering the structure of society. Issues important to liberal feminists include reproductive and abortion rights, sexual harassment, voting, educati bringing to light the frequency of sexual and domestic violence against women. 2.7.2 Radical Feminism

Radical Feminism considers the male-controlle describes as sexist, as the defining feature of women's oppression. Radical feminists believe that women can free themselves only when they have done away with what they consider an inherently oppressive and dominating patriarchal system. Radical feminists feel that there is a male-based authority and power structure and that it is

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responsible for oppression and inequality, and that, as long as the system and its values are in place, society will not be able to be reformed in any significant way. Some radical feminists see no alternatives other than the total uprooting and reconstruction of society in order to achieve their goals.

2.7.3 Socialist and Marxist Feminism

exploitation, oppression and labor. Socialist feminism is a branch of feminism that focuses upon both the public and private spheres of a woman's life and argues that liberation can only be achieved by working to end both the economic and cultural sources of women's oppression. Socialist feminists think unequal standing in both the workplace and the domestic sphere holds women down. Socialist feminists see prostitution, domestic work, childcare, and marriage as ways in which women are exploited by a patriarchal system that devalues women and the substantial work they do. Socialist feminists focus their energies on far-reaching change that affects society as a whole, rather than on an individual basis. They see the need to work alongside not just men but all other groups, as they see the oppression of women as a part of a larger pattern that affects everyone involved in the capitalist system.

2.8 Woman's Problems as Reflected in Celie

We use the word problem to describe a wide range of situation of different importance. Problem can be defined as a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome. Problem also can be defined broadly as situations in which we experience uncertainty or difficulty in achieving what we want to achieve or those where the current situation is not what was

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expected. In this thesis will be analized about woman's problems as reflected in Celie, the main character of The Color Purple which her problems are focused on her sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse, and lack of education.

The use of physical force or or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, male development, or deprivation", but acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word. This definition involves intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However, generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).

There are nine distinct forms of violence and abuse: Physical violence, Sexual violence, Emotional violence, Psychological violence, Spiritual violence, Cultural violence, Verbal abuse, Financial abuse, and neglect. But in this thesis will only discuss about the sexual abuse, physical abuse, and psychological abuse associated with Celie's problem which the definition of each will be explained below:

Sexual violence is unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent. Most victims and perpetrators know each other. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse include shock, fear or disbelief. Long-term symptoms include anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder. While efforts to treat sex offenders remain unpromising, psychological interventions for survivors especially group therapy appears effective.

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Physical violence is an act of a person involving contact of another person intended to cause feelings of

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_abuse)

2.9 Hermeneutics Theory

Hermeneutics is the theory of text interpretation, especially the interpretation of very different approaches to social explanation since the nineteenth century, and they differ most fundamentally over a distinction between explanation and understanding or cause and meaning (von Wright 1971). This distinction divides over two ways of understanding a why question when it comes to social events. Why did it happen? may mean : what caused it to happen? or it may mean : why did the agents act in such a way to bring it about?.

The hermeneutic approach holds that the most basic fact of social life is the meaning of an action. Social life is constituted by social actions, and actions are meaningful to the actors and to the other social participants. Moreover, subsequent actions are oriented towards the meanings of prior actions; so understanding the later action requires that we have an interpretation of the meanings that various participants assign to their own actions and those of others. So the social sciences (or

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the human sciences) need to be hermeneutic. researchers need to devote their attention to the interpretation of the meanings of social actions.

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CHAPTER III

METHOD OF RESEARCH

3.1 Research Design

Burns and Grove (2003:195) define a research design as “a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings”. Parahoo (1997:142) describes a research design as “a plan that describes how, when and where data are to be collected and analyzed”. Polit et al (2001:167) define a research design as “the researcher’s overall for answering the research question or testing the research hypothesis”.

There are several types of research design, They are: Qualitative, Quantitative, Correlation/Regression Analysis, Quasi-Experimental, Experimental, and Meta-Analysis. But in this thesis the main source of the analysis especially the data is taken from the novel "The Color Purple" written by Alice Walker. According to the objective of the analysis, the method that the writer used in this analysis is Qualitative Method.

Qualitative Method is type of research methods involves describing in details specific situation using research tools like interviews, surveys, and observations. Burns and Grove (2003:19) describe a qualitative approach as “a systematic subjective approach used to describe life experiences and situations to give them meaning”. Parahoo (1997:59) states that qualitative research focuses on the experiences of people as well as stressing uniqueness of the individual. Holloway and Wheeler (2002:30) refer to qualitative research as “a form of social enquiry that focuses on the way people interpret and make sense of their experience and the world

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in which they live”. Researchers use the qualitative approach to explore the behavior, perspectives, experiences and feelings of people and emphasize the understanding of these elements.

3.2 Data Collection

In collecting the data the writer read the whole story of the novel to get more understanding about the novel. Underlined the important parts of the novel especially some information about the leading character conflicts that found in the novel. Most of the data presented in this thesis is to support the analysis that is relevant to collected sentences for the novel. Other significant information is from literature books and some other books related to the topic such as the theory of literature by Rene Wellek and Austin Warren. The writer choose this book because the writer think the story of literature by Rene Wellek and Austin Warren could support any idea in case of discussing conflict in the novel.

The primary source, the writer explains some sentences and conflict found in the novel. Secondary sources the writer collect the data from some book, article and internet to collect the data.

3.3 Method of Data Analysis

The technique that the writer used to analyze this novel is qualitative method. Qualitative method is a method of analysis by describing and analyzing the data and then giving some interpretation and explanation. All the selected data were analyzed to prove what are being written in objective of this thesis and finally the writer can draw the conclusion for this thesis. The writer use this technique because the data in

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this novel is sentences and paragraph, found in the novel Alice Walker The Color Purple.

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CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

4.1 Celie's Problems

Celie, as the main woman character in The Color Purple is an African-American woman who suffers oppressions from her patriarchal family and being sexual, physical, and psychological abuse child.

Basically, family is where people usually share love and care. The members of a family usually support each other. In this novel, however, Celie's family is more like a burden for its members, especially for Celie. She doesn't feel comfort in her own home and neither does her sister. In addition, Celie's family is patriarchal. It means that women are only more subordinated to men. Women are expected to do all the things what has been said by men while men are more superior who take the domination in their life. In this novel Celie is a very unlucky daughter because her step father has raped her twice although she is just fourteen years old. She is forced to get used to it as she can't resist it. She feels hurt. She can't do anything to save her life because she doesn't have any power to resist him. Celie's narration is focused on her own private life without any reference to the outside world. Her family however is never the safe heaven that protects its members against the evils of society, but it is a male dominated world full of domestic violence.

Even she can't tell anybody about her sufferings. Because she doesn't trust anybody, she can only tell her sufferings to her God. She writes to God because she has no one else to help her bear these terrible things. Only to God Celie can talk honestly and openly about the hell that she has suffered. It's only to him she can

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share every single feeling in her heart and every single moment happened in her life. And this point is important, Celie is not complaining to God. She simply needs to talk to someone, someone whom she loves and trusts and someone who she feels loves her. Celie's instinct for survival, however, is more solid than even Celie realizes.

4.1.1 Celie's Sexual Abuse

Celie is a sexual abuse child. She was victimized and raped by the man who she believed was her father in her fourteen years old when her sick mother went to see the doctor. Celie's Pa tries to find a substitute in Celie, when her mother doesn't respond to his sexual advances. Consequently when she is at fourteen year old, She is raped by her Pa repeatedly.

He never had a kine word to say to me. Just say you gonna do what your mammy wouldn.t (The Color Purple, 1992 P. 3)

Soon after, Celie‘s mother dies and Fonso rapes Celie more and more often. Her father impregnates her twice and takes away the children after they are born allowing her to believe that he killed them, and sells them in town. .

He took it (The Baby). He took it while I was sleeping. Kilt it out there in the woods. Kill this one too, if he can." (The color purple, 1982 p. 4)

What Celie's stepfather has done to her, it is also done by Mr._____, her husband. to get rid of Celie, Fonso marries her to a man described as Mr. _____. Celie is not permitted to mention the name of her husband. as an Afro-American woman with patriarchal system, mentioning the name of the husband is supposed to

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be taboo. to show some kind of respect, she shortens the name as Mr. for her husband.

The word "Mr." culturally refers to higher position given to a man. It implies gap sense between position of "Mr." contra "Mrs." The word "Mrs." refers to lower sense which organizes domestic matter. home service is woman's affair while outside of home is the world of "Mr." or man. Such a contrast comes to exist because of patriarchal dominance. Man has been culturally treated as stronger creature compared to a woman. if the "Mr." is strong and rational enough, the "Mrs." is in contrast, weak and emotional. to say simply, woman is dependent on man.

Celie's narration of her moments of marital sexual involvement with Albert in which the conjugal act assumes the form of rape.

Mr. __come git me to take care of his rotten children. He never ast me nothing bout myself. He clam on top of me and fuck and fuck, even when my head bandaged. Nobody ever love me. I say." (The Color Purple, 1992, p.103)

The quotation above show us that Albert just take the advantage of Celie's body like her step father did. He do it with Celie without love. He never thinks about Celie's condition. He never cares of her. He do it just to satisfy his sexual appetite. He do it again and again and never care whether Celie likes it or not or she wants it or not.

4.1.2 Celie's Physical Abuse

Celie not only experiences sexual abuse but also physical abuse in her childhood. She is often beaten by the men around her like her stepfather and her husband, Mr._____.

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Celie's disability to counter alone the dominance of man has brought her into deep misery. her step father's bestial behavior seems untouchable because he always beats and rapes her. this kind of bad action has shown kind of disrespect as an adopted father towards the adopted daughter. the father has turned into monster for the young girl, Celie. she becomes frustrated without any power to fight back. it happens so because she has wrongly been educated by misunderstanding the power of man under patriarchal system.

As the name suggests, physical abuse is a kind of torture to the body physically. It can be done through kicking, slapping, beating, punching and so on in order to make the target accept the torture naturally. it happens so because the target is regarded weak and powerless. The example of such kind of physical abuse is when Celie has been accused to wink at a boy in a church.

Dear God,

He beat me today cause he say I winked at a boy in church. I may have got somethin in my eye but I didn't wink." (The color purple, 1982 p. 7)

From the quotation above we can see that the step father is angry enough to show his dominance toward the weak girl. The act of abuse has been wrapped well under the concept of moral obedience. A girl's wink in church is morally wrong religiously. Yet, Celie has not winked to a boy in church factually. the father just tries to pretend as if it was happened. behind the evil conduct, the father wants to exploite his step daughter under her control. Celie's fear is the father's power to legitimate his brutal deed. thus, the father's animalistic behavior is a kind of a half animal and a half human being. He is not the type of natural father as what he must be.

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Celie loves other more than she loves herself. She always protects her little sister from the cruelty of her stepfather, Fonso.

I see him looking at my little sister. She scared. But I say I'll take care of you. With God help." (The color purple, 1982 p. 5)

"Dear God,

I ast him to take me instead of Nettie while our new mammy sick. But he just ast me what I'm talking bout. I tell him I can fix myself up for him. I duck into my room and come out wearing horsehair, feathers, and a pair of our new mammy high heel shoes. He beat me for dressing trampy but he do it to me anyway. (The color purple, 1982 p. 9)

From the quotation above we can see that Celie In order to save Nettie from the cruelty of Fonso, she quietly takes her own sexual and physical abuse.

For Celie, life with Mr._____ is not better than life with her father. Celie also gets bad treatment just like her stepfather did to her. She gets physiscal abuse. On a day that should be celebrated with love and passion, Mr._____ beats his new wife, Celie, on their wedding day. Furthermore, his violent streak has been passed onto his children, for they also taunt and beat her. One child throws a stone at her head, causing her to bleed. It can be seen from the quotation below:

Dear God,

I spend my wedding day running from the oldest boy. He twelve. His mama died in his arms and he don't want to hear nothing bout no new one. He pick up a rock and laid my head open. The blood run all down tween my breast. (The color purple, 1982 p. 14)

Mr._____believes that the best way to keep a woman in her place is to beat her. He beats Celie very often and never loves her. He wants a wife simply because he needs someone to take care of him and of his wild children. When Harpo wonders

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why his father beats Celie, Mr._____ informs him that beating a wife is a manly and husbandly duty. He beats her because she is his wife, and furthermore because he think that she is stubborn. It can be seen from the quotation below:

Dear God

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. He just tuck his chin over the paper like he do. Remind me of Pa. (The color purple, 1982 p. 23)

The quotation above show us that in his mind, there are proper and reasonable reasons for such brute violence. In here the oppression of women can be seen. Essentially, Mr.__ beats Celie because he has no respect for her. Patriachy system is applied here. Caught in this loveless marriage Celie is confronted with nothing more than a continuation of what she has already experienced throughout her childhood. In the face of a dominant master-like husband, she has to fulfil the role of some kind of servant or slave always being at his disposal and if not working or caring for his children, satisfying his sexual needs.

4.1.3 Celie's Psychological Abuse

Psychological abuse which also referred to emotional abuse or mental abuse is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma. As Celie's experience, because of verbal abuse that is done by her stepfather, Fonso and her husband, Albert she experience severe psychological effects. Her emotional is beaten by her abuse and the patriarchal system make her to be a passive woman that could do nothing for herself. As a result of Albert’s continual abuse over the next several years, Celie shows signs of depression and withdrawal. Medical officials confirm that domestic

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violence victims exhibit long-term psychological consequences including depression, withdrawal, lack of self-esteem and affection, as well as a higher tendency to commit suicide beyond her interactions with Albert. She rarely smiles, nor does she speak to houseguests. A victim taking the inactive approach feels that the best method of dealing with the abuse is simply enduring it (Eisikovits, Pg. 846). When Albert slaps, hits, or pushes her, Celie responds by avoiding eye contact and using a lower voice.

what good it do? I don’t fight, I stay where I’m told. But I’m alive. (The color purple, 1982 p. 22).

From the quotation above we can see that Celie shows a common case in which a woman lacks the self-confidence to escape her husband’s physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. A study performed by the fact that sexual abuse causes learned helplessness. Their study supports previous work showing that, in addition to learned helplessness, sexual abuse causes low self-esteem, anxiety, and dissociation. In turn, women who develop these symptoms become more susceptible to future victimization (Breitenbecher & Gidycz, p. 19). Celie displays her own learned helplessness, saying, "I don’t know how to fight."

I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie, you a tree. That’s how come I know trees fear man. (The color purple, 1982 p. 23).

From the quotation above, we can see that under the patriarchy system she makes herself pretending as a wood of a tree, not as a living human being. Celie could do nothing for herself. One thing that she can do is only by pretending to be a wood of a tree which fear of man. Celie is a woman described as a wood of tree should fear of man but she try to be strong to face her terrible life. It seems that she

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can bear all the sorrows inflicted upon her just like when she talks to Nettie, before leaving from her husband's home, she says:

It worse than that, I think. If I was buried, I wouldn't have to work. But I just say, Never mine, never mine, long as I can spell G-o-d I got somebody along. (The Color Purple, 1982 p. 19).

From the quotation above, we can see that the life of Celie is worse than if she is buried. But she tries to always be strong to overcome all of her problem as long as God with her.

Although other women around her like Sofia and Shug Avery tell her that she has to fight in order to improve her situation and to make Mr_____ recognize that he cannot treat her that way, Celie stays passive victim of her environment.

How bad the situation is for Celie becomes obvious as she states that living this way with Mr____ and his children.

No men think that Celie is important. Celie always be a passive object that could not do something to help herself from the patriarchy. She is always abused throughout her life, being sexual abused child and passive wife make her suffering all the time until finally there are things that encourage Celie 's struggle against male domination.

4.1.4 Lack of Education

Celie is not as pretty or as smart as her little sister, Nettie. She is largely uneducated. Her letters to God are written in non-standard dialect. it is raw and honest and strong. Celie's letters are unusually strong; they are evidence of an unusual strength in a very young woman. They are evidence of Celie's painful

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struggle to hold on despite all of the multiple horrors of her life. For the example, we can see the quotation below:

• My mama dead. She screaming and cussing. She scream at me. She cuss at me. (The color purple, 1982 p. 4)

 Actually, Celie want to write My mama dead. She screaming and cursing, She scream at me. She curse at me.

• But I don't think he kilt it. (The color purple, 1982 p. 5)  Actually, Celie want to write But I don't think he killed it

Celie is not allowed to go to school by her stepfather. she received education by learning what her little sister was teaching her. It was believed that if the blacks were kept uneducated then they would be ignorant about their rights and would not fight for freedom. The letter that gives a proof that Celie is not permitted to go to school is:

The first time I got big Pa took me out of school. He never care. That I love it. Nettie stood there at the gate holding tight to my hand. I was all dress for first day. You too dumb to keep going to school, Pa say. Nettie the clever on in this bunch. But Pa, Nettie say, crying, Celie smart too. Even Miss Beasley say so. Nettie dote on Miss Beasley. Think nobody like her in the world. (The Color Purple, p. 11).

From the quotation above, it is implied that Celie is one of the examples of contemporary African-American women who was not permitted to go to the school. As Olinkas stated, “A girl is nothing to herself; only to her husband can she become something,” (The Color Purple, p. 140). So, it is evident that the condition of African American women at that time was hard. As the older daughter, Celie is expected to stay home and care for Fonso and the house, while Nettie attends school.

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Fortunately, Miss Beasley and Nettie privately teach and coach Celie but it is difficult for her to learn because both her physically and emotionally beaten by her abuse.

4.2 Sisterhood and It's Role in Celie’s Struggle Toward Man Domination

In The Color Purple, women bonding and sisterhood play an important role in Celie‘s struggle process. "Feminist movement must align under a common banner, that "sisterhood" will strengthen and increase feminist exposure" (Hooks 1984:44). Ranging from her sister Nettie to her daughter in law Sofia and to her husband‘s mistress Shug, Celie is able to transform her life and free herself both physically and spiritually with the help of these women.

Female ties take many forms: some are motherly or sisterly, some are in the form of mentor and pupil, some are sexual, and some are simply friendships. Sofia claims that her ability to fight comes from her strong relationships with her sisters. Celie‘s ties to Shug bring about Celie‘s gradual redemption and her attainment of a sense of self.

In her writings, Walker always emphasizes the importance of sisterhood in black women‘s emancipation. She sees the possibility of empowerment for black women if they create a community of sisters that can alter the present-day unnatural definitions of woman and man.

Smith finds that the unifying bond between black women is through their friendships, their love, and their shared oppression that they collectively gain the strength to separate themselves from the bondage of their past and piece together a free and equal existence for themselves and for those they love (Smith : 182).

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Men tend to understand sisterhood as a form of rejection and retaliation by women against men. Actually, sisterhood has to do more with spiritual, physical and material help that women provide to each other. It is a way to clear away the obstacles

For the emancipation and empowering of women. As far as the novel is concerned, this common help between women tends to be incomprehensible by men. Mr. _____ also confesses to Celie that he never understood how Celie and Shug got along so well together; this shows that sisterhood is something special to women that only women can understand and share.

In the novel, we have many examples of sisterhood that link women with each other. The very first signs of sisterhood can be seen in Celie and Nettie. The two sisters live within a family where affection is totally absent. With a violent rapist father and a sick mother, Nettie is able to provide Celie with moral comfort. When Nettie notices that Celie is frequently beaten by her husband, she urges her to fight him. She also urges her to fight against Mr.___‘s children by showing them a good lesson and letting them know who is the upper hand.

Don't let them run over you, Nettie say. You got to let them know who got the upper hand

They got it, I say.

But she keep on. You got to fight. You got to fight. (The co1or purple, 1982 p. 18)

However, to Celie, the most important and exciting news from Nettie is about her two children.

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And what surprise me when a little girl opened the door and she had your eyes set in your face. (Walker, 1982 p. 114)

The lady you met in town is name Corrine. The little girl's name is Olivia. The husband's name is Samuel. The little's boy name is Adam. (Walker, 1982 p. 115)

Corrine and Samuel have a wonderful marriage. Their only sorrow in the beginning was that they could not have children. And then, they say, 'God' sent them Olivia and Adam. I wanted to say, 'God' has sent you their sister and aunt, but I didn't. Yes, their children, sent by 'God' are your children, Celie. And they are being brought up in love, Christian charity and awareness of God. And now 'God' has sent me to watch over them, to protect and cherish them. To lavish all the love I feel for you on them. It is a miracle, isn't it? And no doubt imposibble for you to believe. (Walker, 1982 p. 119)

From the quotation above, we can see from Nettie‘s letter, Celie gets to know for the first time that her two children, who she has lost when they are just born, now stay with Nettie, and that they are living a happy life with Nettie and are receiving good education. The good news of the two children provides Celie, a poor mother, with a strong spiritual strength and sustains her to survive in the especially hard time. Moreover, Nettie is always the hope in Celie‘s life.

Celie regards Nettie as the perfect model of a girl. She describes Nettie to Shug when She wants to know about Nettie.

Yes, Lord, I say. Smart as anything. Read the newspapers when she was little more than talking. Did figures like they was nothing. Talked real well too. And sweet. There never was a sweeter girl. Eyes just brimming over with it, She live me too, I say to Shug. (Walker 1982 p. 108)

From the quotation above we can see with this excellent sister in heart, Celie senses a little comfort in this harsh world. Therefore, although Celie has not heard

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from Nettie for years, she cherishes with the hope that Nettie is still alive and they can meet again someday.

Celie, in her turn, is of great help and support to Nettie. In absence of parental affection, Celie plays not only the role of a sister but also the role of a substitute mother. Celie offers herself to her stepfather preventing thus Nettie from being abused. When the two sisters are later separated from each other, this affectionate sisterhood continues to tie both sisters providing them a hope of survival during the harshest living moments of their existence, it can be proved by Nettie continuously writing letters to Celie and Celie never stopped hoping for the arrival of the news of her sister. However, upon discovering Nettie's letters, Celie finds a new desire to live because her sister is still alive.

Sofia Butler, Celie‘s step-son‘s wife, is another woman who becomes a good model for Celie. She is a fat woman with big legs. She grows up in a family of men and learns that only by fighting she can survive.

All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers; I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain‘t safe in a family of men. (Walker, 1982 p. 39)

Unlike Sofia, Celie does not fight and keeps silent when she suffers from family violence. She even takes it for granted that men are superior to women. However, Sofia refuses to accept this unfair social rule. She, with her determination, will not be humbled by anyone in her life, whether they are black or white. She does not hesitate to say "hell no." to the mayor‘s wife‘s offer that Sofia goes to work as her maid, and knocks the mayor down after he slapped her (Walker, 1982:81). Sofia, with her rebellious spirit, exerts a critical effect on Celie‘s awakening.

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Celie‘s first meeting with Sofia happens when Sofia comes to ask Albert‘s permission of her marriage to Harpo. At first sight, Celie is surprised by Sofia‘s strong and confident appearance

She bout seven or eight months pegnant, bout to bust out her dress. Harpo so black he think she bright, but she ain't that bright. Clear medium brown skin, gleam on it like on good furniture. Hair notty but a lot of it, tied up on her head in a mass of plaits. She not quite as tall as Harpo but much bigger, and strong and ruddy looking, like her mama brought her up on pork.. (Walker, 1982 p. 31)

From the quotation above, we can see that Sofia is not as beautiful as Harpo told to Celie. Albert rejects their request and even insults Sofia about her pregnancy, to Celie‘s astonishment, Sofia does not submit to him. She says to Harpo:

Naw, Harpo stay here. When you free, me and the baby be waiting. (Walker, 1982 p. 32)

Sofia‘s bravery moves Celie greatly. Sofia is an alien who is absolutely contradictory to the woman image Celie is familiar with. Sofia gets married to Harpo regardless of their parents‘ objection.

Sofia keeps her independent characteristics, if she talking when Harpo and Mr._____ come in the room, she keep right on. If they ask where something at. She said that she don‘t know and keep talking.. (The color purple, 1982 p. 35) But this kind of relationship between wife and husband is not allowed in the male-dominated social system.

You ever hit her? Mr._____ ast. (The color purple, 1982 p. 35) Beat Her, I say. (The color purple, 1982 p. 36)

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From the quotation above, we can see that Albert cannot tolerate Sofia‘s thinking too much of herself. He instigates Harpo to beat Sofia. Even Celie, who grows up in pain and maltreatment, being unconscious of her oppression, also suggests that he should beat Sofia when he consults her how to make Sofia become subservient to him. When Sofia learns that Celie has urged Harpo to beat her, she reveals how terribly betrayed she feels. When Sofia asks Celie why she treats her like this, Celie explains:

I say I‘m a fool, I say it cause I‘m jealous of you. I say it cause you do what I can‘t. (The color purple, 1982 p. 38)

This reveals that Celie admires the rebellious spirit that Sofia has. After Sofia learns that Celie always keeps silent but to tell to God about her suffering, Sofia gives her a suggestion:

You ought to bash Mr._____ head open, she say. and think bout heaven later. (The color purple 1982 p. 40)

From the quotation above, we can see that Sofia teaches Celie against the patriarchy. Sofia makes Celie realize that women can be independent, strong and courageous, which saves Celie from her humiliating position and paves the way for a new free self. So after an honest exchange of viewpoints between them, misapprehension is dispelled and the similar experiences from their families bring them closer. Since then, Celie and Sofia become friends who rely on and help each other throughout the rest of the novel.

Another woman who helps Celie in getting free is the blues singer Shug Avery. However, the female bonding that ties these two women is totally different

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from the one with Nettie or Sofia. In fact, if Nettie is considered as the hope that sustains Celie alive and Sofia the rebellious spirit that encourages Celie to fight, Shug is seen as the affectionate mother and sexual mentor for Celie.

Shug Avery is at first a friend to Celie, eventually a lover, but has always a subtly guiding "mothering" influence that, like the mothers of Walker‘s "generations" enables Celie to evolve into an independent, self-actualized woman, no longer accepting the conditions that have enslaved her. Celie has always been deprived of maternal affection and Shug, like a mother, protects Celie from the beatings of her husband Albert.

I won't leave, she says, until I know Albert won't even think about beating you. (The color purple, 1982 p. 72)

From the quotation above we can see that Shug stays at Albert‘ s house and does not leave until she becomes sure that he will not even think about beating Celie again. Shug becomes the angel by Celie's side that helps her pave the first steps towards independence.

Shug Avery was a women. The most beautiful woman I ever saw. She more prettier than my mama. She bout ten thousand time more prettier then me. (The color purple, 1982 p. 8)

From the quotation above we can see that in Celie's mind, Shug is the most beautiful woman she ever seen. Celie first sees her when Albert takes her home. Actually, at that time, Shug is nearly sick to death. Then Celie has devoted her attention to nursing Shug until she recovers. Shug is touched by her tenderness and care, hence creating a Miss Celie‘s song. to express her gratitude to Celie.

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Shug saying Celie. Miss Celie. And I look up where she at. She say my name again. She say this song I'm bout to sing is call Miss Celie's song. Cause she scratched it out of my head when I was sick. (The color purple, 1982 p. 70)

First time somebody made something and name it after me. (The color purple, 1982 p. 70)

From the quotation above, we can see that for the first time, Celie is aware of being respectable. At the beginning of the novel, we can notice that Celie lacked in her life a female model who would help her to assert herself. However, through her observance of Shug and their interaction, Celie gets the strength she needs to restructure herself.

4.3 Celie's Struggle

4.3.1 Education

A woman should have an education to prepare herself for a better life. Since Nettie has accepted formal education, she is deeply influenced by her teacher, Miss Beasley, who has her own independent ideas and rebellious consciousness, which helps Nettie to shape her own consciousness and ideas. To Celie, Nettie has always been like a teacher. Nettie teaches Celie how to read, how to write, how to spell and everything she thinks Celie needs to know. No matter in what kind of situation, Nettie never gives up any opportunity to inform Celie what is going on in the world.

In the short period of staying in Albert‘s house with Celie, Nettie witnesses his benighted brutality and knows clearly that Celie is hopeless if she keeps her submissiveness. So she tries hard to exert every possible way to teach and enlighten Celie. For example, she writes words on some cards and sticks the cards to the

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In 2013, Alice Walker released two new books, one of them entitled The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way. The other was a book of poems entitled The World Will Follow Joy Turning Madness into Flowers (New Poems).

Activism

Alice Walker's official website (alicewalkersgarden.com) describes her as having been “an activist all of her adult life” who believes “that learning to extend the range of our compassion is activity and work available to all." She is a staunch defender of bot writer, and travels the world to stand on the side of the poor, and the economically, spiritually and politically oppressed. She also stands, however, on the side of the revolutionaries, teachers and leaders whom she believe seek change and transformation of the world.”

Walker met part in the voters in Georgia and Mississippi. On March 8, on the eve of the authors during an anti-war rally outside the White House. In an interview wit children of Iraq are just as dear as the women and children in our families, and that,

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in fact, we are one family. And so it would have felt to me that we were going over to actually bomb ourselves." Walker wrote about the experience in her essay, "We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For."

Walker was also greatly influenced by

single handedly rescu

to Hurston's works, and made revived her popularity that had risen during the Harlem Renaissance. Walker was so moved by Hurston that she went to her blank tombstone and wrote "Southern Genius" on it. She also wrote in a personal essay, “I have come to know Zora through her books.”

Walker was also a great feminist and worked to make women realize their significance and ability. In 1983, Walker coined the term “Bla She sai

In November 2008, Walker wrote "An Open Letter t was published online by "Brother Obama" and wrote "Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina, and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about."

In January 2009, she was one of over 50 signatories of a letter protesting the condemning Israel as an "apartheid regime."

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In March 2009, Walker and 60 other female activists from the anti-war group Code Pink traveled t deliver aid, to meet with open their borders with Gaza. She wrote about her meeting with an elderly Palestinian woman who upon accepting a gift from Walker said “May God protect you from the Jews.” Walker responded “It’s too late, I already married one.” referring to her former husband, a Jewish civil rights lawyer whom she had divorced in the 1970s. She planned to visit Gaza again in December 2009 to participate in the flotilla to Gaza that attempted to break Israel's naval blockade. Explaining her reasons, she cited concern for the children and that she felt that "elders" should bring "whatever understanding and wisdom we might have gained in our fairly long lifetimes, witnessing and being a part of struggles against oppression."

Walker's decision to take part in the 2011 Gaza flotilla was reported in the New York Times. It also led to a June 2011 interview i which Walker rejected the charge that many of her fellow participants had terrorist ties, saying that "I think Israel is the greatest terrorist in that part of the world. And I think in general, the United States and Israel are great terrorist organizations themselves. If you go to Gaza and see some of the bombs -- what's left of the bombs that were dropped -- and the general destruction, you would have to say, yeah, it's terrorism. When you terrorize people, when you make them so afraid of you that they are just mentally and psychologically wounded for life, that's terrorism. So these countries are terrorist countries." She compared the Palestinians and Israelis to "David and Goliath, but Goliath is not the Palestinians. They are David." Walker

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supports the Walker refused to authorize a Hebrew translation of her book The Color Purple, citing what she called Israel's "apartheid state."

In an article for The Guardian, Walker explained her involvement in the Gaza flotilla, saying that “during this period of eldering it is good to reap the harvest of one's understanding of what is important, and to share this, especially with the young.” She also compared herself and her fellow flotilla members to Gandhi and his followers.

Her involvement in the flotilla also occasioned a Jerusalem Post article by supporting terrorism against Israel,” Dershowitz charged that she had “now resorted to bigotry and censorship against Hebrew-speaking readers of her writings,” comparing her refusal to allow a Hebrew translation of The Color Purple to “neo-Nazi author readers.” As for her involvement in the flotilla, Dershowitz accused her of “provid[ing] material support for terrorism” and said that Walker “should not be permitted to get away with such bigotry. Nor should her actions be seen as morally elevated.”

Elisheva Goldberg, writing in the Daily Beast in July 2012, rejected the argument that Walker's refusal to allow the translation made her an anti-Semite. Noting that Walker was married to a Jew, that Walker has a half-Jewish daughter, and that The Color Purple itself was made into a film directed by a Jew, Steven Spielberg, Goldberg stated: “Alice Walker is not boycotting Jews. She is not even

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boycotting Israelis. She is boycotting the government of Israel. She is boycotting what she sees as state-subsidized symbols of racism that remind her of Apartheid South Africa.” To call Walker an anti-Semite, Goldberg claimed, was to “devalue” the experience of her, Goldberg's, grandfather at Treblinka.

The

book on meditation, as

to a shocking new level, revealing the depth of her hatred of Jews and Israel to a degree that we have not witnessed before. Her descriptions of the conflict are so grossly inaccurate and biased that it seems Walker wants the uninformed reader to come away sharing her hate-filled conclusions," the ADL wrote.

Walker was disinvited in 2013 from giving a speech at the University of Michigan, reportedly because a donor to the university disapproved of her views on Israel. On her website, Walker argued that “women must be in control of our own finances. Not just in the family, but in the schools, work force, and everywhere else. Until we control this part of our lives, our very choices, in any and every area, can be denied us.” Ms. Walker was re-invited shortly thereafter. Walker posted an open letter to singer Tel Aviv. “I believe we are mutually respectful of each other’s path and work,” Walker wrote. “It would grieve me to know you are putting yourself in danger (soul danger) by performing in an apartheid country that is being boycotted by many global conscious artists.” Keys rejected the plea.

In June 2013, Walker and others appeared in a video showing support for

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Race Get Off Your Knees (in which Icke claims that Earth's moon is actually a “gigantic spacecraft” transmitting “fake reality broadcast in much the same way as portrayed in the Matrix movie trilogy") would be her choice if she could have only

one

the book she "felt it was the first time I was able to observe, and mostly imagine and comprehend, the root of the incredible evil that has engulfed our planet." Jonathan Kay of the National Post argued that Walker's public praise for Icke's book was “stunningly offensive” and that by taking it seriously she was disqualifying herself "from the mainstream marketplace of ideas."

II. A Short Story About the Color Purple

The Color Purple is 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the mostly in rura the exceedingly low position in American social culture. It is unfolds in a series of letters and diary entries written by wonderfully portrays the gradual forming of a new black woman, Celie, who evolves from patriarchal oppression to awakening and independence. Nettie, Sofia and Shug help Celie a lot in her emancipation.

Woman''s Problems And The Struggles Against Man Domination As Reflected In The Color Purple

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Woman''s Problems And The Struggles Against Man Domination As Reflected In The Color Purple

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THE ROLE OF BLACK WOMAN CHARACTER IN FIGHTING AGAINST SEXISM IN ALICE WALKERâS NOVEL THE COLOR PURPLE.

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Woman's Problems And The Struggles Against Man Domination As Reflected In The Color Purple

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