Feminism Character The Color Purple

E. Definition of Terms

The definition of terms is presented in order to avoid misunderstanding. There are two definitions that are defined. Those are feminism and character.

1. Feminism

Humm in The Dictionary of Feminist Theory states that feminism incorporates both doctrines of equal rights of women the organized movement to attain womens right and an ideology of social transformation which aims to create a world for women beyond simple social equality Humm 74. It means that there is social transformation for women to gain social equality. She also states that certain terms in contemporary theory, such as work, family, patriarchy, and sexuality, are used to sum up the basis experiences of women. According to Terrey in Womens Studies Encyclopedia Vol. 1, feminism can be described as a belief and a commitment to equal rights and opportunities Terrey 139. Davies in Gender Theories in Education states that feminism is women’s assertion of their equality with men and their demand for access to those roles and positions of public life traditionally regarded as the province of men Davies 62. In this study, I present feminism as a way to gain equal rights as a woman to obtain her freedom in thinking, acting and living.

2. Character

According to Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms, characters are the person represented in a dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with particular moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the person say and their distinctive ways of saying it the dialogue and from what they do the action Abram 32. The grounds in the characters’ temperament, desires and moral nature for their speech and actions are called their motivation Abrams 33. In this study, character refers to the figure in the novel. I choose the character of Celie in Alice Walker’s The Color Purple because I intend to reveal the feminism exemplified by Celie’s character.

3. The Color Purple

The Color Purple in Alice Walker’s novel explains that purple is a kind of color which represents sadness, gloomy and violence. The main character, Celie experiences bad treatments from her stepfather and husband. Violence becomes a topic from Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Celie is raped by her stepfather, Alphonso. Celie never feels happy with her marriage with her husband. Her childhood is not enjoyable. Celie has to do all the housework. Alice Walker wants to emphasize about the color in this novel. The Color Purple shows that the issues of color people are explored in this novel. This novel spots the life of black people community.

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE