英国文学选读—Alice Walker

AliceWalker,IntroductionTheColorPurple(1982)isAliceWalkersmostmagnificentandcontroversialliteraryachievement.ThenoveloutragedAfricanAmericanmalecriticsaswellasafewfemalecriticswhoarguedthatWalkersstorydidnotrevealanaccuratepictureofAfricanAmericanlife.OneCaliforniamotherwassoinsultedbythenovelscontentthatsheattemptedtobanitfrompublicschoollibraries.Othersclaimedthatthenovelwasflawedbecauseitdefinedawomansidentityinrelationshiptohersexualexperiences.,Eventhelanguageofthenovelsprotagonisthasbeenfoundlacking.Regardlessofitsinitialreception,honorforWalkerspiercingstoryofanabused,AfricanAmericanwomanhaveincludedthePulitzerPrize(1983),theNationalBookAward(1983),andanAcademyAwardnomination.Ithasattractedtheappreciationofthemassesandlightspassionswithinbothpopularcultureandacademicthought.,TheColorPurpleisthefirstAfricanAmerican,woman-authored,epistolarynovel.ItembodiesWalkerswomanistviewswithoutbeingreducedtoamereplatformforideologicalrhetoric.Inthisnovel,Walkerswritingrevealsthetransformativepoweroffemalebondingandfemalelove.Itoffersfrankportrayalsofbisexual,lesbian,andheterosexualrelationshipsamidstsituationsthatpenetratethecoreoffemalespiritualandemotionaldevelopment.,Blackfeminism,arguesthatsexism,classoppression,andracismareinextricablyboundtogether.Formsoffeminismthatstrivetoovercomesexismandclassoppressionbutignoreracecandiscriminateagainstmanypeople,includingwomen,throughracialbias.OneofthetheoriesthatevolvedoutofthismovementwasAliceWalkersWomanism.AliceWalkerandotherWomanistspointedoutthatblackwomenexperiencedadifferentandmoreintensekindofoppressionfromthatofwhitewomen.TheypointtotheemergenceBlackfeminismafterearliermovementsledbywhitemiddle-classwomenwhichtheyregardashavinglargelyignoredoppressionbasedonraceandclass.,womanism,ThewordwomanismwasadaptedfromPulitzerPrizewinningauthor,AliceWalkersuseoftheterminherbookInSearchofOurMothersGarden:WomanistProse.Inherbook,Walkerusedthewordtodescribetheperspectiveandexperiencesofwomenofcolor.AlthoughmostWomanistscholarshipcentersontheAfricanAmericanwomansexperience,othernon-whitetheoristsidentifythemselveswiththisterm.,HowWomanismdeveloped?,TherootsoftheologicalwomanismgrewoutofthetheologyofJacquelynGrant,DeloresWilliams,andJamesHalCone.InConesbookABlackTheologyofLiberation,Conearguedthat“Godisblack”inanefforttodemonstratethatGodidentifieswithoppressedpeople.GrantrespondedbyclaimingthatConedidnotattendtothefullnessofblackexperiencespecificallythatofblackwomen.Shearguedthattheoppressionofblackwomenisdifferentfromthatofblackmen.ShebelievesthatJesusisa“divineco-sufferer”whosufferedinhistimelikeblackwomentoday.,DeloresWilliams,inherbookSistersintheWilderness,defineswomanism:“Womanisttheologyisapropheticvoiceconcernedaboutthewell-beingoftheentireAfricanAmericancommunity,maleandfemale,adultsandchildren.Itattemptstohelpblackwomensee,affirm,andhaveconfidenceintheimportanceoftheirexperienceandfaithfordeterminingthecharacteroftheChristianreligionintheAfricanAmericancommunity.Itchallengesalloppressiveforcesimpedingblackwomensstruggleforsurvivalandforthedevelopmentofapositive,productivequalityoflifeconducivetowomensandthefamilysfreedomandwell-being.Itopposesalloppressionbasedonrace,sex,class,sexualpreference,physicalability,andcaste”,Womanismisnotonlyatheoreticalconcept,butisalsocreatedvialivedexperience.FollowingtherapeandsubsequentsuicideofseveralblackwomenatUnionTheologicalSchool,theresponseofblackmenandwhitewomenwaslargelyindifferent.Inthiscontext,womanismbecameamovement,notjustaterm-itwasconsideredthatwomanismwasessentialforthesurvivalofblackwomeninacademia.,Thenovelopenswithademandforsilencethatleavesafourteen-year-oldgirlnamedCeliewithnowaytoexpressherpainandconfusionexceptinthelettersshewritestoGod.Celieisrapedrepeatedlybyherstepfather,Alphonso,andhastwochildrenbyhimchildrenhegivesawaywithoutherconsent.Later,sheisforcedintoalovelessmarriage,leavinghersisterNettiealonewithAlphonso.NettieescapeshissexualadvancesbymovinginwithCelieandherhusband,Mr.Albert.ThisarrangementisnobetterthanthepreviousoneandNettieisagainforcedtoleave.SheultimatelyendsupinAfricawhereshewritestoCelieofherexperiences.,ForCelie,marriageisnothingmorethanashiftwithinthequicksandsofabuseandmaledomination.AlbertbeatsherbecausesheisnotShugAvery,thewomanhelovesbutdoesnothavethecouragetomarry.Surprisingly,CelieandShugdevelopanintimaterelationship.Morethananyone,ShugsinfluentialpresenceandacceptancegiveCeliethestrengthsheneedstoredefineherself,takechargeofherlife,andleaveAlbert.,ShugandCeliemovetoMemphiswhereCeliebeginsacareerdesigningandsellingunisexpants.Afterherstepfathersdeath,shereturnstoherfamilyhome.NettiealsoreturnswithCeliestwochildren.ThenovelendswithareconciliationofCelieandAlbertsfriendship.,BothTheColorPurpleandthesubsequentfilm(1985)haveopenedthemindsofmillionstotheplightofAfricanAmericanwomenincrisis.Ifknowledgeandpersonalinsightisempowering,thenTheColorPurpleoffersthosewhoacknowledgeitstruthsawealthofstrength.AndforwomenlikeCelie,itisastartingpointforchangeandhealing.,TheColorPurple,AliceWalkersthirdnovel,waspublishedin1982.Thenovelbroughtfameandfinancialsuccesstoitsauthor.Italsowonherconsiderablepraiseandmuchcriticismforitscontroversialthemes.Manyreviewersweredisturbedbyherportrayalofblackmales,whichtheyfoundundulynegative.Whenthenovelwasmadeintoafilmin1985byStevenSpielberg,Walkerbecameevenmoresuccessfulandcontroversial.,Whileshewascriticizedfornegativeportrayalofhermalecharacters,Walkerwasadmiredforherpowerfulportraitsofblackwomen.Reviewerspraisedherforheruseoftheepistolaryform,inwhichwrittencorrespondencebetweencharacterscomprisesthecontentofthebook,andherabilitytouseblackfolkEnglish.Reflectingherearlypoliticalinterestsasacivilrightsworkerduringthe1960s,manyofhersocialviewsareexpressedinthenovel.,InTheColorPurple,asinherotherwritings,WalkerfocusesonthethemeofdoublerepressionofblackwomenintheAmericanexperience.Walkercontendsthatblackwomensufferfromdiscriminationbythewhitecommunity,andfromasecondrepressionfromblackmales,whoimposethedoublestandardofwhitesocietyonwomen.AsthecivilrightsmovementhelpedshapeMs.Walkersthinkingregardingracialissuesathome,italsoshapedherinterestinAfrica.,Duringthe1960s,astronginterestinethnicandracialidentitystimulatedmanyAfricanAmericanstolookfortheirrootsinAfrica.TheprimarythemeofTheColorPurple,though,reflectsWalkersdesiretoprojectapositiveoutcomeinlife,evenundertheharshestconditions.Hercentralcharactertriumphsoverhardshipandforgivesthosewhooppressedher.Thiscentralthemeofthetriumphofgoodoverevilisnodoubtthesourceofthebooksgreatsuccess.,AuthorBiography,AliceWalkerwasbornintheruralcommunityofEatonton,Georgia,in1944.MostofEatontonsresidentsweretenantfarmers.Whenshewaseightyearsold,WalkerwasblindedinoneeyewhenherbrotheraccidentallyshotherwithaBBgun.Havinggrownself-consciousasaresultofherinjury,Alicewithdrewtowritingpoetry.,ShebeganhercollegeeducationatSpelmanin1961buttransferredtoSarahLawrencein1963.Aftergraduatingin1965,shewenttoMississippiasacivilrightsactivist.ThereshemetMelvynLeventhal,awhitecivilrightsattorney,whomshemarriedin1967.TheLeventhalswerethefirstlegallymarriedinterracialcoupletoliveinJackson,Mississippi.Theydivorcedin1976.,AliceWalkersfirstnovelwaspublishedin1970andhersecondonein1976.Bothbooksdealtwiththecivilrightsmovement.TheColorPurplewaspublishedin1982andbroughtWalkerovernightsuccessandrecognitionasanimportantAmericanwriter.In1989WalkerpublishedTheTempleofMyFamiliar,inwhichsheusedamythiccontextasaframeworktocoverahalfmillionyearsofhumanhistory.Inthiswork,Walkerexploredthesocialstructureofamatriarchalsocietyandthebeginningofpatriarchalones.,Asinherotherworks,theauthorexploredracialandsexualrelationships.Walkersnovel,PossessingtheSecretofJoy,waspublishedin1992.Alongwithnovels,Walkerhaswrittenmanycollectedshortstoriesandbooksofpoetry.Manyofherstorieshavebeenincludedinanthologies.Anactivecontributortoperiodicals,Walkerhashadherworkspublishedinmanymagazines,includingHarpers,NegroDigest,BlackWorld,Essence,andtheDenverQuarterly.,Besidesherwritingcareer,Walkerhasbeenateacherofblackstudies,awriterinresidence,andaprofessorofliteratureatanumberofcollegesanduniversities.Shehasreceivednumerousawardsforherwriting,includingaNationalEndowmentfortheArtsgrant,aGuggenheimAward,anO.HenryAward,anAmericanBookAward,andthePulitzerPrize.ShehasonedaughterandlivesinCalifornia.,PlotSummary,FirstPeriodInTheColorPurple,thestoryistoldthroughletters.Theonlysentencesoutsidethelettersarethefirsttwo:YoubetternotnevertellnobodybutGod.Itdkillyourmammy.Silencedforever,themaincharacter,fourteenyearoldCelie,writesletterstoGod.Herfatherhasrapedher,andshehastwochildren,agirlandaboy,whomPatookawayfromher.CeliesmotherhasdiedandPaislookingtoomuchatherlittlesister,Nettie.,Mr.wantstomarryNettiebutParejectshimbecauseoftheMr.sscandalswithShugAvery,abluessinger.CeliemanagestogetapictureofShugandfallsinlovewithher.Eventually,Mr.agreestotakeCelieinsteadofNettiebecausePaoffershimacow.Oncesheisinhiscare,Mr.beatsCelieallthetime.Meanwhile,NettierunsawayfromPaandcomestoMr.shouse,butwhensherejectshim,hethrowsherout.CelieadvisesNettietoaskherdaughterOliviasnewmotherforhelp.Nettiepromisestowritebutherlettersneverarrive.,Oneday,ShugAverycomestotown,butMr.doesnottakeCelietoseeher.Harpo,Mr.sson,getsmarriedtoSofia,astrongbravewoman,andwhenhecomplainsthatSofiadoesnotobeyhim,CelieadvisesHarpotobeather.Sofiafindsout,andintheconversationthatfollows,CelierealizessheisjealousofSofia:YoudowhatIcant.Fight,shesays.,SecondPeriod,ShugisillandMr.bringshertohishome.ToCeliessurprise,shecallsMr.byhisfirstname,Albert.CeliesloveandcaremakeShugbetter;Shugstartscomposinganewsong.SofiafinallyleavesHarpo,whoturnshishouseintoajukejointandasksShugtosing.ShuginvitesCelietotheperformance.ShugsingsAGoodManIsHardtoFindandthenhernewpiece,calledCeliesSong.Celiediscoversthatsheisimportanttosomeone.,Beforeleaving,ShugsaysshewillmakesureMr.neverbeatsCelieagain.ShealsoteachesCelietoloveherself.BythetimeSofiareturnswithanewmanandsixchildreninsteadoffive,HarpohasalittlegirlfriendhecallsSqueak.SofiaandSqueakhiteachotherinthejukejoint,andfinallySofialeaves.,ThemayorswifeseesSofiaintownwiththekidsandasksSofiatobehermaid.Sofiaanswers:Hellnoandhitsthemayorwhenheprotests.Sheisarrested,beatenandleftinprison.Meanwhile,SqueaktakescareofSofiaschildren.WhenshefindsoutoneofSofiaswardensisheruncle,SqueaktriestosaveSofia.SheconvincesthewardenthatworkingforthemayorswifewouldbeabetterpunishmentforSofia.,ThewardenforcesSqueaktohavesexualintercoursewithhim.WhenSqueakgoesbackhome,furiousandhumiliated,sheordersHarpotocallherMaryAgnes,herrealname.Sofiastartsworkingforthemayorswife,butsheistreatedasaslave.Onhernextvisit,Shugismarried.SheandCeliehavemissedeachother,andonenight,whenthemenareaway,CelietellsShugthestoryofPaandthechildren.Shugkissesher,andtheymakelove.,ThirdPeriod,Oneday,ShugasksCelieaboutNettie,andtogethertheyrealizeMr.hasbeenhidingNettiesletters.TheyfinallyrecoverthemfromMr.strunk.,UnlikeCeliesletterstoGod,NettieslettersarewritteninstandardEnglish.ThedayNettieleft,Mr.followedherandtriedtorapeher.Shefought,andhehadtogiveup,buthepromisedshewouldneverhearfromCelieagain.NettiewenttoseeCorrine,Oliviasnewmother,andherhusband,theReverendSamuel.ShealsometCeliesotherchild,Adam.,SamuelwasamemberofaMissionarySociety,andNettiedecidedtogotoAfricawiththefamily.First,theywenttoNewYork,whereNettiediscoveredHarlemandAfricanculture.Then,theywenttoEnglandandSenegal,whereNettiesawwhatEuropewasdoingtoAfrica:robbingitstreasures,usingitspeoples,andimpoverishingtheland.CeliereadsNettieslettersandwantstokillMr.forhavinghiddenthem.TohelpCeliecontrolherself,ShugsuggeststhatCeliemakeherselfapairofpantsandgoonreadingtheletters.,WhenthemissionarygrouparrivedinAfrica,theOlinkasthoughtAdamandOliviawereNettiesandSamuelschildren.TheytoldNettiethestoryaboutroofleaves:Therehadbeenagreedychiefwhocutdownmuchofthejungleinordertocreatemorefarmland.Theplants,whichprovidedtheleavesfortheroofsoftheOlinkashouses,weredestroyed,andmanypeopledied.Thevillagebeganworshippingtheleaves.WhenNettielookedattheroofofhernewhouseinthevillage,sheknewshewasinfrontoftheOlinkasGod.,Olinkagirlswerenoteducated.Oliviawastheonlygirlatschool.Corrine,jealousandworriedbytheOlinkasimpressionsaboutherfamily,askedNettietotellthechildrennottocallherMama.Oliviasonlygirlfriend,Tashi,couldnotcometoschoolbecauseherparentsforbadeit.,Afterfiveyearsofsilence,thenextlettertellsCeliethatAdamandOliviahaddiscoveredconnectionsbetweenslavestoriesandAfricanstories.Tashisfatherhaddied,andhermotherhadlethergotoschool.Aroadwasnownearthevillage,andsuddenlytheOlinkasrealizeditwasgoingtodestroytheirsacredplace.Thechiefwenttothecoasttodosomethingaboutit,buthediscoveredthattheOlinkaswholeterritorynowbelongedtoarubbercompany.,WhenCorrinegotillshortlyafterwards,shetoldNettieshethoughtAdamandOliviawereNettiesandSamuelskids.ThoughNettiesworeitwasnotso,Corrinewasnotconvinced.NettieandSamueltalkedaboutit,andSamueltoldherthatCeliesandNettiesrealfatherwasnotthemantheycalledPa;theirmotherhadbeenmarriedbeforetoamanwhowaslynchedbywhitepeople.Inthisway,Celieisfreedfromthenightmareofbelievingherchildrenarealsoherbrotherandsister.,FourthPeriod,Forthefirsttime,CeliewritesalettertoNettie.ShehasvisitedheroldhousewithShugandseenherPa.Meanwhile,shegoesonreadingNettiesletters.NettieandSamueltriedtoconvinceCorrineoftherealstoryofthechildren.ShebelievedthemonlywhenNettiemadeherremembermeetingCelieintown.Corrinesmiledtothemthenbutdiedsoonafterwards.,IdontwritetoGodnomore,Iwritetoyou(Nettie),saysCelieinhernextletter.Sheseesshehasbeenprayingtoawhiteoldman.ShugtellsCelieshebelievesGodisnotaHeoraShe,butanIt.Itiseverything,andItgetsveryangryifonewalksbythecolorpurpleinafieldanddoesntnoticeit.,ShugandCeliedecidetoleaveMr.togetherwithMaryAgnes,whowantstobeasinger.CeliecursesMr.andtellshimthateverythinghedidtoher,hedidtohimself.ThetwowomengotoShugshouseinMemphis.Then,Shugtravelsaroundsinging,andCeliestartsFolkspants,Unlimited,afamilyclothingbusiness.,WhenCeliegoesbackhometoseeSofiaandHarpo,shefindsMr.haschanged.Hecooksandcleans.Nowtheycantalk.HarpotellsCeliehisfathercouldnotsleepuntilhesentCeliethelastlettershehadkept.,TheletterssayNettieandSamuelgotmarriedinthemiddleoftheOlinkawar.Thecompanydestroyedtheroofleaves.SomeoftheOlinkaswenttothejungletosearchforthembeles,alegendarytribe.SamuelandNettietraveledtoEnglandandinthejourney,Nettietoldthechildrentheirrealstory.TheywereeagertomeetCelie,butAdammissedTashi.WhentheygotbacktoAfrica,theOlinkasweresodesperatethattheyhadmarkedtheirchildrensfacestokeeptheirtraditionalive.Tashihadthetraditionalscarsinhercheeks.,InAmerica,Celiesstepfatherdiesandsheinheritsthehouse.Shecleansitofitshorrorwithaceremonyandsellsherpantsthere.ShuggoesbacktoMemphis.Celieisverysadandlonely,andshethenhearsthattheshipNettiehadtakentogohomewassunkbytheGermans.,ButNettiesletterskeeparriving.Tashi,hermother,andAdamalldisappearedfromthevillage.Meanwhile,Mr.andCelieareunitedthroughheart-breakandtheirloveforShug.CeliediscoversthatMr.lovestosew.Whiletheyworktogether,shetellshimtheOlinkasversionofAdamandEvesstory:AdamandEvewerethefirstwhitebabiesinablackworld,rejectedbecausetheyweredifferent.,Theserpentrepresentsblackpeople.Whitescrushthisserpentwhentheycanbecausetheyarestillenraged.Intime,whitepeoplewillbethenewserpentandcoloredpeoplewillcrushthem.Theonlywaytostopthishorroristoworshiptheserpentandacceptthatitisourrelative.,Inherlastletter,NettietellsCeliethatAdamandTashiwenttoasecretvalleywherepeoplefromdifferenttribeslivedtogether.Whentheycameback,AdamwantedtomarryTashi,butsherejectedhim.Adamscarredhimselftoconvinceher,andthentheygotmarried.,SofiastartsworkinginCeliesstore.SheiswithHarpoagain.Mr.,whoisnowcalledAlbert,asksCelietomarryhim,butCelieprefersfriendship.Shugcomesbacktothem.CelieslastletterinthebookistoGod,butthistimeitisShugsGod.Celieishappy:Nettie,Samuelandthechildrenarehomeatlast.,Characters,AdamAdamisCeliessonwhowasadoptedbythemissionary,ReverendSamuel,andhiswife,Corrine.WhentheReverendandhisfamilyreturntoAmerica,Celieisreunitedwithhergrownson.,Albert,AlbertisthewidowerwithfourchildrenwhobuysCeliefromherstepfather.AlberttreatsCeliewithcruelty,usinghertosatisfyhissexualneedsandtotakecareofhischildren.HereallylovesShugAvery,wholatercomestolivewithAlbertandCeliewhensheissick.CelieappreciatesShugspresenceinthehouse,becauseAlberttreatsherbetterwhenShugisaround.AlbertlaterinlifesoftensandCelietakeshiminasahelperinherbusiness.,AlbertsFather,AlbertsfathercomestovisitwhenhehearsthatAlberthastakenShugAveryintohishouse.HesaysmanynastythingsaboutShugandexpresseshisdisapprovalofwhathissonisdoing.Albertaskshimtoleave.,Alphonso,Celiesstepfather.WhenCeliesmotherissickanddying,herapesCelieandcontinuestodosolongenoughforCelietohavetwochildren,whomhesellstoalocalmissionaryandhiswife.HedoesnttellCeliewhathashappenedtothechildren,andinitiallyCeliethinkshekilledthem.Celielaterlearnsthatheisnotherrealfather.Herrealfatherwaslynchedyearsbeforebyawhitemob.AlphonsotellsCelienottotellanyonebutGodaboutwhathehasdonetoher.Hewarnsherthatifshetells,itwillkillhermother.,ShugAvery,Shug,abluessinger,isthewomanthatAlbertloves.Sheisasophisticatedandliberatedwoman.AftershecomestostaywithAlbertandCelie,whocareforherwhilesheissick,sheandCeliedevelopadeeprelationship.ShughelpsCeliegainself-esteemandteacheshertospeakupforherself.ShefindsthelettersfromNettietoCeliethatAlberthasforyearskepthiddenawayfromCelie.ShugalsohelpsCeliegetstartedinherbusinessbyencouraginghertosew.Laterinthestory,ShugreturnsagaintoCelieandAlbertshome,butthistimewithahusband.AlongwithSofiaandNettie,ShugisarolemodelwhohelpsCeliechangeherlife.,Celie,Celieistheheroineofthenovel.MostofthelettersthatcomprisethebookarelettersCeliewritestoGodor,afterlearningthathersisterNettieisinAfrica,toNettie.CeliedoesnotknowaboutNettiesattemptstocommunicatewithheruntilShugfindsthelettersfromNettiethatAlberthashidden.ThroughthecharacterofCelie,theauthorisabletopresenthermessageofsexualliberationandself-determinationforwomen.,ThroughCeliesvoice,whichsp