On-the-Eco-Feminism-in-Color-Purple-淺析《紫色》中的生態(tài)女性主義

IVAbstractAliceWalker(1944-)isoneofthemostremarkableAfrican-AmericanwritersinAmericanliterature.Asablackwoman,Walkerpaysmoreconcernsonsuchissuesastheplightofblacks,themutedgroupofblackwomen,nature,andothersocialproblemsinAmerican.TheColorPurpleoneofhermasterpieces,whichhasprofoundinfluenceinthehistoryoftheAfricanliterature.Inthenovel,Walkerdepictstheoppressionuponblackwomenandtheexploitationofnatureinthepatriarchalsocietyandtheirsearchingforselfidentityaswell.Thisthesisillustrateshomogeneityoftwindominationupontheblackwomenandnature,andputsforwardwaysforharmonioussurvivalofhumanandnaturebycloseexaminationofgenderoppression,racialdiscriminationandecologicalcrisisinTheColorPurple.Mythesiswillbedividedintofourmainparts.Firstly,IwillmakeabriefintroductiontoliteraryreviewonAliceWalker'sTheColorPurpleandintroducesecofeminismanditseffectsonAliceWalker'sworks.Secondly,specificanalysiswillbegiventorevealthedominanceovernatureandwomen,andtoillustratethesamecauseforit:patriarchaldomination.Thirdly,itillustratesthevoicesofrebellionfromblackwomenandnature:women'sunityandallianceandthenature'spre-warninguponhumanbeings.Atlast,basedonthefictionaldetails,itpresentsananalysisoftransformationoftheblackmenandthewhite;thusgivesusahopefulpossibilityforco-existenceofhumanbeingsandnature.Fromtheecofeministapproach,itisexpectedtoshedfreshlightontheresearchofthenovelandWalker'sspiritsandevokemoreattentiontoecologicalbalance.Keywords：“ColorPurple”;eco-feminism;theblackwomen;harmonyContents摘要 IAbstract IIChapterOneAliceWalkerandEco-Feminism11.1AliceWalkerandLiteraryReviewonherColorPurple 11.2Eco-FeminismandEco-FeministLiteraryCriticism 1ChapterTwoPatriarchalDominationontheBlackWomenandNature 42.1TwoOppressionsupontheBlackWomen 42.1.1GenderDiscriminationupontheBlackWomen 42.1.2RacialOppressionupontheBlackWomen 52.2TheExploitationoverNature 62.3WomenandNature:theVictimsofPatriarchalSystem 7ChapterThreeRebelliousVoicesAgainstPatriarchalDomination 93.1BlackWomen’AllianceAgainsttheOppressions 93.1.1TheKinshipBetweenCelieandNettie 93.1.2TheFriendshipBetweenCelieandSofia 103.1.3TheSisterhoodBetweenCelieandShug 123.2Nature’sEarly-warningAgainstExploitations 13ChapterFourHarmoniousSurvivalBetweenHumanandNature 154.1PeacefulCo-existenceofHuman 154.1.1EqualityBetweenBlackWomenandBlackMen 154.1.2Mutual-respectBetweentheWhiteandtheBlack 164.2HumanandNatureinHarmony 17ChapterFiveConclusion 19Bibliography 20Acknowledgments21 OntheEco-FeminisminColorPurplePAGE22 ChapterOneIntroductionAliceWalker,anAfrican-Americannovelist,essayist,poet,biographer,andshortfictionwriter,isoneofthemostremarkableandinfluentialwomenwritersinAmericanliterature.Sincein1982,TheColorPurplehasarousedagreatconcern.ItwasontheNewYorkTimesbestsellerslistfor25weeksandwonthePulitzerPrizein1983.ThesiscarriesonarelativelydetailedanalysisofAliceWalker'secofeministconsciousnessperceivedinTheColorPurple.Ecofeministsbelievetorealizetheharmonyandreconciliationoftheworldbyoverturningthepatriarchy.1.1AliceWalkerandLiteraryReviewonherColorPurpleAlicewalker’sworksmainlyfocusonraceandgenderoppressionofblackwomen,andshowtheirhesitation,awakeningandresistance.Tobethevoiceofblackwomen.Shesaid:allmymindisinthespiritofthepeopleofmysurvival.TheColorPurplewinsthePulitzerliteraturebookaward,nationalbookawardandthenationalbookcriticsaward,andbecomethemilestoneofblackliterature.Foreigncriticsevaluatethemeaning,feministthoughtandculturalidentity,andmanyotheraspectsofTheColorPurple.Forexample,PeterPrescottestimatestopicsofTheColorPurple,includingfear,love,murderandsoon;BellhookssaysTheColorPurplebeyondtheboundariesofrace,class,gender,andculture.Othercriticsanalyzetheartformofthenovel,suchasthenarrativestrategy,languagecharacteristics.Sincethe1980s,domesticcriticsofTheColorPurpleresearchmainlyfocusonthereflectionoffeminismForexample,Janewangbelieveswalkerfeministsoulisthepursuitofcompletehumansurvival.Therearesomecriticalanalysisofthecharactersinthenovel,themesandformsofart,etc.Overall,thedomesticstudyofwalker'sworksneedstofurtherexplore.1.2Eco-FeminismandEco-FeministLiteraryCriticismInthe19thcentury,Withthewomen'smovementdevelopment,theearlyfeministsarecommittedtotheimprovementofthecivilrights.Inthe20thcentury,women'smovementhasreachedgreatheight.Inthe1960sand1970s,intheUnitedStates,women'sliberationmovementemerged.In1962,RachelCarson,ascientist,writer,andecologist,publishedSilentSpring.ThebooklikesabombwhichexplodinginAmerica.Meanwhile,stimulatingAmericanpeople’snerve.Afterthepublicationofthisbook,environmentalismcomesintobeingquickly.InfacttheGreenMovementbeginsintheUnitedStates.Uptotheearly1970s,PeoplepaymoreattentiontothedeteriorationoftheenvironmentwhichinfluencedbyeconomicexpansionandthewaraftertheWorldWarII.Atthesametime,anewterm:Eco-Feminismarousesalotofattentionforfeminists.ItwasfirstlyintroducedbyFrancoised'Eaubonne.However,tillthe1990s,Eco-FeminismhascomeintobeingasamovementintheUnitedState.Ecofeministsclaimthatnatureisafeministissue.Theyexploretherelationshipbetweenenvironmentaldegradationandgenderoppressionasaneffectofwesternmaledominance.Also,ecofeministspointout:it’snotenoughtodiscusstheconnectionsbetweentheexploitationofnatureandtheoppressionofwomeninpatriarchalsocieties.Itisequallyimportanttorecognizetwoformsofdominationwhicharecloselyconnectedwithclassexploitation,racism,colonialismandneocolonialism.Asanewwaveofculturalandartistictrend,ecofeministliterarycriticismcomesintobeingonthebasisoffeministcriticismandecologicalcriticism.Itscientificallycombinesfeministcriticismandecologicalcriticisminthefieldofliterarystudytoformitsownuniqueliterarycriticism.Ecofeministliterarycriticismisn’tgeneratedspontaneously.Itisborninthelate20thcenturys,Eco-Feminismphilosophy,whichprovidesnecessarytheoreticalbackgroundandthesoilforemergence,development.Inthemiddleofthe1980s,CarlinWarrenmadethecoreofEco-Feminismassumptions:First.theoppressionofwomenandnaturehaveimportantconnection.second,tounderstandthenatureoftheselinksforthefullunderstandingofwomenandtheoppressionsufferedbynatureisnecessary;third,Eco-Feminismtheoryandpracticemustincludetheecologicalperspective,forth,tosolveecologicalproblemsmustincludethefeministperspective.ToEco-Feminism,women’svirtueandecologicalprincipleshavebecomeaimportantstandardsofliterarycriticism.Ontheonehand,theyappreciateandpraisetheliteraryworkswhicharefilledtheideaswiththestable,interconnectingcommunity.Ontheotherhand,Theystronglyopposedtothepropagationofmale-centeredculture,andconceptofcontrollingdesire.Ecofeministliterarycriticismhasbeenmorethantwentyyearsofdevelopment.Bypayingourattentiontotheplotsandcharactersofliteratureworks,authorswanttoshowtherelevanceofprofoundconceptsforacomplexworldwithdifferentinhabitants.Ecofeministliterarycriticismhasformedaself-containedtheoreticalframeworkandresearchmethod.Asacriticalperspective,eco-feministliterarycriticismhasbroughtmanynewideas,newthinking,newdiscoveries.Fromaboveanalysis,wecansee,thebirthofEco-Feminismisconsequenceofrealenvironmentalpressure.Thelovefornatureisimportant,andeco-feministsshowdeepsympathyfortheoppressedwomen.So,AliceWalker’sdualattentiontonatureandfateofwomen,herworksrichineco-feminismthought.chapterTwoPatriarchalDominationontheBlackWomenandNatureEcofeministshavenoticedwomenandnature,whicharedominatedbymen.Theycontrolovernaturewomenwhichareinseparable.Protagoras(481-411B.C.)istheancientGreekphilosopher,hedeclares:manisthemeasureofallthings.Menputthemselvesinthesuperioranddominantpositionoverwomen.Italsosuggestshumankinds,particularlymen,controllingovernatureisunconditionalandabsolute.2.1TwoOppressionsupontheBlackWomenWemayknowaboutgenderdiscriminationandracialoppression,butwedon’tknowhowextensiveandstrongtheyare,howtheywork,howtheyareinterrelated.ThefollowingfamouspassageinHuston'sTheirEyeswereWatchingGodcangiveusacorrectanswer,Asagroup,blackwomencollectiveatthebottomofcareerladder;theiroverallsocialstatusislowerthanothergroups.Occupyingthisposition,theybearthebruntofgenderdiscriminationandracialoppression.Blackwomen,thelifeexperienceofdirectchallengestothemainstreamofdiscrimination,genderandracialdiscriminationinsocialstructure.Inthisnovel,AliceWalkergivesusavividpicture,whichthetwooppressionsontheblackwomen.2.1.1GenderDiscriminationupontheBlackWomenInTheColorPurple,blackwomensuffersbothphysicalandmentaloppressionunderthedominanceofblackmen.AliceWalkeralsowrites,"Blackwomenareregardedasfolklorethatsoproperlyidentifiesperson'sstatusinsociety,becausewehavebeenhandedtheburdenswhicheveryonerefusetocarry.Inapatriarchyfamily,womenarethemainlaborforceinthehouseandfields.Inthehouse,theyareworkinglikemaids:theyhavetocookfood,washclothes,cleanhouse,anddoalltriflechoresaroundthehouse;infields,theyhavetoworkal1day.Inthenovel,whenMr.-'ssisterasksHarpo,Celie'sstepson,tohelpCelietobringinwater,heanswers,"Womenwork,Iamaman.Heavyburdenoflifemakesblackwomeninthesouthruralareaasmules.ButthingsarenobetterforAfricanwomen.AliceWalkerproclaims,We'regoingtohavetodebunkthemyththatAfricaisaheavenforblackpeople,especiallyforblackwomen.We'vebeenthemuleoftheworldhereandthere.InAfrica,whenblackwomenare"workinglikedonkeys",theirhusbandare"walkingaroundanddrinkingalldayholdingtheirbellyuparidtalkinganddrinkingpalmwine.Blackwomenaresexuallyabused.Intheeyesofblackmen,blackwomenareonlytheinstrumentstoventtheirsexuality,Theyjustenjoytheirownhappiness,theonlythingbroughttowomenisindifferenceandpain.Inaddition,Inmarriage,thismannerandattitudeisdescendedfromfathertoson,fromgenerationtogeneration.Celie'smothersuffersthemostisherstepfather'ssexualattack.Evenshejustfinishesgivingbirthtoachild,herphysicalconditionisnotgood.Buthedidn’tcare.Hermother'sdeath,becauseofsuchcrueltreatment.Therefore,inthesexualrelationshipwithmen,blackwomenaredehumanized,andwereregardedasobjectswithoutanyemotionsandfeelings.Also,Blackwomenaredehumanizedspiritually.InTheColorPurple,Undertheirdominanceofpower,inordertocontrolwomen,blackmencontinuouslyimposeaninferiorgenderconceptonblackwomen.Celieisagoodgirl,sheisdiligentinschool.Butherstepfatheralwaysabusesher.HeintroducesCelietoMr:Sheisaspoiledanduglygirl.sheisabadgirlwhoinfluenceuponothergirls.Onethingwecananalyzeistheblackmenemploytotakewomenundertheircontrol,Theywanttodecrytheirreputationandhittheirconfidence.Theytryallthewaytomakewomenthinktheyareborntobebad,Sotheyshouldgetanyformofabuse.Inaddition,inTheColorPurple,blackwomenareexpropriatedoftherightsforeducation.Beingdeprivedofthehumanhonourofbothintellectualandprofessionalequalitywithmen,bothwomen'sculturalcontributionandtheirfieldofvisionarerestricted.InAfrica,men,evensomewomen,theythinkgirlsdon’tneedtobeeducated.WhenNettieasksmotherwhyshethinkso,shesaid,"Agirlisnothingtoherselfonlytoherhusbandcanshebecomesomething.Moreover,womenaredeprivedoftherighttochoosethewayoftheirlivesfromtheirownfreewill.Inthenovel,Celie'sstepfatherisherowner,andhechooseshusbandforcelie.Inalltheprocessofsignificantissue,suchasmarriage,Celieisabsolutelysilentandthereisnoinquiryofherwill.Men,instead,havetakenitoverandintheprocesshaveoppressedwomen.2.1.2RacialOppressionuponBlackWomenTilltoday,racismisalong-termunsettledpoliticalissueexistinginAmerica.RacismisoneofthemostimportantthemesexpressedinTheColorPurple.NowriterhasmadetheintimatehurtofracismmorepalpablethanWalker.Blackpeopleareassimilatedbythewhiteideologyspiritually,especiallyinbelief.Inthewhite-dominatingchurch,blackwomenareexpectedtotakepartinservice;theyhelpthepreachertokeepthechurchcleanandfunctional.Discriminationinthechurchkeepswomensilent.Inwhites'preach,Godistakenforgrantedtobewhite,andblackpeoplearetaughttogodownontheirkneestoworshipthewhiteGod.Whitesattempttoensurethattheyaresuperiortothecoloredbynature,becauseGodiswhiteandholysaintsareallwhitetoo.Therefore,CeliebelievesfirmlyinhermindthatGodisallwhite.Godisafalseimage,employedasatoolfortheoppressorstokeeptheoppressedsubmittedtotheauthority.Politically,blackwomeninTheColorPurpleenjoynoequalrightsandevenracialsegregationextensivelyinAmerica.Inthesouth,blackpeoplecan’tevensitsidebysidewiththewhitesinacar.InaletterfromNettietoCelieduringherjourneytoAfrica,NettietellsCelieaboutNewYerk:"WhatcanItellyouaboutNewYorkorevenaboutthetrainthattookusthere!Wehadtorideinthesit-downsectionofthetrain,butCelie,therearebedsontrains!Andarestaurant!Andtoilet!Thebedscomedownoutofwalls,overthetopsoftheseats,andarecalledberths.Onlywhitepeoplecanrideinthebedsandusetherestaurant.Andtheyhavedifferenttoiletsfromcolored.AswehaveseenthatAliceWalkerdeeplypenetratestheracialpoliticsemployedbyracists,andherfocushereisanimportantpoliticalone,whichisinBarbaraChristian'sword,"breakingofsilencewhichoverthrowstheblackoppressivestancefosteredbyracismuponblackwomen.2.2TheExploitationoverNatureInthehistoryofwesterncivilization,menoccupyabsolutepoweroverwomenandnature.Eco-feministsbelievethatthedeteriorationofthenaturalenvironmentistheinevitableresultcausedbythispatriarchalculture.Walkerclearlydemonstratestheinextricabilityofrace,genderandnaturewhensayingthat"someofushavebecomeusedtothinkingthatwomanistheniggeroftheworld,thatapersonofcoloristheniggeroftheworld,thatapoorpersonistheniggeroftheworld.But,intruth,Earthitselfhasbecometheniggeroftheworld.InTheColorPurple,itrevealsmen'scrueloppressionuponwomen,amovingportraitofthephysicalbondsthatexistbetweenwomenandnature.MurrayBookchinoncestatesthat"theverynotionofthedominationofnaturebymanstemsfromtheveryrealdominationofhumanbyhuman.Asdepictioninthenovel,Walkergivesusavividpictureofthemiserableconditionsofwomenandnaturebecauseofmen'sdominance.Walkersubtlyemploysmetaphorstoinsinuatetousthatmen'srapeofwomenandexploitationofnature.Celie,theheroineofthenovel,shealwaysidentifiesherselfasthetreewhensheisbeatenbymen.Thereisnootherthingintheworldforhertotakecomfortfromexceptthetree.Inthatparticularincidentwhenmenareindifferentandtheonlysisterisapartfromher,Celietakesrecoursetonaturalphenomena(trees)asshecursesherhusband.Thoughthereisnomuchdetaileddepictionofthemen'sexploitationofnatureortrees,Celiewrites:"Imakemyselfwood.Isaytomyself,Celie,youareatree.That'showcomeIknowtreesfearman."Throughthedepictionofthetrees,Walkershowsgreatconcernforthedegradationofnature.Olinkapeopledon’tknowthepurposeofthepeoplewithdifferentcolorandlanguagewhoarebuildingroads,sotheysendallkindsoffoodanddrinkwhichtheycanoffer.TheOlinkathinktheroadbeingbuiltisforthem.Butafterthefirstroadfinishing,theroadbuildersbegintobuildanotherthroughthevillageofOlinka,andtheplantaredestroyed.Olinkapeoplefeelsobetrayed,buttheyreallydon'tknowhowtofighttoprotecttheircrops.TheentireOlinkavillageisoccupiedbyanEnglishrubbercompany.Allancient,giantmahoganytrees,allthetrees,thegame,andeverythingoftheforestaredestroyed.SincetheOlinkanolongerpossesstheirvillage,theymustpayrentforit,andinordertousethewaterwhichalsonolongerbelongstothem,theymustpayawatertax,althoughOlinkapeoplepossessthemgenerationbygenerationforalonghistory.Nettie'slettersdescribetheAfricanpeopleandtheirlife,whichextendthenovel'scontentandspace.ThemoreimportantisthatinherlettersNettiepresentsthewesternindustryinvasiontothebackwardAfrica.Becauseoftheirinvasion,theOlinkalifeiscompletelydestroyed.Itspeopleareforcedintoanunknownworldandfate.Thiscontentmakesthethemeofthenovelmoreprofound.ItisWalker'sstrongobjectiontothecapitalismandtheirdestructiontopeopleandnature.BecauseofthespecialrelationshipbetweenAfricanandAfrican-American,insomesense,theselettersconnectthemtogether.2.3WomenandNature:theVictimsofPatriarchalSystemPatriarchyisdefinedbylearneras:Patriarchy’swiderdefinitionmeansthemanifestationandinstitutionalizationofmale-dominanceoverwomenandchildreninthefamilyandtheextensionofmale-dominanceoverwomeninthesociety.Itmeans,inalltheimportantinstitutionsofsociety,menholdgreatpower,but,womenaredeprivedthispower.Westernpatriarchalthinkingisbasedon"dualism",aworldviewthatorderstheworldbydividingitintoopposedpairsofconcepts:Mindissplitfrombody,spiritfrommatter,culturefromnature,malefromfemale,.Oneconceptineachpairisregardedsuperiortotheother.Inwesternpatriarchyculture.naturegreatlydamagedisunprecedented,manyspeciesareslowlydevouredunderthepowerfulruleofmoderntechnology.Eco-Feminismholdshumanbeingsandalllivingthingsareinseparableinnature;theyhaveinterdependentandmutuallydependentrelationship.Thepatriarchalsystemwhichdominateswomen,childrenandanimals,alsodominatenatureandtheearth.Thisdominationandexploitationofwomen,ofpoorlyresourcedpeoplesandofnaturesitsatthecoreoftheecofeministanalysis.Oppressionofthenaturalworldandofwomenbypatriarchalpowerstructuresmustbeinvestigatedtogetherorneithercanbeliberatedfully.Walker,likemostecofeminists,usesherwritingtoidentifythepatriarchalsilencingofthewomen'sinterrelationwithnature.IntheprefacetothetenthanniversaryeditionofTheColorPurple,AliceWalkerillustratesthecloselinkamongcolor,genderandnature.Itispositedthatinordertoputanendtotheoppressionofwomenandnature,wemusttranscendthemostbasicconceptualcategoriesofwesternthought:hierarchicaldualisms.AnecofeministreadingofTheColorPurplewillindicatethatwomenandnaturehavebecometheobjectsofthemaletocontrolanddominate.Inthenovel,Walkeremphasizesherviewthat"allofcreationofthesamesubstanceanddeservingofthesamerespect"andthat"weareconnectedtothem[theanimals]atleastasintimatelyasweareconnectedtotrees"Thisnovelshowsushowblackwomenandnaturearethevictimsofblackmen,themselveslockedintodestructiveculturalmythsconcerningthenatureofmasculinity.ChapterThreeRebelliousVoicesagainstPatriarchalDominationEcofeministsadvocatethatalllifeonearthisaninterconnectednetwork;inaccordancewithecologicallaws,theyhaverightstokeepontheirsurvival.Initially,naturehasnochoicebuttogroaninfrustrationattheexploitations,butoncetheactofhumandestructionresultsinthedisorderinacertainpartofthefoodchainoracycleinthemetabolism,herrevengeismoredisastrous.Shewillretaliateagainstthegreedyarrogantmanbymeansofdrought,flood,disease,andclimatevariability.Thecurrentecologicalcrisisfacinghumanityisanaturalpracticeagainsttheviolationofhumanperformance.Meanwhile,womencanfullysensethelossandpainofthenature,sothattheirresistancehasbecomemoreconsciousawakening.3.1BlackWomen'AllianceagainsttheOppressionsThroughoutthisnovel,thepowerofastrongfemalerelationshipisacommontheme.Walkerbelievesthepossibilityofempowermentfortheblackwomen,iftheycreateacommunityofsistersthatcanaltertheunnaturaldefinitionsofwomanandmantosomeextent.Manycriticstalkaboutthisintheircomments,Thevaluesexpressedinwomanbondingmutuality,respect,sharedpowerandunconditionallove.Inthenovel,Walkerportraysthesupportandcareamongsistersofbloodlineageandthefriendshipamongcommonwomen.TheformerisshowedinthesupportandcarebetweenCelieandNettie,whiletheletterisshowedintheinfluenceofotherwomenontheprocessofCelie'sawakening,strugglingandself-reliance,andalsointherelationshipbetweenSofiaandMary.Throughthehelpofthesisters,Celieisabletofindheridentity.3.1.1TheKinshipbetweenCelieandNettieNettieisCelie'ssister.Sincechildhoodthetwosistersareclosetoeachother.Theyusedtostudytogether.WhenCeliehavetoquitschoolbytheunexpectedpregnancy,NettietriestoteachCelieeverythingthatshehaslearnedatschool.Bothofthembelieveintheimportanceofbeingeducatedinordertochangetheirfate.SometimesCeliefeelsdisheartenedassheknowssheisn’tasprettyorassmartasNettie,butshekeepsonwithherstudiesandfinallymanagestolearntoreadandwrite.SuchanachievementmeansalottoCelieasitisdiscoveredlaterthatCeliedependssomuchonherletter-writingtoGodtoseeksalvationthatwithoutitshecanhardlygetthroughallhertragedies.Nettieisthefirstpersonwhotellshertofightforherself.WhenshesaidtoCelie:"Yougottofight."Celiewrites:ButIdon'tknowhowtofight.AllIknowhowtodoisstayalive."Sheisonlyasurvivor.HerlossisdoubledwhensheisforcedtoletgoofhersisterNettie,yetherhorizonsexpandasshemeetsmoreandmorepeople,indoingso,shebeginstorealizewhosheis.NettieisthesolereasonwhyCeliehasmanagedtosurvive.ShehasalwaysbeenlikeateacherforCelie.AlthoughCelie'shusbandhaskeptNettie'slettershidden,CelieneverloseshopethatNettieisstillalive.NettieisaproviderofhopeforCelie.NettietellsCeliethatGodisnotwhite,because"TheBiblesaysthatJesusChristhadhairlikelamb'swool.lamb'swoolisnotevenstraight,EvenwhenNettiestaysawayfromthefamily,sheremainsconstantlyonCelie'smindandbecomessortofspiritualpropforCelie,whoexpectstoseeheragainsomeday.ThethoughtofNettiedivertsCelie'sattentionfromthedemandsofherhardlife.ThefactthatNettieweighssomuchwithCeliecanbeevidencedconvincinglyfromCelie'sreactionaftershelearnsthatMr.-hasbeenstealingNettie'slettersforyears.Beforethisrevelation,CeliehasbeenenduringMr.forsuchalongtimethatsheseemsusedtoitandshowsnosignsofrevolt.EvenafterShug'sarrival,Celiehasnotdemonstratedanygesturesofopendefiance.ButthingsaredifferentthemomentsheknowsMr.-hasbeenhidingNettie'slettersfromher.Celieissuddenlyenragedanderuptslikeavolcanoafteralongperiodofdormancy,vowingtokillMr.ThisisaclearevidenceofhowmuchthelettersweighinCelie'sheart.Besides,CeliebegintoquestiontheGodwhofullytrustedinthepast.Inhereyes,Godisnowadistantonewithoutanyresponsetoher.Sincethen,Celiedoesn'twritetoGodanylonger,shewritestoNettie.Shehasfoundanewexperience,selfconsciousnessandherconsciousnessofafemaleisclearer.Towardstheendofthebook,Nettie'slettersalsoprovevalueingivingCelietrueunderstandingsaboutherpast,clarifyingsomeofthemysteriesaboutherownfamilyandshowingabrightfutureforCelie.InCelie'seyes,thissisterlyrelationshipissosignificant,regardeachotherasabackupforce.Infact,wecanfeelthatNettieisalwaysthepersonwhoawakesCeliefromanumbanddullgirlintoasensitiveandstrong-mindedwomannomattertheyarecloseinspaceorseparatedbythousandsofmilesfromthelinesofthenovel.3.1.2TheFriendshipBetweenCelieandSofiaSofiaisthewifeofHarpo,Celie'sstepson.SofiamakesCelielearnthatthereisanotherkindoflife,becausesheisastrong-mindedandindependentwoman.Throughoutthenovel,sheexhibitsanadmiringsenseofstrength.Sheisoneofthefewwomenwhodaretofightbacktoviolentmeninhertime.Shefoughtagainstherfatherandbrother,whenshewasyoungandstoppedtheirabuse.AlthougheverydayHarpotriesto"tame"Sofia;sheneverputsupwithandsubmitstohim.EvenwhenSofiaisimprisoned,shemaintainsherstrengthagainstthebrutalbeatingsofthewhitemen.Sheresists-sexistandracistoppressioninbothprivateandpublicspheres.Herrebelliousspiritleadshernotonlytodesertheroverbearinghusbandbutalsotochallengethesocialorderoftheracistcommunityinwhichshelives.Sofia,withherdeterminati