The Character of Celie inThe Color Purple Essay - 756 Words

While other women may complain to their friends about frivolous, day-to-day worries about spoiled milk or misbehaving children, Celie, the main character in the film The Color Purple, deals with extremely serious psychological issues all alone. Not only does she have to suffer through a relationship with Albert, an abusive and alcoholic husband, she also has to face the cold prospect of isolation from the black community. Members of the black community in the movie The Color Purple band together for spiritual, financial and social support during troubled times in a racist era. However, Celie enjoys none of the community’s bastions of support because the community isolates Celie and regards her as an oddity. Alberts regular verbal†¦show more content†¦Celie copes with this exploitation and isolation by becoming a wall that does not respond to acts of violence. She finds strength in herself and refrains from extending herself to Sophia and other members of the black com munity. Albert’s worst form of abuse lies not with the physical and verbal abuse he instills; he sinks to his worst level when he cuts Celie of from all contact with her only true friend, Nettie. By losing her only friend Nettie, she loses the only person who cares deeply for her; without a friend and companion for mutual support, Celie loses all her poise and allows her abuse to continue. Though many women, if put in Celie’s situation, would have refused to endure continued psychological abuse, Celie stomachs a painful and lonely life largely because she lacks the self-confidence to extend herself to others. Celie lacks the assurance to accost Albert for his maltreatment, or run away to a different community. In the scene where Shug sings Celie a special song written for her, Celie exhibits her disdain for the spotlight and tries to hide under her hat. Celie does possess virtuous human qualities of kindness and sacrifice, but she only displays such feelings when appro ached by people interested in friendship. Her friendship with Nettie endures after decades because Nettie naturally extended a hand of friendship towards Celie, who reciprocated an equal arm. Once Albert kicks Nettie out, Celie loses her only