"The Color Purple": Compare the conflict in Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" to a conflict in real life.

Essay by liseliHigh School, 10th gradeA, October 2007

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Over the summer, I read "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker. Set in the early to mid 1900s, the themes and conflicts of the story reflect important issues that have a high impact on our society today. The novel is laden with themes such as racism, homosexuality and rape, issues that are rarely addressed in current times. Celie, the protagonist, and other characters, suffer through trials during a time where inequalities and prejudices are overlooked and ignored. Through this story, I realized that the hardships experienced in Celie's day are not so different from our own.

At one point in the novel, the mayor's wife, a Caucasian, tells Sofia, a black woman, to be her servant. This is a prime example of racism, where in this case, the white woman thought the black woman inferior. Racial stereotypes, slurs, and even jokes at the lunch table are so common, especially in the United States, where so many races live as one.

Although we may not go as far as enslaving a person of a different race, racism is disregarded today as it was in the past.

Another theme in the book is homosexuality. Celie and Shug Avery, both women, have a strong emotional connection with one another, displayed throughout the book. This controversial subject causes divisions among politicians, families, and friends. Recently, people have become more open about homosexuality and homosexual behavior. It is seen on television, in the news, and even at school. The novel puts homosexuality into perspective from Celie's point of view. It provides a different outlook on the issue, while today it joked about, exaggerated, and at times obscene.

Lastly, there is the crime of rape. Out of all the "touchy" subjects in the story, it is the most extreme. While people can be...