*How does the primary plot merge with the three subplots in this section?
*Analyze Celie's "day of reckoning." Why do you think Celie finally "finds her voice"?
*Examine the reversals in this section.
*Analyze Albert's verbal attack against Celie and her response.
*Discuss Celie's life in Memphis.
*Examine the symbolism of Celie designing and making pants.
*How does Albert change? How does Celie react?
*What changes have occured in Nettie's life? Using the Olinka's experiences, analyze the effects of the destruction of the way of life of a group of people.
*Discuss Samuel and Nettie's trip to England.
*What were Samuel's intentions when he decided to work with the Olinka? Did the dream match the reality?
*Analyze the irony of the medal Corrine's Aunt Theodosia received from King Leopold.
*Discuss what Adam discovers about Tashi and how this affects him.
*How does Alphonso's death change Celie's circumstances?
*Discuss Alphonso's epitaph and contrast it with what Celie knows to be the truth.
*Analyze the significance of Shug's new love and Celie's reaction.
*Examine the contents of the telegram Celie receives.
*Discuss developments in Nettie's life. Compare/contrast Nettie and Samuel's changed view of God with Shug's.
*Discuss Celie's self analysis.
*How and why have Celie's feelings for Albert changed?
*Discuss what circumstances lead up to the confrontation between Sofia and Eleanor Jean. What are the racial overtones in this section?
*Discuss the developments in Shug's life and their effect on Celie. What does Germain represent to Shug?
*What does Nettie reveal about her family?
*Discuss the denouement of the novel and note the reversals.
*Analyze Celie's final letter. How is the final paragraph a universal statement?
*What would you say is one of the most important themes of the novel? Other thoughts you are having as you finish the novel?
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Edith Wharton
John Steinbeck
Mark Twain
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Ralph Ellison
Alice Walker
21 comments:
Adam discovers that Tashi is going to take part in two, very dangerous, rights of passage in the Olinka tribe. He becomes extremely angry and upset with Tashi and can not believe that she is willing to put her self in the danger that she is about too. Although he acts angry Adam is really scared for Tashi. He loves her and does not want her do something she is going to regret, or something that is going to harm her in any way. Despite all this Adam knows that Tashi is a strong individual who will not be influenced by him or anyone else once she has made up her mind. This saddens him even more because he knows there is nothing he can do to protect her.
Celie finds her voice and speaks up for herself because her husband took away her sister. Nettie meant the world to Celie and he took that from her. She has stood by and let many things happen to her, however she could not surpass that. Anybody would have done the same thing. What amplified Celies anger was the fact that she had so much of it pent up because she did not before have the courage to leave. I can say with confidence that there is not one reader that dissagreed with her and Shug.
Wow. I love the symbolism in Celie making pants. It took her a long time to get some confidence just as it took her a long time to start her business. She makes the pants now symbolizing her being her own woman and independent from men.
Adams concern for Tashi is cute, however at the same time it is deep. He is a nice young man who is concerned about the welfare of others(definately this time because he's in love). He doesn't want her to hurt herself despite tradition, but she does it because it's the way of her people. The white man could not take that away from them. It's their way and I agree that they do it. Someone shouldn't be able to come in and change everything for a people, and marking themselves is one of the few things the Olinka have left. They need their traditions no matter what form of mulitation the traditions deal with.
Albert changes a lot in this section. I thought that it would necer happen. He always came off as lazy and that he wouldn't do anything, for him to do all the house work and farm work when Celie left is a big shock. Celie took it as a shock that he was doing this, After she left Albert went back to doing nothing, this shows that she does mean something to him, wether it be just his maid, or if he does care
poor celie in this section just doesnt know how to feel. first shug leaves her for a man, then albert starts to act like a human being to her. im sorry, but i think it has to be said, shug is seems to be, uh, promiscuous. she passes from albert to celie to grady to celie then to this flute player. poor celie had to deal with all of them and it must be even more upset seeing as how (as far as we know) he was the first one she loved. then albert actually proposes to celie who, by this time, is completely off of men for life, making albert have to feel even more remorseful. i nkow ive been hopping around, but i felt bad for albert. sure, he beat celie and all that, but he genuinely changed after she cursed him and he seemed to be getting true feelings for celie by the end of the book but celie still loved shug. poor guy.
Samuel and Nettie take the trip to England after Corrine had died. It is at this time in the novel that they begin to feel like a close family. Part of this is due to the fact that Nettie looks so much like Adam and Olivia, since she is sisters with Celie who is their real mother. Samuel discusses his past life with Corrine and how the missionaries came about. Samuel even started to become bitter about the fact that even though they are there to help the Africans they act as if they don't even see them. Nettie responds by wrapping her arms around Samuel and comforting him. This proves that even though it may not be as harsh, there is always going to be racism/sexism present in a group of people. Also, during their trip Nettie and Samuel become close to each other and even express to the children their intention to marry. For the first time, Nettie feels as if her life is complete (except for her wish to see Celie again).
When Alphonso dies, Celie inherits what he owned even though it belonged to her long before then. But Celie finally has her own house and land, and that's all that matters to her. Because she inherits the house, Celie needs to spend time fixing it up. This also means she has to leave Shug for a short time. During this time, Celie and Shug are some what driven apart because Shug finds herself a new man. Celie also finds friendship in Albert, surprisingly enough.
I personally thought that the ending of this book ruined the rest of the book. At first I like this book, and then I went back and forth about whenther it was an amazing book or an alright book, but towards the beginning of the end I really actually liked the book. When everything wrapped up all nice I was dumbfounded. Celie has her sister, her business, her children, a brother-in-law, a house and store, many good friends (Squeak, Shrug, Albert, Jack, Odessa. And Nettie and Samuel are happy. Harpo and Sofia are back together and Sofia has a job. Tashi and Adam are going to be married. Squeak got up the courage to leave Grady because he was a bad influence. Everything just seemed too perfect. Now, I am a big fan of happy endings for fairy-tales and romances, but this book seemed like it was such a real-life story. (I'm not saying there is no such thing as a happy ending in real life, there is just not THIS perfect.) The ending just seemed to not fit the rest of the book.
theres nothing like the feel of pants :o) and theres also nothing like the feel of being your own person and starting something new. Good for Celie for doing her own thing! it shows that she is a new person ready for new things and new options. its a start of a whole new life for her.
this was such a good book! it is definatly on the top of my list :o)
.... now on to the next one! haha
Well, it was predictable that Celie would finally find her voice to speak out. I could see that coming. I did not think Albert was ever going to change, but he did, which kind of surprised me. I thought he would always be pretty lazy. And Albert stops treating Celie so bad. He stops treating her like a servant. Celie is actually being the person she wants to be and doing her own thing.
Ahh...sweet irony. Some beautiful BEAUTIFUL examples here.
First Aunt Theodosia getting a medal from King Leopold. This medal was for exemplary service to the king in missionary-ing. The irony is the fact that her "service to Africa" actually contributed to the pain and suffering of Africans. Thousands of Africans were worked to death under King Leopold, many had their hands cut off for not being "productive" enough. Woo brutality!(Sarcasm off)
The next being Alfonso's grave site. His headstone speaks of him wonderfully- his successes, his various organizations, his kindness to the poor and helpless. But we all know of the horrors he put Celie through. And yet his grave says only the best.
I was so Happy when Celie found her foice, and put Mr. ____ in his place. Mr.____ never payed attention to Celie's feelings, and it was very important for Celie get her emotions out. She kept them in so long that they eventually bottled up and exploded. It was a very impowering to me.
I believe that Celie partially found her voice because she was upset about Mr.____ hidding Nettie's letters from her. He took away the only person that loved her at that time, and upset her alot. Another reason Celie found her voice was because of Shug's influence on her. Shug incorraged her to stand up for herself, and gives her the support she needs. Finally the last reason she was able to speak her voice was because she was closer with God. After Shug explained to Celie what god was she understood.
Oh, and another interesting thing-the way Albert changes here in the end. Some depression, some help from his son, and after a while he begins to realize what a jerk he has been. Celie even says he is someone that she can talk to.
One of those central ideas in the book- breaking tradition, goes along perfectly with this change, and reinforces the overall idea. Moving on is good, the old is not necessarily the greatest way.
In the event of Alphonso's death Celie recieves his land and house. Her mother's will stated it belonged to Celie and her sister Nettie. She stays there for a while to fix it up for her, Nettie, Nettie's husband, and her kids. While she is gone Shug starts to fall in love with a 19 year old man. Celie is heartbroken by this discovery. Celie does not forgive her and leaves Shug's house and lives in her newly found house. Celie can not make new pants because she misses Shug so much. She finds an unusual friendship forming between her and Mr.____. He reveals a more compassionate and open side of him she never knew before. They talk, way more then they ever did before, and Celie teaches him to sew.
Besides finding voice, another theme is evident in the novel. This theme is that abusers, for instance, with whites and blacks and with men and women, is a vicious circle that creates victims even from those that do the abusing. For example, Celie's jealousy of Sofia's standing to Harpo instigates her to tell Harpo to beat Sofia. Though Celie appears to be innocent, she does what she is a victim of. This can also be the other way around. Harpo is mad that he cannot beat Sofia, for instance. It is seen that he is being abusive, but he is a victim of Mr.____'s abuse to Celie by believing that abusing is acceptable. But despite this circle of abuses, I think Walker wanted to get across that it is unavoidable but can be overcome.
[Sounds confusing, oh well]
Wow it has been quite a run. I find it so inspirational that Celie has now made life out on her own. I guess it was luck getting her step dads house but the way she started her buisness means to me that she had a positive attitude to prove to the world that she is a not a nobody, and it worked. And I know its typical to say every story will have a happy ending, but it really applies to this ending. Celie and Mr.____ become friends together over good conversation and sewing, and Shug is back in town, thinking about retirement. And the best part Netties back in town with her husband and children(including Tashi). I guess it just goes to show you that no matter what challenges come your way there is always happiness if you believe there can be.
When Mr. ___ took Nettie away from Celie, she finally found her strength and symbolically sewed the pair of pants and began to shape her own future. I also believe that it is possible to happen in real life as opposed to Hannah's earlier comment, as any person would eventually be able to say "enough is enough" and take her own stand.
I enjoyed these comments (late as they were) and I have read quite a bit of Invisible Man and will begin commenting sooner hopefully. ^^
Celie making pants= symbolism. It took her so long to gain that confidence and independence to 'wear the pants.' The end is, in my opinion, the best part of the novel... it represents a strength that all women should bare.
Celie's designing and making of pants symbolizes that she is now control over her own life and the the decisions she makes. She is now independent and does what she wishes. She is finally doing something for herself than doing things for others. Celie finally gets the freedom she always deserved.
I do think the symbolism with Celie and the pants is neat. Initially Albert did not even want Celie to wear pants- to him they showed an independence that he didn’t want her to have. Yet, she is able to not only start wearing them, but to become a success in making them. This shows how she is truly no longer dependent on him. She is able to finally find herself.
I kind of agree with Hannah about the ending of this book. As nice as perfect endings are, it just didn’t seem to fit with everything else. In reality, everything doesn’t usually just fall into place like that.
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