(Warning-this blog includes movie spoilers.)
Happy New Year 2024!
The Color Purple by Alice Walker was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction in 1983. The book is very popular, as well as controversial, and is the foundation for a dramatic film and musicals. I saw the 1985 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, which was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Menno Meyjes, as a teenager. Recently, I saw the new 2023 musical film starring Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks and Fantasia Barrino. After watching the new film, I was inspired to take another look at the 1985 film, which is now a classic. Paraphrasing philosopher Heraclitus, No man, or woman, ever steps in the same river twice, for its not the same river and he, or she, is not the same person. As an adult, I have a different take of the story. I understand the critics who feel that the film has a negative portrayal of an African-American man, which is true. On the contrary, advocates believe that the film is not a reflection of all African-American men and is mainly a film about redemption and reconciliation, which is also true. Just like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the meaning of a story is in the eyes of the viewer. The themes of The Color Purple (1985) include the consequences of economic deprivation on society and illustrates the hero's journey of the meek female archetype. Let's discuss....
The Hero's Journey
Joseph Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces outlines the monomyth that most stories follow. The outline may be used as a template to explain the story's protagonist, who is the hero, transformation from one stage of development to another. After I learned about Joseph Campbell due to his influence on Star Wars and George Lucas, it changed the way I analyzed stories. The movies The Wizard of Oz, Spider-Man, Super Man, Star Wars, and many others, utilize the hero's journey. Likewise, Celie Harris Johnson's transformation also follows the hero's journey in The Color Purple (1985) film.
The Color Purple's Controversy
Even though The Color Purple is a critically acclaimed movie, the critics are loud and make valid points about the negative portrayal of an African-American man and family. As a supporter of the arts and literature, I see the wisdom in Ms. Alice Walker's story. The story does not glorify the situation, but it does shed light on what happens to families like Celie's. Sadly, these women grow up in families where they are sexually abused and/or raised to be submissive. They grow up to become meek adults who don't say 'no' often and end up being taken advantage of by people-pleasing.
I focus on the wisdom. The Color Purple is a movie about Celie's hero's journey from victim to victor. She was a meek abused young girl who grew up and eventually confronted her oppressor, spoke up for herself and left a loveless marriage. By the end of the movie, she owned her own business.
Economic Deprivation
The causes of economic deprivation in the ancient past are unknown. Scriptures refer to the poor and the importance of charity. Slavery has also existed since antiquity, which means the devastating impacts of social and economic inequalities are not a new development of modern society. In order for one group to be rich, another group has to be poor, and vice versa.
According to the article "Economic Deprivation: Approaches, Causes and Consequences for Violent Conflicts" by Pui-Hang Wang, the definition of economic deprivation is "a condition in which households struggle to meet their basic needs. It can also be a state in which individuals perceive that what they need or are entitled to is ignored or denied."
Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a philosophy that human needs can be categorized. Basic needs are foundational and must be satisfied before the higher creative needs can be fulfilled. The basic need is to survive. The higher needs are to be self-actualized.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs courtesy of Wikipedia
The human goal is to fulfill their needs and desires. This is why we attend school, seek careers, join communities, and build families. A sense of unfulfillment occurs when these needs are deficient or are not met, due to lack of opportunities or circumstances beyond a person's control.
Just as there are two sides of the same coin, there are various ways that people cope with poverty. Those with mental smarts and opportunities, may pursue education and seek out lucrative careers. However, what usually happens to those without mental aptitudes, opportunities and a strong moral foundation? Unfortunately, a number of them resort to a parasitic lifestyle and survive by conning, scamming and stealing resources from others.
Too Much Kindness is Considered A Weakness
"I am sending you out as sheep amongst the wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" Matthew 10:16, The Bible.
In modern society, being considered too kind is considered a weakness. Saying someone is 'very nice' is insulting in some circles. Seriously. I remember being with a group who shared that, 'They don't have to be nice to people. Only civil.' At the same time, they are nice to the people who they love and trust. There is nothing wrong with being nice, but being too nice to the wrong people has dire consequences. For an example, narcissists are selfish and exploit others. Turning a no into a yes is their specialty. Narcissists have learned unhealthy methods to get their needs met which involve overpowering the meek, overly trusting and unsuspecting.
The Hero's Journey of the Meek Famale Archetype
Meek is defined as 'quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on, submissive.' The tragedy of the meek female archetype lies in her circumstances which are beyond her control, an inability to speak up for herself and the tendency of people to take advantage of her. Meek women are raised to be this way, and are not taught how to be self-confident and have high self-esteem. As a result, they are often used for money, sex and resources. They never reach a level of self-actualization because they are too busy people-pleasing, until they heal.
Stories with meek female protagonists is a journey of discovery as the women eventually discover their voice and an ability to 'speak up.' In the film, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy Gale is a young girl who runs away from her problems instead of solving them. When the Wizard asks, "Who are you?" Dorothy responds, "I am Dorothy, the small and meek." By the end of the film, Dorothy discovers her own inner power. In Tyler Perry's film, "A Fall From Grace," Grace Waters accepts the encouragement of a friend who suggests she dates a younger man after a recent divorce. Unfortunately, the friend and her son work together to con middle-aged and older women out of their life savings by using 'fake romance and love.' Grace is saved by a female district attorney who uncovers the truth about the con scheme. Initially, Grace does not want to defend herself, but eventually she does and is acquitted.
The Color Purple is set in 1909, which is only 44 years after the Civil War. African-Americans are slowly recovering from slavery and reconstruction. They are treated like second-class citizens and opportunities for education and business are scarce. Poverty is common.
Celie Harris, the protagonist, is a poor 14-year-old African-American girl who is being sexually abused by her stepfather. Her stepfather tells her she has an 'ugly' smile. He gives their two children to a couple and tells Celie that she better not tell her Mother about the sexual abuse. Celie writes letters to G'd asking for signs and understanding of why these sad events are happening to her.
Widower Albert "Mister" Johnson is first attracted to Celie's sister Nettie. He tells their stepfather that he needs someone to help him with his three children because 'he has a farm to run.' The stepfather refuses to allow Nettie to get married because, "She is too young." However, his reason is suspect because Nettie eventually leaves home because he tries to make sexual advances towards her as well.
The stepfather offers Celie for marriage and describes her as being:
- ugly
- not fresh after giving birth to two children
- no stranger to hard work and can learn
- not going to make you feed or clothe her
- and you can do everything just like you want to.
The Color Purple is A Universal Hero's Journey
The Color Purple follows the trajectory of the Hero's Journey as explained by Joseph Campbell in his book, The Hero With A Thousand Faces:
- Ordinary world - Celie's ordinary life with her stepfather who sexually abuses her
- Call to adventure (Leaving the ordinary world) -adventures are not always exciting and happy. For Celie, leaving home and marrying Albert took her away from her home, but she was forced into a loveless marriage.
- Meeting the mentors- Celie's mentors are Shug Avery and Sofia, who both teach her values about womanhood
- Survival-Celie finds the will to survive in spite of a toxic home environment
- Test- Does Celie grow and muster the confidence to eventually leave Albert? Yes
- Reward- It is after Celie leaves Albert that she is reunited with her sister and children. She opens a pants shop.
- The Return-Celie returns to her childhood home, which she inherited from her father, transformed.
