All through the story, many females were abused by men. The mistreatment of females is undeniable in The Color Purple. It is especially uncovered in relationship among Celie and her father. At an extremely youthful age Celie was exposed to abuse. Celie was assaulted more than once and pregnant twice by her stepfather and was informed to stay silent concerning it.
After her stepfather states that she “better not never tell nobody but God, It’d kill your mammy,” I believe at this moment is when she felt the fear of men to a whole other level. Celie for all intents and purposes battled for joy her entire presence. Her dad sold her to a man who had no expectation of adoring or thinking about her. Celie’s husband whom she alludes to as Mr. physically and verbally manhandles her.
Mr. felt that the best way to hold a lady in line was to beat her and he did only that all through the story. Like any lady would, Celie lost herself and regard for herself. Living with Mr. was a time full of murkiness and contempt. Nettie was the first person to tell Celie to fight back what she believes isn’t fair.
Celie responded with her situation and states how anything she would attempt would get knocked down and her abuse would continue. Over time Celie would start to become more aware of herself and her surroundings. She starts becoming assertive with her reactions which is a great step forward towards finding her inner self.
It took a long time for Celie to find her inner self and to battle back for what she acknowledges as true and hold her ground. Following quite a while of maltreatment, Celie never again feared Mr. and was able to fight back in times of need. In further attempt to find her inner self she begins to interpret god in a different way.
Celie is handed these beliefs from birth but has no idea as to why there’s a significance. Celie pictures god as an old white man who does not listen to her because of the assumption that her voice is never heard. Later on she learns from Shug that god can be whom ever you want it to be and that you can perceive god however you’d like.
At the end you of the novel you can see she maintains her knowledge from Shug and ends her final letter with, ‘Dear God. Dear stars, Dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God.” (285) This shows how Celie now sees God in nature, and in all things, including her fellow people.