Study of Celie's Portrayal in "The Color Purple" Under the Theory of Androgyny

Abstract

The classic novel The Color Purple by black American author Alice Walker outlines the journey of Celie, a black woman in the Southern part of America in the early 20th century, as she grows up under the triple oppression of race, gender and class. Celie is abused by her stepfather and then forced to marry Mr. ____, a widower who already has four children, and lives in daily slave-like worry. However, with the help of other women, Celie gradually awakens from her numb and closed state, thinks about her gender and identity, and finally grows up to be an independent woman with individuality, dignity, and self-confidence. Therefore, based on the theory of androgyny, this paper analyzes in depth the development process of Celie's gender consciousness, revealing that her gender consciousness goes from clear boundaries to blurring, and finally achieves integration through self-awakening. In the novel, Celie experiences the questioning and redefinition of her own gender awareness, from the initial limitation of social expectations to the gradual escape from the traditional gender boundaries, and finally realizes the comprehensive awareness of gender. Through an in-depth analysis of the image of Celie and the evolution of her gender cognition in The Color Purple, the author hopes to better help readers understand the plurality of individual gender cognition, and to provide useful literary references for the promotion of gender harmony.