Alice Walker's protagonist, Celie, is living in early twentieth century America where women were greatly disadvantaged within society. The cultural expectation was for wives to remain in the house and for the husband to be the dominant figure; women had very little rights, particularly African American women, like Celie. She is trapped within these expectations and has no sense of confidence to stand up for herself due to the abusive environments of her adolescence Celie feels lost, simply obeying orders, whether its from her stepfather or her husband, Albert. Walker writes, "I want to cry. To shout...But I don't say nothing. It not my house. Also I ain't been told nothing" (45). Celie has no power over her own life because of society's restrictions and her lack of identification as a person.
However, Celie meets Shug Avery, a woman described as "upright, honest," and one to "hold [her] own" (269). Shug provides Celie with the love and companionship that she never received from her family nor Albert. Celie sees in Shug what a woman can be if she is independent and has confidence in who she is. Celie agrees to leave Albert with Shug; she sees the wrong in conforming to society's expectations and knows she must escape her abusive marriage with Albert. Breaking away from the norms of society allows Celie to find confidence in herself, like Shug has; she finally stands up to Albert when she is leaving and says, "Until you do right by me...everything you even dream about will fail" (206). Once Celie is living with Shug as an individual within society, she begins to make personal discoveries. She starts sewing pants as a pastime and eventually as a career, and she establishes a solid stance on the relationships within her life. Celie writes to her sister Nettie, "I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time" (215). This series of discoveries and sense of fulfillment that Celie experiences forms her identity, which came about only once she escaped society.
However, Celie meets Shug Avery, a woman described as "upright, honest," and one to "hold [her] own" (269). Shug provides Celie with the love and companionship that she never received from her family nor Albert. Celie sees in Shug what a woman can be if she is independent and has confidence in who she is. Celie agrees to leave Albert with Shug; she sees the wrong in conforming to society's expectations and knows she must escape her abusive marriage with Albert. Breaking away from the norms of society allows Celie to find confidence in herself, like Shug has; she finally stands up to Albert when she is leaving and says, "Until you do right by me...everything you even dream about will fail" (206). Once Celie is living with Shug as an individual within society, she begins to make personal discoveries. She starts sewing pants as a pastime and eventually as a career, and she establishes a solid stance on the relationships within her life. Celie writes to her sister Nettie, "I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time" (215). This series of discoveries and sense of fulfillment that Celie experiences forms her identity, which came about only once she escaped society.