The Color Purple: the Movie and Discussion - Essay Example

First Last Number 10 December The Color Purple From the movie The Color Purple THESIS MENT The essay intends to conduct a review of movie namely “The Color Purple” directed and produced by Steven Spielberg which is based on the novel “The Color Purple” written by Alice Walker. The review will provides a brief synopsis of the movie along with the facts regarding historical events showcased in the movie. In this context, the essay further evaluates the differences between the movie and conclusion that has been made with the discussion. SYNOPSIS “The Color Purple” movie directed by Steven Spielberg’s is based on the “Pulitzer Prize-winning novel” written by Alice Walker about the hardly and painful life of Celie. The theme of the movie is based on the life of a young and a poor African American girl, named Celie Harris. Retrospectively, the movie reflects back to the period of 1909 and 1949 and explores the hardship faced by the African American girl. The primary focus of the movie surrounds around the main character of the movie, Celie Johnson who struggled to carry out her life during the 1900s. Celie, at the age of fourteen had two children but unfortunately they were taken away from her. Her father ‘Alphonso James Harris’ has taken away her second child and threatens her to tell this to anyone. The young Celie’s was forced to marry the young widower namely ‘Albert Johson’ who was popularly known as ‘Mister’. Albert use to treat Celie’s as a slave and was responsible for taking care of Albert unruly kids. Despite her efforts, Celie was tortured and abused badly by her husband. In her life happiness comes when her sister Nettie came to live with her, who used to teach her reading. Moreover, when Mister tries to lure Nettie, Nettie refuses his rapacious activities. This incident eventually forced her to leave the house which placed Celie in highly distressed situation. Before Nettie leaves the house she promises her sister that she will regularly write letter to her. However, Albert concealed all the letters of Nettie before reaching it to Celie (Maslin “The Color Purple (1985) Film: The Color Purple, From Steven Spielberg”). Meanwhile, Shug Averyan, an old flame of Albert, come to live with them and built as good friendship with Celie. She helped her to boost her confidence and made her realize that she is more than just Albert’s servant. The movie turn around, when Celie gathers strength from Sofia, who marries with Albert’s son who was also treated in a same manner as Celie, but refuses to tolerate such behavior. Sofia was beaten off and was sent jailed for refusing to comply with the orders of her husband. Celie in order to get rid of the oppression experienced by her leaves her past life and step forward in search of new life along with Sofia. After entering into new life Celie started haberdashery at Tennessee and started her own business which involved selling slacks for both men and women. After the death of her father, Celie comes to know that he was her stepfather. Later, she opened new shop namely ‘Miss Celies Folks Pants’, and Harpo and Sofia reunited again. Meanwhile, Albert slips into habituation of alcohol-fueled and become jobless. During the time, Albert’s father proposed him to remarry with other girl, but he was laid off from his property. Finally, after many years Albert realizes his mistakes and ill-treatment that he has imposed on Celie. In a sudden act of kindness unknown to her, Albert transferred his property in the name of Nettie family and Celie’s children who have and returned to America from Africa. The movie ends with happiness when Celie returns home together with her sister Nettie and two children (Ebert “Great Movie the Color Purple”). HISTORICAL EVENTS WITH THE MOVIE The main objective of narration of the movie by Steven Spielberg is to address the key issues subjugation suffered by women during the earlier ages related to law, sex and marriage as well as divorce. The other issues encompass the role of slaves along with freedmen, death and burial, composition and power of the ruling class among others. The movie titled “The Color Purple” provides a fundamental understanding about characters portrayed by Walker in her novel and the problems that were associated with Celie’s life. The movie narrated the fact that Celie married to a widower was unable to resist the behavior her husband who abuses her during the young age. Celie does not have any power to stand by and fight for her own self. Moreover, Shug and Sofia boosted her self-confident. Besides, the director through this movie empowers the description and speech in order to assert the inner selfhood and oppose the domination. Likewise, the historical event in the movies also reveals the power of the strong relationships among the females. Through this movie Steven Spielberg portrays the friendships that the female build and how it ultimately enhances their courage to fight against the injustice and oppression. Additionally, movie also encourages the women that they should resist against the power of dominance (SparkNotes LLC “Themes, Motifs & Symbols”). Correspondingly, the movies endure the realistic fact that women have prominent role in the society which the movie represented as a mother, sister and mentor along with the relationship of friendships. In the movie, Sofia raised her voice against the injustice perpetrated by her husband. Apart from this Celie’s with the strong bonding with Shug was able to bring a gradual confidence towards the attainment of self-respect. Similarly, the natural cycle of abuses against the woman are also been highlighted in the movie including racism and sexism. Besides, the characters of the movie largely reveal the cyclical nature of destructive behavior of male dominated society on women. The movie also portrayed the age-old problem of gender inequality prevailing with the society which, has been represented in the movie through the sexual abuse suffered by women. Throughout the movie director emphasize over the sexuality and gender issues that was prevailing in the traditional scenario. However, apart from the above fact the director also emphasize over the role of communication in the history in the form of letter. Additionally, the ruling life of the farm community has also been highlighted in the movies through the colorful portraits of every characters of this movie. The color symbolizes the renewals and rebirths of the characters at various point of instance from their harsh and brutal life. Thus, for gaining maximum attention of various viewers and audience, the director i.e. Steven Spielberg focused on enduring the theme of life of the woman that Alice Walker highlighted in her novel regarding the life of Celie’s. Specially mentioning, movie itself provides a fundamental understanding about the prospective of the Walter and the problems that were associated with the women since the history (SparkNotes LLC “Themes, Motifs & Symbols”). DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MOVIE AND CONCLUSION The movie provides the amalgamation of the view point of Alice Walker novel through portraying the characters of the movies in needful manner. This will certainly help the audiences to interact with the different dimensions and the views and hurtful life in the historical time. The viewpoints of Steven Spielberg presented in the movie provide the readers to possess better understanding about the interdisciplinary scenarios that prevailed in the history. Moreover, the viewpoints of director also outlined the aspects of alarming violence and lust. Additionally, the movie ‘The Color Purple’ is very much faithful with the Walter’s novel in regards to plot. In this regard, it is important to mention that major point of differences in the movie and conclusion made in the novel was the relationship between Celie and Shug. The relationship between both of them is downplayed in the movie comparatively that it has been actually made by author in the book. In the novel, Walter takes their relationship in a wider deeper and personal level. For instance, in the novel the relationship between Celie and Shug has been reflected as lesbian love on the other hand same in the movie was exhibited in very brief manner, particularly due to the fear of lower level of acceptance of the movie in society. Steven recognizes that this context would widely affect the successfulness of the movie (GradeSaver LLC “The Color Purple The Film Version of 1985”). Correspondingly, the other point of the differences that has been made in conclusion and the movie is regarding when Celie left Mister Albert and establishes her own pants shop in Tennessee. On the other hand, as per the conclusion that was made in novel Celie along with Shug went to Memphis and stay with her, until Shug fall in love with a young boy and left Celie. Celie after ending up the relationship with Shug moved back to her family home and there she opened up her store. In the movie, Steven argued that how the men abuses women through their harsh behavior and beliefs, and dominant nature. It can be asserted in this regard that the men have incorporated their dominant approach and certainly treat the woman in the brutal manner. It can be apparently observed that in most of the scenario movie provides sympathetic presentations of the entire novel. Besides, the director also provided a view of simultaneous changes made in behavior of Albert, as the time passes (GradeSaver LLC “The Color Purple The Film Version of 1985”). However, a majority of the contents of the movie provides deep concentration on the novel, but at various point of instances differs in the movie from that of the conclusion presented in the novel. In this similar context, the movie reflected that Mister was the prior reason due to which Nettie and Celie’s two children have returned to the US whereas, as per the novel there is nothing that Mister actually did that led Nettie and Celie’s two children back. Nevertheless, the climax presented in the movie did not depict the compromise made by Mister and Celie in their relationship which was major part of the conclusion exhibited by the novel (GradeSaver LLC “The Color Purple The Film Version of 1985”). Works Cited Ebert, Roger. Great Movie the Color Purple. 2004. Web. Dec 10 2014. “The Color Purple The Film Version of 1985.” GradeSaver LLC. 2014. Web. Dec 10 2014. Maslin, Janet. The Color Purple (1985) Film: The Color Purple, From Steven Spielberg. 1985. Web. Dec 10 2014. “Themes, Motifs & Symbols.” SparkNotes LLC. 2014. Web. Dec 10 2014. Read More