How Is Motherhood Presented In The Color Purple PDF

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How Is Motherhood Presented In The Color Purple?:Motherhood is presented throughout The Color Purple in a variety of ways. Motherhood is shown to be a destructive force and a form of slavery, specifically against those who are mothers themselves. This point is shown when Mary Agnes and Shug leave th...

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How Is Motherhood Presented In The Color Purple?: Motherhood is presented throughout The Color Purple in a variety of ways. Motherhood is shown to be a destructive force and a form of slavery, specifically against those who are mothers themselves. This point is shown when Mary Agnes and Shug leave their children to follow their singing careers and be free, showing women’s desire to escape motherhood and their additional need for independence. Walker has also used motherhood to link with traditional African American culture through the presentation of Nettie and Celie’s mother and through Nettie’s exploration of the Olinka tribe. Motherhood is also shown as very forceful as throughout the novel women are seen being inclined to mother for other people’s children with disastrous consequences. Sofia cares for the Mayor’s children but is subjected to poor treatment and racism, showing the issues surrounding mothering other’s children. Furthermore, Children are seen as being negative through the use of the term ‘other-mothering’, a term which was used to describe the act of black women and maids in the 1930s who were forced to look after children who were not biologically their own, during this time black women were typically the sole care givers to white children, which is echoed through Sofia and the Mayor’s children. These points are key in displaying Walker’s critical view that children completely restrict and control women, enslaving them and preventing them from being free. However, despite these negative areas, communal mothering is shown as a largely positive area of motherhood and specifically ‘other-mothering’. Communal mothering is seen multiple times throughout the book through Nettie and Tashi, Olivia and Adam, Mary Agnes caring for Sofia’s children, Sofia caring for Susie Q near the end of the novel and more. The use of other-mothering and communal mothering helps to break down barriers surrounding motherhood and allows characters, specifically females, to understand the importance of motherhood and caring as well as teaching them to work together in acts of female solidarity. Motherhood is shown throughout the novel as being a form of slavery, with mothering emotionally and physically draining characters as well as emotionally and physically draining women. ‘Every year thereafter, she was pregnant, every year she became weaker and more mentally unstable.’… The Olinka Tribe is key in displaying the theme of motherhood. Women are allocated a specific place in society when they are part of the Olinka tribe which displays that they are not only limited as mothers but also as women. The Olinka Tribe’s views surrounding women and motherhood serve as the most didactic part of the novel… Celie’s experience as a mother is shown as extremely traumatic and enforced. Celie’s experience as a mother and within other-mothering is shown as being remarkably negative, she had her own children taken from her but also was effectively purchased by Mr._ in order to look after his children, showing the link between the themes of motherhood and slavery… Shug as a character is used to display motherhood as restrictive much like Celie however, Shug is presented as having a lot more freedom away from motherhood and the responsibilities of mothering in comparison to Celie. Shug

decides to abandon her children in order to pursue her dreams of a singing career, which closely links to the experience of Mary Agnes as a mother… Sofia is displayed as being able to combine her role as a mother and a worker at first which displays the shift in female roles, not very typical of the time period. Sofia’s freedom is eventually torn away from her when she has her children ripped away from her and she is forced to mother the white Mayor’s children, which essentially alienates her from her family as well as showing the prominent link between mothering and slavery… Communal mothering is one of the most positive points surrounding motherhood in The Color Purple and acts to show the importance of motherhood, support and female solidarity. Members of the community are displayed as helping each-other by providing informal short and long term support surrounding mothering duties. Many characters are shown as taking on the role of ‘other-mothers’ such as when Nettie becomes a mother figure to Adam and Olivia, when Sofia and Mary Agnes both take on the roles of mothers for each other’s children and when Eleanor Jane offers to care for Sofia’s youngest child, Henrietta. Communal mothering also links with the theme of role reversal…

The Color Purple begins and finalises with the image of motherhood. At the beginning of the novel motherhood is shown as being constrained within the patriarchal family unit whilst at the end this violent and traumatic image which was initially displayed is juxtaposed with the more communal form of motherhood where the wider community unites and looks after everyone whilst also showing the importance of female support and solidarity. Celie’s last address in the final letter works effectively to fit into Alice Walker’s vision of herself as a daughter and mother of the earth more than anything else in the novel, showing the significance of motherhood for growth....