A person defined as resilient is one who can withstand all of the atrocities of life and still come out ahead--that is Celie, for sure. Celie endured nothing but misery and pain during her childhood and well into her 30s and 40s. She was molested by the man she believed to be her "Pa" (Alphonso), she had 2 children before she was 15 years old (both of whom are taken away from her by Pa), she was beaten by her husband "Mr.___________" (Albert), was separated from her sister Nettie and was abandoned by the one person for whom she ever felt romantic love, Shug Avery.
In spite of these hardships, Celie finds happiness by coming to terms with her past and learning a sense of self-worth and independence, both of which she gains after she turns her skill for sewing into a successful business.
At the end of the novel, Celie...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
has transformed from this helpless, dependent and weak girl to a strong, self-assured and happy women who has "never felt this young in our lives". Celie has everything that she desired: her sister and children have returned from Africa, she has a beautiful home and a successful business, she and Albert are friends, and she is surrounded by people she loves and that love her in return.
Explain Celie's resilience in "The Color Purple."
Celie endures sexual abuse at the hands of the man she believes to be her father. Further, she keeps his attention on her, accepting even more abuse from him, in order to distract him and protect her little sister, Nettie. Celie endures her mother's suspicion, resulting from this abuse. She goes through pregnancy and childbirth twice, believing that her father kills her first child and gives her second away. Somehow she remains positive and kind, most especially to her sister.
Celie is forced to marry a man who does not love her, who also physically, verbally, and sexually abuses her. She continues to try to protect her sister, even from Celie's own husband. This man, Albert, brings his mistress to live in her house and Celie not only endures her hateful and hurtful words, but she also tends to and nurses this woman, Shug, back to health.
Celie comes to terms with and begins to embrace her sexuality, with Shug's help, though society would condemn her for being a lesbian and her husband would argue that she doesn't deserve to feel sexual pleasure at all. She learns that her real father was actually lynched and that the man she thought was her father was her stepfather. She learns that her children are alive and have been brought up apart from her. She begins to lose her religious faith as a result. However, Celie finds her own voice and uses it to stand up for other people and herself. She realizes her talent for sewing pants, and she creates a whole new, independent and fulfilling life. Celie comes from someplace worse than nothing -- she is told that she is nothing and no one -- and she still manages to become an empowered and satisfied woman. Without her tremendous resilience, this would never have been possible.