The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Beloved by Toni Morrison

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Beloved by Toni Morrison By: Brianna Donahue

2. Main Theme: Harm and abuse the black community has upon them • Rural black Southerners form a close community, with determination to fight against the white racist community • black community slowly falls apart due to the abuse and violence they put upon the women of the community Ex. The character, Celie and Sofia, are persecuted mentally, physically and sexually. The color of their skin caused them to be discriminated against by their community, husbands, and fathers making them appear as second-class citizens. Main Theme of The Color Purple

3. Black women were not treated fairly in the society or there in homes. • They are not given basic human rights such as self-determination, freedom from violence, or control over there own bodies. Ex. Sofia tells Eleanor Jane, the mayor’s daughter, that her son will inevitable grow up to be a racist because of the influence society has on the community. • The women of the novel destroy these periods of sexism and violence by standing up for themselves to the men who abuse them. • The men reevaluate their ways and the abuse towards the women begins to stop. Main Theme of The Color Purple

4. Main Theme: An individual must encounter their past in order to let go of the pain and suffering it has caused them. • Main characters and all of the citizens of the black community in Cincinnati, Ohio are traumatized by the ordeals they face of racism and slavery. • They work hard to ignore the past because of how much pain and suffering it caused them throughout the novel. Main Theme of Beloved

5. Main characters and all of the citizens of the black community in Cincinnati, Ohio are traumatized by the ordeals they face of racism and slavery. • They work hard to ignore the past because of how much pain and suffering it caused them throughout the novel. • Sethe, an independent, proud women who is extremely dedicated towards her children struggles with overcoming the past the most in the novel. • Remains haunted by her past and other horrifying events that happened in her past • You see how this truly effects her future and her children’s lives • Ex. Sethe feels her life is ruined because of her past and will live a life full of nothing but madness. Her madness is revealed when she kills her own daughter. Her intention was to save her daughter from the pain she experienced throughout her life growing up. Main Theme of Beloved

6. Historical novel written in between the years of 1910-1940 • Takes place in rural Georgia, which was a state rampant with racism toward African-Americans • Centered on the life of women of color in the Southern U.S in the 1930’s • Pinpoints the culture of womanism • Brings together the experiences and traumas of black women of different cultures Background on The Color Purple

7. Written in 1987 • Many court cases and legislations concerning race were occurring during this historical time period. • Set after the American Civil • Inspired by an African-American slave, Margaret Garner • She briefly escaped slavery in Kentucky departing to Ohio. • Her and her children were retrieved back to Kentucky under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. • -Fugitive Slave Act of 1850-gave slave owners the right to go after slaves that crossed the border Background on Beloved

8. Both novels relate to Week 9 and Week 10 larger discussions • Week 9 Topic: Quit Living in the Past • Alice Walker and Toni Morrison both were provoked into writing these novels because of the effects of the past. • Several organizations and institutions were formed. • Fighting for the voices of women all around the world • Women started making a stand in society. Relation to Class Discussions

9. Week 10 Topic: The End of Hysteria • Display strong feelings people had during these times towards slavery • The rights people of color should or should not have, mostly women • Black men are seen as harsh and brutal and black people as a whole are looked down upon • Women begin speaking up and raising their individual voices for what they believe is right. • Men begin to come to the realization that they should change there ways. Relations to Class Discussions

10. Both novels were alike in many ways, but also different. • Black women were treated like animals and seemed to never fully escape their positions in society. • Main Message: man and woman should receive equal treatment from and in society. Conclusion