The rivalry between the right of men and women has been an hardily fight for decades. In The Color Purple, Alice Walker portrayed a patriarchal society made by and for men. In this system women struggle to obtain a voice. An example is the protagonist, Celie, who from the beginning of her life experience sexual, mental and physical abuse from her step-father and also by her husband. As a result of this unequal system where women are consider nothing without a man, Celie develops a passive character only doing what men order. However, with the unconditional support of the women around her, she finally attain her liberation and independence. As a result, her emancipation generate an opportunity to make her realize her individuality and inner strength.
From the beginning of the novel it is show the patriarchal and misogynist society of which Celie is part. This harmful environment affect many aspects of her life. The initial system that is expose is the patriarchalism through her step-father, Alphonso, who is characterize as a mean, opprobrious and malicious old man. He is the first one who sexually abuse Celie. "Just say You gonna do what your mammy wouldn't. First he put his thing up against my hip and sort of wiggle around. Then he grab hold my titties. Then he push his thing inside my pussy."(1) Alphonso aggressively took away the virginity as well as her innocence since there weren't any familiar attachments with her. Moreover, aside from being a sexual abuse is also physiological seem he make her believes that is her duty to give him the satisfactions that her mother refuse to. Furthermore, Alphonso also damage Celie emotionally by taking away her children, Adam and Olivia as well as making her feel inferior compare to other girls. "She ugly. He say. But she ain't no stranger to hard work. And she clean. And God done fixed her. You can do everything just like you want to...She ain't smart either."(Walker 9)....