Character Analysis of Celie in the Movie the Color Purple

In the award-winning film The Color Purple, the story closely follows the life and struggles of Celie, a poor black girl in Rural Georgia in the early 1900s. The symbolic title sets the general overtone for the entire movie, as The Color Purple figuratively means the color of love. Celie and her sister, Nettie, are forced to live with their father, who emotionally, physically, and sexually abuses them. Celie, only to be hurt more, is then forced to marry a man, who is just as abusive, at the mere age of fourteen. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the psychological issues that Celie, and her family, experience throughout can be related to two primary theories of development: Ainsworth and Bowlby’s.

Theory of Attachment and Erikson‘s Psychosocial Stages of Development Celie’s relationship with her sister can easily be related to Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment. Attachment can be defined as “a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space” (McLeod, a), Though the theory primarily discusses the relationship between a mother and child, the theory still can relate to Celie and Nettie, The two young girls’ mother died before either had reached full maturity, in which caused the girls to attach to each other for protection and comfort against their abusive fathers This theory can clearly be seen when Nettie is torn apart from Celie by Albert, Celie’s husband/abuser, though the two girls don’t see each other again for many years, their bond is what gives them both strength at their weakest momentsi Another specific example of the Attachment theory can be seen between.

Albert and his father, Celie’s father~inelaw, Albert‘s abusive relationship with Celie is laced with his own insecurities, which in turn is a reflection of his experiences with his father (Fraley), One could imply that Albert did not have a positive relationship with his father and therefore never felt powerful or in control of the situation, so, in turn, he became powerful with someone whom he knew couldn’t make him feel inferiori Celie. Although many of Celie’s issues stem from the abuse of her husband and father, some of her issues can be linked with other psychological theories of development. Celie never felt safe, secure, or happy in her home with her husband and was never happy; it is possible that her emotions are linked to the identity vs. role confusion stage of Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development.

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The stage of identity vs. role confusion lasts from adolescence to early adulthood and is a crucial time for developing one‘s sense of purpose/attitude in the world. Celie didn’t exactly get a choice in deciding her future, seeing that her father agreed to let Albert marry her at the young age of 14. Celie was forced to move into Albert‘s house and to take care of him and his children, Upon entrance to the house, Celie saw the filth that was her new home. Without hesitation, she began to clean the house and take care of her husbands children i , i thus forging the path for her forever life: an unhappy life. Celie thought very low of herself, therefore her self—esteem and sense of self-worth were next to nothing. Again, her emotions correlate directly with the fifth stage of Erikson’s Psychosocial stages: identity vs, role confusion. Celie never got to experience things that she might have enjoyed, so in return she went inward and covered her emotions and desires. Rather than being content with her home life, Celie merely existed as exemplified by the quote “I don’t know how to fight, all I knows is how to survive.”

In conclusion, The Color Purple has multiple underlying meanings, many of which correspond with the theories of attachment and psychosocial development. Although Celie and Nettie were fictional characters from an amazing movie/book, their problems were vividly realistic and are likely issues that numerous real people have experienced. Though love was the main theme of the movie, growing up and overcoming hardships, both physical and mental, was a close competitor, Never the less, movies that discuss psychological development are relatable to everyone in some type of way, but especially those who have experienced the struggles of the characters being portrayed.

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