Courage

In "The Color Purple", there are multiple occurrences of racism and sexism. Celie, being a victim to both, is very passive and allows herself to be taken advantage of. However, she is surrounded by women that show courage and confidence in themselves. Shug is a vivacious, self-assured woman that stands up to Celie's husband when Celie herself does not. Shug tells him to stop beating Celie, and he does. Also, Harpo's ex-wife Sophia stands up for herself against the racist mayor. Although she ends up in jail for it, her act of strength is shown. Celie really admires their courage and mentions several times how she wants to be like them, but has yet to show any real action towards changing. I think that the women's acts are foreshadowing Celie's moment of triumph when she finally stands up for herself, being strong in her feminism, something the author Alice Walker heavily supports. That could also be a potential theme to the novel, not only sexism from males, but how females allow themselves to be discriminated against just as badly.