The Color Purple :: essays research papers

In the book The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, Tashi is convinced that she doesnt want to go to the States because no one depart like her. Tashi has her doubts but Adam convinces her to come. I am not here to analyze the motives of the characters decision to go/not go to America, rather I will evaluate the historical factuality of her fears of going to the US Her fears ar very realistic for any African woman approaching to the states. She would have the same experience looking at modern magazines knowing how the public portrayal of woman is.In the 1930s most white people were very antiblack against Black people. People feared those that were different. They feared the tribal customs of Africans such as scarification marks, and saw them as savages. Tashis fear is that "...because of the scarification marks on her cheeks Americans would look down on her as a savage and shun her." Tashis fear is perfectly valid for any African coming to America in the 1930s because some peo ple would shun her. In the 30s Black women made themselves look whiter because black skinned black people were not popular. Dark people tried to look naked, therefore Tashi feared that "Adam will be distracted by one of these naked looking women and desert her." With a bunch of naked women running around, any man would be distracted. She fears that he will leave her for a "more attractive" woman, but that is dependent on whether Adam really loves her. Any woman would have fears like that ahead marriage.Because of the Glitzy Glamour in todays magazines that solicit anorexic, pale women, she would have the same doubts and fears about coming the US. Her fears would be even more enhanced because most women in the 30s are unattractive compared to todays women. Modern magazines and old magazines are similar because both show women that are prettier that the standard women.