If we asked them, most people would say that women are strong, passionate, loving, but not all of these positive traits truly define who they are. Their nature is considered the most difficult to define because they have negative aspects that contribute to their strength, passion and ability to give love. In The Color Purple, Alice Walker uses contrasts between multiple main characters, literary devices, and divisive imagery to convey that femininity and womanhood are both defined by a variety of personal and social standards. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayWalker purposely creates female characters who are different from each other to create a holistic vision of femininity. The protagonist Celie is a woman who embodies the oppression of women. In many instances in the book, Celie is disrespected by the male characters. After being beaten by her father for winking at a boy in church, she states “I don't even look at men. The truth is that I look at women because they don't scare me." Celie builds her life mainly on the fear of men and their power. Because of this, she serves silently and does not address her oppression, representing a characteristic of cowardice that most women have tried to overcome. Unlike Celie, however, Sofia is a bossy, independent woman who speaks her mind. Celie says “I like Sofia, but she doesn't act like me at all. If he speaks when Harpo and Mister enter the room, he continues on” (27). Sofia, like Celie, is beaten by the men in her life, but chooses to defend herself. Celia admires Sofia's strength and this foreshadows her desire to emulate Sofia's attitude in the future. Shut Avery is fundamentally different from the other women in the book. Shug Avery represents the two familiar characteristics of women, desirability and confidence. As Celie bathes her, Shug Avery tells her to “take a good look. Even if now it's just a bag of bones” (35). This shows Shug Avery's ability to comfort herself. Unlike her, Celie enjoys being called ugly, belittling any sense of self-worth she has. These three women have different characters, but they interact with each other to create a balanced definition of a true woman through the tests of time. Additionally, the protagonist Celie experiences oppression by being treated badly by her father and husband. Celie's mother is ill and her father makes sexual advances towards her, raping her, and she becomes pregnant once again at the age of fourteen with her second child. His father silences his voice by saying, “You better never tell anyone but God, he'll kill your mother” (Walker 1). This statement silences Celie's voice and lovingly offers her father the role of male dominance over her. Silence does not protect Celie and her mother dies. Her father uses Celie and Nettie to satisfy his own needs, not seeing them as real women. Once again, let's consider Celie and her arranged marriage to Albert. Albert approaches Alfonso, Celie, and Nettie's stepfather, asking for Nettie's hand in marriage. Alfonso commented that Nettie was too young and could have Celie, his eldest daughter, as Nettie apparently needs more education. Therefore, their father figure is shown to have the power to barter them into marriage, but also has the ability to determine whether they are educated (Johnson 78). This demonstrates the ability of males to choose what is best for females and not let them make their own choices. Celie is rejected by her father and then her husband when she brings home her lover, Shug Avery. Shug.. 2016.