The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Color Purple written by Alice Walker has many themes. From female bonding to the harmful effects of stereotyping and domestic violence, but a theme that should also be considered is ignorance. Ignorance is a condition that needs to be overcome because we must understand that this is really is not all that there is. We do not live in a limited world. Our world is full of opportunities and creations. We can't live closed and mind shut to the ideas of the world. One must learn from the past to become better in the future. This is only achieved when people accept their mistakes and correct them. Ignorance is like an immune disease, it can't be cured, only controlled. This disease is forever lasting, It can't be cured simply by the fact, that our mind continues to learn each and every day. We continue to be ignorant till the day we die. Of course their are many types of ignorance. We have to learn to control it, or else it becomes our own very doom. "Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind" (John Tilloston). In this essay there will be clear evidence in how ignorance was the major theme in The Color Purple, not only affecting all of the characters, but also the storyline itself. The harsh treatment in which Celie is put through and the extreme stereotyping and domestic violence; all come from the same root, which is ignorance.

To truly understand ignorance, one must study it meticulously. In the color purple it is clear that a true and unconscious level of ignorance forms a major part in the society of the book. To identify this ignorance one must look at the background of the story. From racism to domestic violence, ignorance is part of The Color Purple from page to page. "Man corrupt everything, say Shug. He on your box of grits in your head, and all over the radio. He try to make you think he everywhere. Soon as you think he everywhere, you think he God. But he ain't. Whenever you trying to pray, and man plop himself on the other end of it, tell him to git lost, say Shug. Conjure up flowers, wind, water, a big rock. / But this hard work, let me tell you. He been there so long, he don't want to budge. He threaten lightening, floods and earth-quakes. Us fight. I hardly pray at all. Every time I conjure up a rock, I throw it." Part 4, pg. 179. Celie's character suffers throughout the entire book. She suffers from the harsh treatment from almost any man she has every known. In sort the form of stereotypical ignorance Shug, is portraying that men corrupt everything. In sort this can be reasoned with the experience Shug has had with men, but still is a form a ignorance. No stereotyping is ever correct. But in order to fix this though, she needs to find a man that is not evil nor corrupted in darkness.

Celie had a very typical life for many African Americans in rural United States. They had issues like this because ignorance was a big part in their