Pedophiliac Perspective of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple

Abstract

Pedophilia is psychiatric disorder concerning sexual aberration. It has become a prevalent and detrimental social problem. This article attempts to investigate the Pedophiliac mindset under the psychosocial setup depicted by Alice Walker in The Color Purple. Using Erik Erickson's psychosocial development theory, which states that behavior is influenced by psychological and social influences, the study highlights the issues, sufferings and challenges faced by the victims of childhood molestation. Celie – protagonist of the novel – is physically and emotionally isolated character. She appears to be a submissive victim at the first but develops into a strong and bold character later in the story. She overcomes racism, sexism and sexual harassment. The novel demonstrates that from the traumatic events of slavery, supremacy, oppression, and racial inequality of men unseated by the superiority of whites, female characters have learned how to fight to release their acquiescence and misery and be self-governing and physically powerful women to survive a determined life.