Dear Critic Letter About the Color Purple

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To Be Female or Male Dear Mr. Proudfit, Hello Mr. Proudfit my name is Taylor Montano and I am a freshman in English 7 at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Los Angeles. I have read your article “Celie’s Search for Identity: A Psychoanalytic Development Reading of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.” Although you make very good points in your article, I disagree with your idea that Celie sticks to her “core gender identity.” I believe that Celie breaks through the role of femininity and takes on different characteristics of masculinity through her actions. From reading your article, I understand that your main point is that Celie’s real father adored and was devoted to Celie and her mother. This adoration helps Celie stick to her “core gender identity” because even though she does what is expected of women, she still feels the right kind of love. I also understand that her father’s adoration gave Celie the ability to fully accept femininity throughout her life and helped establish her identity. In the conclusion of your article, I understand how throughout the beginning of Celie’s life, the adoration her father gives her helps her become feminine. While she continues living her life, she thinks she has to do everything that she is told to do, until she realizes that it all can change when she finally starts sticking up for herself. Your points are very viable, however, Celie turns to the characteristics of masculinity rather then femininity when she fights for what she wants, sticks up for what she believes in, and does not give up. Although I agree with you on certain points, I have to disagree with you on your opinion that Celie follows femininity and the “core gender identity.” I believe that eventually she turns towards the role of masculinity. A time Celie turns from femininity to masculinity is when she decides to leave Albert to go to
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