knows and can relate. As critic DonnaWinchell said, "At first fighting back doesn't even seem like an option; survival seems like the best thing he can hope for, at least in this world." (86). However, witnessing the affair between her son-in-law Harpo and his wife Sophia brings Celie to the realization that such abuse is unnecessary and instills in her the desire to stand up for herself. This is evident in Celie's envy of Sophia's strength towards Harpo; «I say this because I'm jealous of you. I say this because you do what I can't? (Viola, 42). Celie longs for the courage she finds in Sophia. Years of abuse left her feeling unable to assert her independence and powerless against her husband's controlling ways. This desire to improve, combined with Sophia's encouragement, pushes Celie to succeed. Sophia convinces Celie to defend herself; ?You should break Mr. ___'s head, he says. Do you think about heaven later? (Viola, 44). He stresses to Celie that she needs to start taking care of the life she is currently living. Sophia tries to make her understand that this is the case?

Topic > knows and can relate. As critic DonnaWinchell said, "At first fighting back doesn't even seem like an option; survival seems like the best thing he can hope for, at least in this world." (86). However, witnessing the affair between her son-in-law Harpo and his wife Sophia brings Celie to the realization that such abuse is unnecessary and instills in her the desire to stand up for herself. This is evident in Celie's envy of Sophia's strength towards Harpo; «I say this because I'm jealous of you. I say this because you do what I can't? (Viola, 42). Celie longs for the courage she finds in Sophia. Years of abuse left her feeling unable to assert her independence and powerless against her husband's controlling ways. This desire to improve, combined with Sophia's encouragement, pushes Celie to succeed. Sophia convinces Celie to defend herself; ?You should break Mr. ___'s head, he says. Do you think about heaven later? (Viola, 44). He stresses to Celie that she needs to start taking care of the life she is currently living. Sophia tries to make her understand that this is the case?