Alice Walker's use of characterization in her novel The Color Purple describes her main theme of female empowerment and the importance of maintaining a voice affirmed. The tyrannical male characters, the victimized female characters, and the development of the protagonist, Celie, express Walker's strong view of women's independence in a male-dominated society. Her feminist views were influenced by her experiences of discrimination as an African American woman as well as her involvement in the civil rights movement. These experiences serve as inspiration to develop the character of Celie, a young black woman who discovers her own identity while struggling against an environment of male dependency. The progression of black women's civil rights that existed throughout the 20th century mirrors Celie's evolution from a verbally debilitated young girl to an unyielding young woman. The expression of racism and sexism that has manifested itself during the postmodern era provided Walker with the opportunity to compose a novel that reveals his strong animosity towards discrimination. Without these media, Walker would not have had the ability to create a novel with such in-depth insight into the lifestyle of an immensely oppressed woman. The novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker is the story of a young, poor black girl growing up. in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. The novel follows the protagonist, Celie, as she experiences hardships such as racism and abuse, while trying to discover her own self-worth. Celie expresses herself through a series of private letters addressed first to God, then to her sister Nettie. As Célie grows from a teenager to an adult, her letters contain observations about her situation and form an analysis of her own feelings. It is not until Célie is an adult that she finally feels satisfied with her life and understands her capacity to be a completely autonomous woman. The concept of racial and gender equality grew significantly throughout the 20th century, both in society and in literature. These changes influenced Walker's writing, allowing her to create a novel that chronicles the evolution of a discriminated black woman. Its main character, Celie, moves from oppression to self-sufficiency, symbolizing the racial and gender progress our country has made. Celie expresses this accomplishment when she states at the end of the novel that "this is the youngest [she] has ever felt", stating that her final step towards female empowerment allowed her to begin her new life independent (Walker 295).