Womanist ExistentialismWomanist ExistentialismA Search for IdentityA Search for Identity

OrAn Essence Seeking Understanding

ByByJoby JohnJoby JohnLecturerLecturer

Department of EnglishDepartment of EnglishMar Augusthinose CollegeMar Augusthinose College

Ramapuam, KottayamRamapuam, Kottayam

jobykeelath@gmail.com94008218539400821853

The The Color Purple Color Purple (1985)(1985)

By By Alice WalkerAlice Walker

You better not never tell anybody but God.You better not never tell anybody but God.It’d kill your mammy.It’d kill your mammy.

Dear God,Dear God,I am fourteen years old. I am I have I am fourteen years old. I am I have

always been a good girl.May be you can always been a good girl.May be you can give me a sign letting me know what is give me a sign letting me know what is

happenning to me.happenning to me.Last spring[....] alone. A week go by he Last spring[....] alone. A week go by he pulling on her arm again. She say now, I pulling on her arm again. She say now, I

ain’t gonnaain’t gonna.(The Color Purple 3).(The Color Purple 3)

Who am I ?Who am I ?

Essence SeekingEssence Seeking

People are born to be and be to create their essence or being through their unique experiences.

    The Color Purple The Color Purple is against is against

It is also A product of existential angst It is also A product of existential angst and search for identityand search for identity

Ignorance Ignorance Arrogance Arrogance Racism Racism

Existence Precedes Existence Precedes EssenceEssence

Cogito ergo sum.Cogito ergo sum.

“Existence precedes essence” means that the man has no

pregiven essence (no essential self).

Who Who am am I?I?

Essence seeking Essence seeking UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

Diamonds in the RoughDiamonds in the Rough

Essence Essence seeking..............seeking..............

Most valuable Most valuable diamond.diamond.

.......... .......... UNDERSTANDINGUNDERSTANDING

Selection decides Selection decides HOW it should be HOW it should be

presentedpresented

Realize Realize WhoWho

you are.you are.

Womanist Womanist ExistentialismExistentialism

womanism’ is an essence womanism’ is an essence seeking understandingseeking understanding

Womanist Womanist ExistentialismExistentialismDenial of Denial of

the GIVENthe GIVENRealizatiRealization of on of The The

PREGIVENPREGIVEN

One feels nothingOne feels nothing when when

NEVER DARE NEVER DARE TO BE TO BE and and

NOT NOT TO BE.TO BE.

To be is To be is necessarnecessar

y to y to become become and and

to become to become is is

necessarnecessary y

‘‘to be’to be’

•Humans have freedom to choose

•Each individual makes choices that create his or her own nature

•Because we choose, we must accept risk and responsibility for wherever our commitments take us

LesbianismLesbianism

Existence is not prior to Existence is not prior to essence. Essence and essence. Essence and

existence are juxtaposed. existence are juxtaposed. To be is necessary to To be is necessary to

become and to become is become and to become is necessary ‘to be’. Essence necessary ‘to be’. Essence

is how it is seen or is how it is seen or ascribed to. ascribed to.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY• Baldick, Chris. Baldick, Chris. Dictionary of Literary Terms.Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: Oxford, 2008. Print. New York: Oxford, 2008. Print.• De Beauvoir, Simone. De Beauvoir, Simone. The Second Sex.The Second Sex. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2012. Print. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2012. Print.• Heidegger, Martin. Heidegger, Martin. The Essence of Truth. The Essence of Truth. New York: Continuum, 2005. Print.New York: Continuum, 2005. Print.• Heidegger, Martin. Heidegger, Martin. The Essence of Human Freedom.The Essence of Human Freedom. New York: Continuum, 2005. Print. New York: Continuum, 2005. Print.• Mathew Shilpa. Mathew Shilpa. In Quest of Essence: An Existentialist Approach to The Care TakerIn Quest of Essence: An Existentialist Approach to The Care Taker..• Pala: St.Thomas College, 2011. Print.Pala: St.Thomas College, 2011. Print.• Lemay, Eric and Jennifer Apitts.Lemay, Eric and Jennifer Apitts. Heidegger for Beginners. Heidegger for Beginners. New Delhi: Orient Black New Delhi: Orient Black• Swan, 2005. Print.Swan, 2005. Print.• Shahida and M.Chakranarayan.Shahida and M.Chakranarayan. A Study: Alice Walker. A Study: Alice Walker. Bareilly: Prakash Book Depot,Bareilly: Prakash Book Depot,• 2005. Print.2005. Print.• Walker, Alice.Walker, Alice.The Color Purple.The Color Purple. London: Orion Books, 1983. Print London: Orion Books, 1983. Print