Difference between revisions of "Color Purple Scene"

Revision as of 02:00, 6 September 2007

A letter came for me today. But I didn't know that at the time. The mailman cames to my house as usual today and said he has a letter for a "Mrs. Johnson". It had my address on it. I didn't know no "Mrs. Johnson", but the mailman insisted I take the letter. All right I said.

Later that day I was in town and I decided to ask everyone I knew for a Mrs. Johnson. First, I tried the man at the store. He was mean to me as usaly but said he didn't know no Mrs. Johnson anyway. I asked I want up to Sophie and asked her. She said she don't know any Mrs. Johnson. Harpo said he doesn't know either. The other people in the town say they don't know either.

So I go home and talk to Shug. She says, "why it's you!" You're Mrs. Johnson. But I don't know no Mrs. Johnson I said. Shug says that Mister is Mr. Johnson and I am his wife. So it turns out that the letter was addressed for me.

How it Changes the Book

In The Color Purple, Mister's name is not given. Celie's husband is referred to as "Mr. _____". This is a purposeful action by the author to attempt to dehumanize her husband. Mister is very mean to her throughout most of her life. He makes him get everything for him, he doesn't clean anything, and makes him care for his children which she is not allowed to hurt. She is treated like a slave in her own home.

Slaves called their overseers "mister" too.

In the movie, Mister's name is recorded on the mailbox as "Johnson". Because film is a visual medium, it would have to be given some time or other.

The author intends to de-humanitze Celie's husband and compare him to a slave owner in The Color Pruple".

Ideas

• Nettie doesn't come home
• Alphinso doesn't rape her
• Mr. __ gets a name (explain why name is given)
• Sophie doesn't yell "hell no" to mayor
• The letters are burned

• Don't do the big "story-altering" ones

Mr ___'s Name

• Funny or serious?
  • serious

• Ms Celie gets letter addressed to Mrs. Johnson
• Doesn't know who that is
• Gets into town and asks everyone she knows "who is it"
• Someone tells her it's her
• She is very supprised - but doesn't like her own name

Why Card

• In movie
• easy
• don't want to do entire story changing events