Zachary Kosick
English 104
9 May 2017
Manhood in The Color Purple
Mark Greene, the author of Why Traditional Manhood is killing us, expresses his
opinions on the origins of manhood, and its negative consequences on society, as well as the
male individual. Through the text, Greene argues the adverse effects of conforming to the
societal standards of what a “real man” is, and the need for men to exit out of the figurative man
box that has been oppressing them for hundreds of years. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker,
tells the story of a young African American girl battling her father’s persistent abuse, and the
cycle of abuse she faces with her husband Mister. The expression of Celie’s emotions toward her
