The Spirit of Freedom in the Color Purple and Their Eyes Were Watching GodFreedom takes many different forms. There is personal freedom, social freedom, mental freedom and physical freedom. Freedom is not tangible, but can be achieved through many experiences. Different aspects of freedom are evident in both The Color Purple and Their Eyes Were Watching God. In The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, freedom moves from the outside into Celie and then back out again. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, freedom arises from within Janie but is stimulated by some external forces. Both women experience freedom, and freedom grows from within and radiates outward. In The Color Purple Celie evolves from being oppressed by Mr.____ and society to being free in every possible sense. The spark of freedom starts from within her and radiates outward with each new catalyst. Shug is Celie's primary source of freedom. Teach Celie to be free in her thoughts and to respect what she thinks and feels. Shug makes Celie understand that it's okay to think what she thinks and feel what she feels. “Because Miss Celie, he says, you are still a virgin” (Walker p.81). Sofia is Celie's second source of freedom. Although Sofia herself says nothing to Celie, she tells Celie about free feelings and ideas. For a time, Sofia was not free in any way. And Celie knew that Sofia didn't want to be like that. Celie learned that she could never give up hope and this freed her actions. Although Mr_____ oppressed and hindered Celie, he was finally a source of freedom. When he gave Celie the telegram that said Nettie was dead, and all her letters... in the middle of the paper... her life. When he was gone she had nothing else to care about in life except herself. It was like a little seed, capable of blowing in the wind and going wherever it chose to go. Janie's mind, spirit and body were free. “He drew in his horizon like a great fishing net… [and] called his soul to come and see” (Hurston p. ?). Freedom is a central theme in these two novels. Freedom is a subjective concept and each person must ultimately find their own freedom to be truly free. The character's freedom often comes from other characters or events, but is always the result of inner strength and willpower. Secondary characters or events act only to bring out inner freedom and to enhance that freedom. As Epictetus once said: "He is free who lives as he wishes." And both of these characters were finally able to live as they chose.