In "The Color Purple," the protagonist expresses the importance of honoring one's parents as indicated in the Bible, regardless of personal feelings. This belief can create a conflict in emotional states, especially when confronted with anger or resentment. When emotions become overwhelming, the character experiences intense feelings of sickness, highlighting the struggles of reconciling familial obligations with personal feelings.
As the character reflects on these feelings, she describes a sense of numbness that follows her anger. This indicates a coping mechanism to deal with the tension in her relationships, exemplified by her struggles with her husband. Despite the hardships in life, there is a belief in the eternal comfort of heaven, suggesting a longing for peace beyond the trials faced in the mortal world.