The Color Purple Book Review Essay
Over the Summer, I read the book “The Color Purple” Written by Alice Walker. This book is written in the form of letters, which is also referred to as an epistolary. The series of letters are written by the main character Celie, and all of her letters are addressed to God. The story of the Color Purple is primarily about Celie’s life, which starts out extremely rough. She is raped and abused by her Pa, her mother dies, and there is also a man instructed in marrying her sister. But, her Pa refuses to let her sister out of the home. Astonishingly, this all happens on the first page. Her Pa tells Celie that she mustn't tell anyone about what is going on accept God. Celie gets pregnant twice, and is taken out of school. Her children are put up
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for adoption, and they are taken away. After that, the same man who wanted to marry Celie’s sister, is now going to marry Celie. Now this marriage was not out of love, and just wants Celie to do all of the work. She has to take over all of the house chores, undergo unenjoyable sexual nights with her husband, and receive uncalled for beatings from him as well.
But, She can now take away her sister Nettie from Pa, but eventually gets kicked out of the house because she would not accept Mr.’s sexual advantages. Nettie promises to write to Celie, but unfortunately never receives any letters from Her. Celie’s life slowly starts to decline after her sister Nettie leaves. She was really the only person in her life who she could love and receive love back. Celie is a very defeated character, and she is very passive but we know from reading that she is telling her own story in these letters to God. Later in the book, many women come in to her life including her Daughter in law, and her Husbands Mistress, and these women practically help her break out of the constrains of life, and find joy. Sexism is a very big theme to this book. Some other themes include race, love, sexual identity, and femininity. Mr.’s mistress, Shug Avery, a blues singer comes to stay at their house and Celie finds herself sexually attracted to her. Soon, Celie and Shug find a stash of Nettie’s letters, which Mr. had been keeping hidden from her for years. These letters describe her life among missionaries in
Africa.
for adoption, and they are taken away. After that, the same man who wanted to marry Celie’s sister, is now going to marry Celie. Now this marriage was not out of love, and just wants Celie to do all of the work. She has to take over all of the house chores, undergo unenjoyable sexual nights with her husband, and receive uncalled for beatings from him as well.
But, She can now take away her sister Nettie from Pa, but eventually gets kicked out of the house because she would not accept Mr.’s sexual advantages. Nettie promises to write to Celie, but unfortunately never receives any letters from Her. Celie’s life slowly starts to decline after her sister Nettie leaves. She was really the only person in her life who she could love and receive love back. Celie is a very defeated character, and she is very passive but we know from reading that she is telling her own story in these letters to God. Later in the book, many women come in to her life including her Daughter in law, and her Husbands Mistress, and these women practically help her break out of the constrains of life, and find joy. Sexism is a very big theme to this book. Some other themes include race, love, sexual identity, and femininity. Mr.’s mistress, Shug Avery, a blues singer comes to stay at their house and Celie finds herself sexually attracted to her. Soon, Celie and Shug find a stash of Nettie’s letters, which Mr. had been keeping hidden from her for years. These letters describe her life among missionaries in
Africa.