The Color Purple By Alice Walker
Set during the early 20th century in the rural south, the novel, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, portrays the life of a poor African American woman named Celie. Since being published in 1982, this novel was won both the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award for Fiction, but is also considered highly controversial because of the references to sexual abuse and female empowerment. Throughout the book, the reader learns from the unexpected events that accumulate Celie’s journey to self-awareness. The lessons that she learns along this journey demonstrate a shift from corrupt views of women, religion and sexuality to common understanding and acceptance of all mankind. This powerful story helps the reader come to the realization of the truth
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behind the fact that one’s past does not define who they are or what they will become. In the book, The Color Purple, the letters of African American women shows the reader the inner pain and discrimination that most women fought against in the early 20th century and how both the women’s personal nightmares and victor helped shape an improved future for the next generation.
The author reveals the events of this story through the inner thoughts of 20th century African American women. The Color Purple, is written from a first-person point of view. The first half of the novel was told from Celie’s point of view, while the second half was told in the letters exchanged between Celie and her sister, Nettie. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Carmen Gillespie, unpacks this novel and describes the author’s effective writing techniques. This article explains how Walker’s choice of an epistolary form of storytelling highlights “the character's interior point of view, as well as, provides a nearly unprecedented literary perspective” (Carmen). By revealing this story through the use of letters, the reader learns from these women’s unspoken feelings. This point of view gives the reader a first hand personal look into the internal thoughts of these women during times of hardship. External forces, like some men in these women's lives, limited how they verbally expressed emotions, but these letters gave them outlet and a voice. In addition to point of view, the author adopts an unique use of characterization. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Mike Meyer, also analyzes Walker’s writing techniques; as well as, examines how the author’s portrayal of men in this book can be controversial, but helps stress each character’s sense of identity. Meyer explains how the author’s choice of names supports this importance of self-identity. For example, “characters are depicted as weak because they do not know the name of another character and consequently lack the power to oppose them” (Meyer). Even though the characters progress from this lack of confidence, the author’s characterization displays the diverse instances in which the inequality of gender and/or race impacted these characters. Both of these writing techniques serve effectively in helping the reader understand and study the controversial issues that surround this novel.
In order to withhold an accurate representation of the time period, while creating an informative and touching story Walker employs an unparalleled writing style. Another segment that Carmen’s article touches on was Walker’s use of diction and tone within this novel. He dissects the language of Celie’s letter and how her “matter-of-fact, tell-all-delivery” (Carmen) of the unfortunate events in her life. Both word choice and the delivery affects both the reader’s emotions and the novel’s overall tone. In the beginning of the novel, the author’s use of diction was mainly small, simple words. These letters contain strong verbal criticism of the men that have harmed her. Celie with pleads to God to help her escape this harsh reality and to help her reunite with lost loved ones. This element allows the reader understand how uneducated Celie once was and how she used these letters as a way of expressing the sadness she felt from the unjust situations that surrounded her in a healthy way. However, as previously stated, as the novel continues, Celie’s literacy improves and the diction becomes more complex with a strong emphasis of her news ideas. By this progression in the letter’s diction, the author “simultaneously attack traditional presumptions about the lack of intelligence and creativity of African Americans” (Carmen). In many instances in the book, the author’s writing style helps demonstrates how Celie overcomes the stereotypical limitations placed on African American women during that time period. In addition, Celie’s letter helps the reader discover how she learned to worked through these emotions. One way being rechanneling her emotions into the comforts of religion. Most of Celie’s letters are addressed to God or her sister Nettie. By focusing on religion as an outlet for Cecile's pain and lonesomeness, her letters and this novel takes on a serious, yet honest tone. Walker’s writing style helps “the reader maintain a sympathy with that situation and functions as a kind of benign, yet supportive, sounding board that seems to energize Celie's transformation” (Carmen). Throughout this novel, the author’s use of tone plays strongly on pathos. The elements of writing that the author uses within Celie’s letters evokes sadness for the readers and sense of compassion for Celie’s situation. The author’s use of diction and tone allows the reader see how Cecile confronts her hardships, but maintains a consistent truthfulness to the events of her life. The essential structure of The Color Purple, is short chapters, written in an epistolary form. This novel includes an assorted type of letters addressed to both God and the other characters. The author’s use of structure allows the reader the ability “to trace Celie's development and ever-expanding horizon and perceptual universe” (Carmen). As the novel progresses, the reader observes how Celie comes closer to grasping a stronger self-identity and deeper self-awareness. At the beginning of the novel, Celie’s letter are mainly addressed God, in which she confines her personal tribulations and unspoken desires. However, as things from her past are revealed, she then starts to write to her sister and eventually to the whole universe. As Celie’s sense of self improves, so does sense of voice and authority. She gains the ability to publicly express her emotions and becomes confident enough to help others overcome similar hardships. Along with the journey of Celie’s self-identity, the novel also progresses through the bonds that Celie makes. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Genevieve Slomski, analyzes these bonds and how they aid in the story’s progression. Slomski believes that major bonds in this book are “the relationships between men and women; the relationships among women; and the relationships among people, God, and nature” (Slomski). The Color Purple begins with mainly the impact of the interactions between African American men and women. During this section, the author displays the impact that these men’s skewed interpretations of women had. However, as the story continues, things begin to shift and the character’s mature. Celie becomes more confident and men no longer have as strong of hold on her life. With this growth, the author examines the bond that Celie has with other women. Through Celie’s interactions with Shug and her reunion with Nettie, the reader learns how Celie bonds at a deeper level with women. A level that she will never be able to bond at with men. Lastly, as the novel comes to an end, the author portrays Celie relationship with the universe, God and nature. Eventually, Celie independently finds her place in the universe and no longer relays on help of God, but rather finds comfort in nature. The novel’s structure allows the reader journey alongside Celie in her quest of self-identity and personal fulfillment.
The Color Purple is focused around female empowerment and an awareness of one’s sexuality.
As previously mentioned, the theme of this novel is fact that an individual’s future does not have to be confined by the limitations of his or her past. The reader comes to the realization of this theme through the author’s use of recurring motifs and symbolism. One of the major recurring images in The Color Purple, is Celie’s passion for sewing. In addition to Celie’s use of religion as an outlet, the reader discovers how Celie uses sewing as release from her troubled reality. Without knowing, as Celie finds her passion for sewing she, which an internal healing process. The reader learns that through sewing Celie was able to connect with “a tangible and rewarding endeavor that has unexpected benefits for those she loves” (Carmen). Not only does sewing allow Celie to channel her emotions into something besides her writing, but also promotes new relationships in her personal life. Standing for a pitvol part of progression, the sewing motif additionally explains how in the end, “all the loose ends is neatly stitched together and each cuff is carefully hemmed” (Carmen). In addition to sewing and God, another recurring element that the author employes is color imagery. The color purple was referenced several times within in the book. “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back” (Walker, letter 73). The reader can relate this color to something of great importance and worthy of admiration, however it is not always adequately appreciated. Likewise, the author’s use of color imagery, helps the reader to relate to the joy that eventually overcomes Celie. In the end of the story, Celie is no longer overlooked by effects of a crippling authority, but instead is admired and “learns to celebrate life’s
pleasures, including the color purple” (Slomski). The novel’s central theme empowers the reader to find outlets for his or her unfortunate situations and work towards a greater future than the one that his or her might predict for them.
The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, is a prized piece of literature that is remembered not only for it’s empowering theme but also the author’s effective writing elements. Altogether the way in which the author structures novel with the use of her writing techniques and theme, creates an unforgettable story that both inspires and resonates with the readers. Just as Celie comes to realize a personal self-identity by the end of the novel, so does the reader come to relate to similar self-awareness and sympathy for the hardship that these African American women were once confined by.
behind the fact that one’s past does not define who they are or what they will become. In the book, The Color Purple, the letters of African American women shows the reader the inner pain and discrimination that most women fought against in the early 20th century and how both the women’s personal nightmares and victor helped shape an improved future for the next generation.
The author reveals the events of this story through the inner thoughts of 20th century African American women. The Color Purple, is written from a first-person point of view. The first half of the novel was told from Celie’s point of view, while the second half was told in the letters exchanged between Celie and her sister, Nettie. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Carmen Gillespie, unpacks this novel and describes the author’s effective writing techniques. This article explains how Walker’s choice of an epistolary form of storytelling highlights “the character's interior point of view, as well as, provides a nearly unprecedented literary perspective” (Carmen). By revealing this story through the use of letters, the reader learns from these women’s unspoken feelings. This point of view gives the reader a first hand personal look into the internal thoughts of these women during times of hardship. External forces, like some men in these women's lives, limited how they verbally expressed emotions, but these letters gave them outlet and a voice. In addition to point of view, the author adopts an unique use of characterization. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Mike Meyer, also analyzes Walker’s writing techniques; as well as, examines how the author’s portrayal of men in this book can be controversial, but helps stress each character’s sense of identity. Meyer explains how the author’s choice of names supports this importance of self-identity. For example, “characters are depicted as weak because they do not know the name of another character and consequently lack the power to oppose them” (Meyer). Even though the characters progress from this lack of confidence, the author’s characterization displays the diverse instances in which the inequality of gender and/or race impacted these characters. Both of these writing techniques serve effectively in helping the reader understand and study the controversial issues that surround this novel.
In order to withhold an accurate representation of the time period, while creating an informative and touching story Walker employs an unparalleled writing style. Another segment that Carmen’s article touches on was Walker’s use of diction and tone within this novel. He dissects the language of Celie’s letter and how her “matter-of-fact, tell-all-delivery” (Carmen) of the unfortunate events in her life. Both word choice and the delivery affects both the reader’s emotions and the novel’s overall tone. In the beginning of the novel, the author’s use of diction was mainly small, simple words. These letters contain strong verbal criticism of the men that have harmed her. Celie with pleads to God to help her escape this harsh reality and to help her reunite with lost loved ones. This element allows the reader understand how uneducated Celie once was and how she used these letters as a way of expressing the sadness she felt from the unjust situations that surrounded her in a healthy way. However, as previously stated, as the novel continues, Celie’s literacy improves and the diction becomes more complex with a strong emphasis of her news ideas. By this progression in the letter’s diction, the author “simultaneously attack traditional presumptions about the lack of intelligence and creativity of African Americans” (Carmen). In many instances in the book, the author’s writing style helps demonstrates how Celie overcomes the stereotypical limitations placed on African American women during that time period. In addition, Celie’s letter helps the reader discover how she learned to worked through these emotions. One way being rechanneling her emotions into the comforts of religion. Most of Celie’s letters are addressed to God or her sister Nettie. By focusing on religion as an outlet for Cecile's pain and lonesomeness, her letters and this novel takes on a serious, yet honest tone. Walker’s writing style helps “the reader maintain a sympathy with that situation and functions as a kind of benign, yet supportive, sounding board that seems to energize Celie's transformation” (Carmen). Throughout this novel, the author’s use of tone plays strongly on pathos. The elements of writing that the author uses within Celie’s letters evokes sadness for the readers and sense of compassion for Celie’s situation. The author’s use of diction and tone allows the reader see how Cecile confronts her hardships, but maintains a consistent truthfulness to the events of her life. The essential structure of The Color Purple, is short chapters, written in an epistolary form. This novel includes an assorted type of letters addressed to both God and the other characters. The author’s use of structure allows the reader the ability “to trace Celie's development and ever-expanding horizon and perceptual universe” (Carmen). As the novel progresses, the reader observes how Celie comes closer to grasping a stronger self-identity and deeper self-awareness. At the beginning of the novel, Celie’s letter are mainly addressed God, in which she confines her personal tribulations and unspoken desires. However, as things from her past are revealed, she then starts to write to her sister and eventually to the whole universe. As Celie’s sense of self improves, so does sense of voice and authority. She gains the ability to publicly express her emotions and becomes confident enough to help others overcome similar hardships. Along with the journey of Celie’s self-identity, the novel also progresses through the bonds that Celie makes. The critical article, “The Color Purple” by Genevieve Slomski, analyzes these bonds and how they aid in the story’s progression. Slomski believes that major bonds in this book are “the relationships between men and women; the relationships among women; and the relationships among people, God, and nature” (Slomski). The Color Purple begins with mainly the impact of the interactions between African American men and women. During this section, the author displays the impact that these men’s skewed interpretations of women had. However, as the story continues, things begin to shift and the character’s mature. Celie becomes more confident and men no longer have as strong of hold on her life. With this growth, the author examines the bond that Celie has with other women. Through Celie’s interactions with Shug and her reunion with Nettie, the reader learns how Celie bonds at a deeper level with women. A level that she will never be able to bond at with men. Lastly, as the novel comes to an end, the author portrays Celie relationship with the universe, God and nature. Eventually, Celie independently finds her place in the universe and no longer relays on help of God, but rather finds comfort in nature. The novel’s structure allows the reader journey alongside Celie in her quest of self-identity and personal fulfillment.
The Color Purple is focused around female empowerment and an awareness of one’s sexuality.
As previously mentioned, the theme of this novel is fact that an individual’s future does not have to be confined by the limitations of his or her past. The reader comes to the realization of this theme through the author’s use of recurring motifs and symbolism. One of the major recurring images in The Color Purple, is Celie’s passion for sewing. In addition to Celie’s use of religion as an outlet, the reader discovers how Celie uses sewing as release from her troubled reality. Without knowing, as Celie finds her passion for sewing she, which an internal healing process. The reader learns that through sewing Celie was able to connect with “a tangible and rewarding endeavor that has unexpected benefits for those she loves” (Carmen). Not only does sewing allow Celie to channel her emotions into something besides her writing, but also promotes new relationships in her personal life. Standing for a pitvol part of progression, the sewing motif additionally explains how in the end, “all the loose ends is neatly stitched together and each cuff is carefully hemmed” (Carmen). In addition to sewing and God, another recurring element that the author employes is color imagery. The color purple was referenced several times within in the book. “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back” (Walker, letter 73). The reader can relate this color to something of great importance and worthy of admiration, however it is not always adequately appreciated. Likewise, the author’s use of color imagery, helps the reader to relate to the joy that eventually overcomes Celie. In the end of the story, Celie is no longer overlooked by effects of a crippling authority, but instead is admired and “learns to celebrate life’s
pleasures, including the color purple” (Slomski). The novel’s central theme empowers the reader to find outlets for his or her unfortunate situations and work towards a greater future than the one that his or her might predict for them.
The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, is a prized piece of literature that is remembered not only for it’s empowering theme but also the author’s effective writing elements. Altogether the way in which the author structures novel with the use of her writing techniques and theme, creates an unforgettable story that both inspires and resonates with the readers. Just as Celie comes to realize a personal self-identity by the end of the novel, so does the reader come to relate to similar self-awareness and sympathy for the hardship that these African American women were once confined by.