Compare how the novels, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee and 'The Colour Purple' by Alice Walker, use literary techniques to explore the idea of racial injustice and female empowerment. In today's society, despite progress in the civil rights and gender equality movements, there is still a significant amount of concern about both cases. Achieving a future free from racism and inequality requires large amounts of effort, commitment, and empathy to create social justice. This can include implementing policies and practices that promote inclusivity, and raising awareness which promotes equality for all. The domestic fiction novels 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by American Author Harper Lee and 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker explore the themes …show more content…
However, there are some cases in the book where racism can be depicted through white individuals in the way they behave. For instance, Celie’s step-father Alphonso sexually abuses her and later separates her from her children too, reflecting on the violence African Americans had to face being in the hands of white people. Furthermore, the themes of empowerment can be shown through Celie, who is the narrator as well as the protagonist in the text. She is a poor and uneducated black woman living in rural Georgia and portrays the themes of women's empowerment after she realises she no longer cares about what people say and think of her. Celie learns to stand up for herself even when others put her down, and by doing this she shows resilience and …show more content…
In both novels, racial injustice affects the characters' lives immensely which further shapes their relationships and experiences. Characters such as Tom Robinson in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Celie in “The Color Purple” face discrimination, violence and exploitation due to their race. Other themes of empathy and understanding are also revealed in both novels by characters that convey the power of empathy and promote social change. In “To Kill a Mockingbird” Atticus Finch communicates the idea of spreading equality and in “The Color Purple” Shug Avery shows empathy and compassion just like Atticus Finch towards prejudiced behaviour. The authors use various literary devices, such as metaphors, symbolism, allusion, and irony, to convincingly express and communicate the themes and ideas portrayed in the novel to