Alice Walker’s The Color Purple presents the life-long struggle of Celie, a black Georgia woman, who yearns to obtain confidence and self-esteem. During the early stages of the novel, references to wagons are made, signifying the “old days,” whereas towards the end of the work automobiles surface. Though Walker never discusses any specific time or place where the story actually occurs, the change in transportation suggests about a forty-year span of Celie’s life, from the beginning of the novel until the end. Written in first person, Celie writes a series of letters to God, explaining the torture that she faces, and begging him for some form of mercy.
After years of abuse, both physically and emotionally, Celie discovers herself searching for some self-respect. Fonso, Celie’s abusive father, forces her to marry Albert, also abusive by nature. Celie finds a degree of hope through the depiction of Albert’s mistress, Shug. Shug serves as a tremendous force in Celie’s attainment of confidence, as the two eventually form a strong bond. Celie’s sister, Nettie, intelligent and caring who “mean[s] everything in the world” to Celie, also faces many of the same obstacles that Celie does, but Nettie first helps Celie overcome hers. As time passes, Celie gains more and more self-respect as well as some respect from others.
The central theme flowing throughout the work remains that man often defeats his problems through the nurturing of close intimate relationships. The bond between Shug and Celie allows Celie to conquer her passive behavior. Likewise, her relationship with Nettie also instills a strong sense of courage and self-esteem within Celie. Celie refuses to allow the horrible deeds of the men in her life to control her towards the latter stages of the novel. The intimate relationships that Celie shares with both the energetic Shug and the loving Nettie provides Celie with hope that she will one day come out of her passive shell.
Walker captures the audience with Celie’s series of letters to God that involve the audience. This unusual style of writing forces the reader to become directly involved in Celie’s life. Though the work is told by Celie’s perspective, the audience is able to receive adequate information about other key characters instead of only being able to venture into Celie’s mind. The language used throughout the novel serves several purposes.
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
Alice Walker’s illustration of an oppressed black woman in a racist society is remarkably vivid and powerful. Through the use of several literary devices and a first-person point of view, Walker gave the novel a realistic yet impactful effect. She applies her tone as an author and uses symbolism to convey a profound message to the readers. Tone Walker is adept at using tone to pull the reader into the minds of the characters. Tone fills in as an effective literary technique that personifies a character
The Bond of Sisterhood in The Color Purple “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life,” says modern day writer Isadora James, in her book My Sister, My Friend. In Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple, relationships among women represent a symbol of hope in a world filled with male violence. The main character Celie, suffers incredible trauma and hardships from every man in her life. Isadoras Jameses’ quote is a perfect description of Celie’s
The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, is a very heavy book to read. The author focuses on very difficult and hard aspects of the life of a poor, African American women, in the early twentieth century. Alice Walker truly shows that no one is exempt from the possibility of a happy life and a conscious connection to oneself and all that is around her in nature, regardless of the trials and tribulations of their past. Alice Walker was born on February 9, 1944. She grew up in Eatonton
once said “A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.” In The Color Purple relationships among women are used to represent a symbol of love in a world filled of male violence. This quote is a great description of Celie’s relationships in the book because her female relationships are so much more than just friends to her. Both Alice Walker, the author of the 1982 book, and Spielberg, the director of the 1985 film, portray the theme of sisterhood
The Color Purple by Alice Walker was a particularly enjoyable book. One reason is because the book relates to my own life in some ways. The main character, Celie, feels isolated because her father abuses her. She writes letters to God because she has no one else she can connect with. “Long as I can spell G-o-d I got somebody along” (Walker 17). Celie writes to God because she feels loved by him and she needs a companion or a friend to talk to. I, myself, am a Christian and I feel the same way. Although
throughout The Color Purple. A model or image of God in the novel was a truly disturbing and yet a touching dedication to the female spirit and its search for equality, acceptance and independence. The meanings of names, clothes, quilting, occupations, power, and colors are only a few examples of the symbols used by the author to develop the characters of the story. No matter how hard and long Celies looks, it seems impossible to find love and happiness for herself. The purple color itself symbolized
Title: The Color Purple Author: Alice Walker Genre: Historical Fiction Period of History: 1910-1940 The author and his/her times: Alice Walker was born on February 9th 1944 and was born in Eatonton GA. She is the author of the novel, The Color Purple and was an American author, poet and self-activist. Also Alice Malsenior Walker is still living today and is currently 69 years old. Alice Walker was married to Melvin Leventhal and they were married to each other in 1967 and separated in 1977. Walker
The Color Purple Change over time was a theory that was first realized by the Greeks and, only thousands of years later, accepted as fact. As time goes by, things change. And this change is never more evident than in human growth and development. But what is it that causes human metamorphosis to occur? Oftentimes, the change comes from within, simply the innate desire to improve oneself. Other times, the transformation is directly the result of outside influences; such as a significant event
certain personality and characterization for their characters. Also, Harper Lee uses the characters of Scout, Jem and Atticus to portray a white’s perspective towards racial discrimination against African Americans in the town of Maycomb. Whereas, Alice Walker uses the protagonist perspective, of an African American woman to show racism from her point of view. Lastly, both authors use hyperbole to over exaggerate the meaning of the text to get their point across. Racism impacts individuals as stereotypes
The piteous nature of sexism, abuse and how it can be overcome by the power of a voice and strong relationships, is exhibited in the inspiring novel, The Colour Purple by Alice walker. Set in rural Georgia in 1910, protagonist Celie narrates her unfortunate life through confessional and religious letters written for god. Being verbally, physically and sexually abused, Celie's confidence is at an all time low. She sees the world in a skeptical manner focusing her writing on her feelings. When she
Many authors use the themes oppression and victory to define a struggle. This technique allows readers to relate with characters on a personal level. Alice Walker constantly uses this theme in her short story “Everyday Use” with her character Maggie and in her book The Color Purple with her character Celie. Both tales depict these women as underdogs who overcome obstacles to realize her full potential at the end. In the story “Everyday Use” Walker weaves us into the lives of Momma, Dee, and Maggie
powerful meanings, even if we do not take the time to see them. By example, the excitement of the first snow on Christmas Eve or a sunny day on your birthday or even when your favorite song plays on the radio when you enter the car. The Color Purple, a book written by Alice Walker, implicitly demonstrates this theory. Walker’s story takes place in the South of United States after the Civil War, in the same demographic place as Walker was born and raised. One of the main characters of the story, named Celie
Walker Alice Walker’s love of Zora Neale Hurston is well known. She was the only one who went looking for Hurston’s grave. She describes her journey to get to the unmarked grave in her book, In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens. During that journey, Walker started to feel as if Hurston is family to her, an aunt. “By this time, I am, of course, completely into being Zora’s niece… Besides, as far as I’m concerned, she is my aunt – and that of all black people as well” (Ong). Walker’s book, The Color Purple
reality that our ancestors fraught to achieve. There are many articles, books and art that try to show and make people understand what being an American really means, like in The Color Purple, by Alice Walker. In the book two special sisters fight for what we call the ‘The American Dream’. Articles such as Drawing The Color Line, by J. Saunders Redding, 'Are You, Like, African-AMERICAN Or AFRICAN-American? ' by Gene Demby and An American