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The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker is a novel of revelation for the inspiring story itself, but it also serves as an inspiration to readers of all backgrounds. Walker’s background is what makes her novel stand out with emotion because many of the occurances in the novel closely emulate part of her life. Finally, it is Walker’s view of God that allows the character of Celie to grow in her faith and confidence alike. This elegantly written novel will stand the test of time for the characters and the world Alice Walker develops.
The Color Purple begins with several letters to God from Celie. She writes letters to God because only He will listen to her; no one pays attention to a poor, uneducated African American girl who is pregnant with her father’s second child. After having her two children taken away from her at birth by her father, Celie is given away to Mr____. He originally wanted Nettie, Celie’s sister, but she fled when Mr.____tried to marry her her at a young age. Celie never hears from her sister and assumes she is dead. Celie’s new husband, Mr.____, abuses her emotionally, physically, and sexually, while maintaining a relationship with a woman named Shug Avery. Shug is very beautiful and a singer who travels around the country. When Shug now a friend of Celie’s, inquires about Nettie, Celie’s sister, Shug mentions that Mr.____has been hiding letters Nettie sent to Celie over the past several years. Nettie’s letters to Celie detail her missionary work with a family from her home state of Georgia. After many years of missionary work with this family in Africa, Nettie informs the parents of the family she has been working with that she is the biological aunt to their two adopted children. After years of writing letters Celie stops writing to God and begins to write to Nettie, although Nettie never receives these letters. Celie does receive her sister’s however, detailing of the trials and hardship of the missionary life in Africa. In a final letter, Celie addresses the letter, “Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God.” and in this final letter Nettie returns home for the first time in many years. The women have both grown old, but they mention that they have never felt so young. The entirety of the novel is a stream of consciousness of Celie and Nettie’s emotions, thoughts, trials, and tribulations; all inspiring.
The Color Purple successfully inspires readers while portraying the pain filled life of Celie and other African American women in the 1940s. This book acts as a teaching work of art. The stories Celie tells are the pathway to her happiness. Because of the changes she makes, Celie grows in confidence and in spirituality. This book teaches readers to express emotions openly like Celie does in her letters. Walker poses readers with a challenge; do what you can with what you have, where you are. Celie makes the most of what she has and finds satisfaction in that. Newsweek says, “The Color Purple” is an American novel of permanent importance.” The intense emotional impact on readers and the revelations of characters are what make this book so important. A part of Walker’s background can be seen in several different characters in The Color Purple.
Born in a small town in Georgia, Walker’s life already is reflected in her novel that takes place in a small rural town of the same state. Her experiences with racism in the American South have deeply impacted the characters and occurrences in the novel. When she was only 17 years old, Walker became active in the African American civil rights movement. This event in her life closely reflects Shug Avery’s desire to have a voice and challenge authority in the search of equality. Soon after joining, Walker became an exchange student in Uganda. This part of her life is brought to life through the character of Nettie and the missionary work in Africa. While in Africa, Walker becomes inexpertly pregnant just as Celie become pregnant with two unasked for children. Most interesting to me however, is Celie’s relationship with God.
In her very last letter to God, Celie titles it, “Dear God. Drear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God” (291). Celie turns to God for support because she trusts He will listen to her when no one else will. She does not have a clear image of God, but she has at least a grain of faith that He exists. God is a man however, and after guidance from Shug, Celie begins to disregard God because he is a man and Celie believes that He is not listening to her, otherwise her life would be better. When Celie formulates her own image and beliefs in God, she is proving her independence and her powerful voice. Celie grows in faith when she develops her own image of God, rather than listening to what others says. Celie has learned to have her own opinions, and with the passage of time, she learns to stop listening to what everyone else says. God has helped her grow in her own way. Everyone has a slightly different image of God and for some a drastically different idea of Him, but with Celie’s example of independence in faith I believe readers are given the right to have their own faith independence.
Alice Walker writes with a heavy influence from her personal life experiences and develops inspiring characters like Shug and Celie. She writes to tell an empowering story, but more importantly she teaches the power of independence and individual voice, especially a growing independence in faith. The Color Purple will be read for years to come because of its powerful messages in literature.
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The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Krista H, May 15, 2011
The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker is a novel of revelation for the inspiring story itself, but it also serves as an inspiration to readers of all backgrounds. Walker’s background is what makes her novel stand out with emotion because many of the occurances in the novel closely emulate part of her life. Finally, it is Walker’s view of God that allows the character of Celie to grow in her faith and confidence alike. This elegantly written novel will stand the test of time for the characters and the world Alice Walker develops.The Color Purple begins with several letters to God from Celie. She writes letters to God because only He will listen to her; no one pays attention to a poor, uneducated African American girl who is pregnant with her father’s second child. After having her two children taken away from her at birth by her father, Celie is given away to Mr____. He originally wanted Nettie, Celie’s sister, but she fled when Mr.____tried to marry her her at a young age. Celie never hears from her sister and assumes she is dead. Celie’s new husband, Mr.____, abuses her emotionally, physically, and sexually, while maintaining a relationship with a woman named Shug Avery. Shug is very beautiful and a singer who travels around the country. When Shug now a friend of Celie’s, inquires about Nettie, Celie’s sister, Shug mentions that Mr.____has been hiding letters Nettie sent to Celie over the past several years. Nettie’s letters to Celie detail her missionary work with a family from her home state of Georgia. After many years of missionary work with this family in Africa, Nettie informs the parents of the family she has been working with that she is the biological aunt to their two adopted children. After years of writing letters Celie stops writing to God and begins to write to Nettie, although Nettie never receives these letters. Celie does receive her sister’s however, detailing of the trials and hardship of the missionary life in Africa. In a final letter, Celie addresses the letter, “Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God.” and in this final letter Nettie returns home for the first time in many years. The women have both grown old, but they mention that they have never felt so young. The entirety of the novel is a stream of consciousness of Celie and Nettie’s emotions, thoughts, trials, and tribulations; all inspiring.
The Color Purple successfully inspires readers while portraying the pain filled life of Celie and other African American women in the 1940s. This book acts as a teaching work of art. The stories Celie tells are the pathway to her happiness. Because of the changes she makes, Celie grows in confidence and in spirituality. This book teaches readers to express emotions openly like Celie does in her letters. Walker poses readers with a challenge; do what you can with what you have, where you are. Celie makes the most of what she has and finds satisfaction in that. Newsweek says, “The Color Purple” is an American novel of permanent importance.” The intense emotional impact on readers and the revelations of characters are what make this book so important. A part of Walker’s background can be seen in several different characters in The Color Purple.
Born in a small town in Georgia, Walker’s life already is reflected in her novel that takes place in a small rural town of the same state. Her experiences with racism in the American South have deeply impacted the characters and occurrences in the novel. When she was only 17 years old, Walker became active in the African American civil rights movement. This event in her life closely reflects Shug Avery’s desire to have a voice and challenge authority in the search of equality. Soon after joining, Walker became an exchange student in Uganda. This part of her life is brought to life through the character of Nettie and the missionary work in Africa. While in Africa, Walker becomes inexpertly pregnant just as Celie become pregnant with two unasked for children. Most interesting to me however, is Celie’s relationship with God.
In her very last letter to God, Celie titles it, “Dear God. Drear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God” (291). Celie turns to God for support because she trusts He will listen to her when no one else will. She does not have a clear image of God, but she has at least a grain of faith that He exists. God is a man however, and after guidance from Shug, Celie begins to disregard God because he is a man and Celie believes that He is not listening to her, otherwise her life would be better. When Celie formulates her own image and beliefs in God, she is proving her independence and her powerful voice. Celie grows in faith when she develops her own image of God, rather than listening to what others says. Celie has learned to have her own opinions, and with the passage of time, she learns to stop listening to what everyone else says. God has helped her grow in her own way. Everyone has a slightly different image of God and for some a drastically different idea of Him, but with Celie’s example of independence in faith I believe readers are given the right to have their own faith independence.
Alice Walker writes with a heavy influence from her personal life experiences and develops inspiring characters like Shug and Celie. She writes to tell an empowering story, but more importantly she teaches the power of independence and individual voice, especially a growing independence in faith. The Color Purple will be read for years to come because of its powerful messages in literature.
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)