AMERICAN LITERATURE CIA                                           

The Color Purple

Theme: Power of narrative and voice

Sahana Mehra

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Alice Walker was born on February 9 1944, in the small rural town of Eatonton, Georgia. She was the eighth and last child of Willie Lee Walker and Minnie Tallulah Grant, two sharecroppers. She started writing at an early age. In 1961, on a scholarship for disabled students, Walker enrolled in Spelman College in Atlanta, where she became active in the African-American civil rights movement. She continued her involvement in the civil rights movement even after graduating.

The first writing which she published was “To Hell with Dying,” which is a short story, and Once: Poems, her first volume of poetry. She published her most famous novel “The Color Purple: in the year 1982. She published this novel during the time when sexual discrimination and male dominance was at its peak. This novel talks of the struggles of a number of black women in rural Georgia in the first half of the 20^th century. This novel addresses several issues which include the exceedingly low position of black women in American social culture. The story is about a black woman named Celie in her struggle for self-empowerment, sexual freedom, and spiritual growth. However, the male population did not appreciate her work because of her openness and honesty. She won the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award for this novel.

This novel is written in the form of letters, which she addresses to a number of people over the course of the novel. It is Celie’s narrative. The first line of the narrative is the only line which is in direct speech. Through the novel, Walker is trying to emphasise on the fact that the individual self develops through the expression of ones thoughts and feelings. In the beginning she expresses her feelings to God. This was probably because she had no one else to turn to, “you better not never tell nobody but God” (Walker, pg 1). In the beginning of the novel Celie is unable to assert her power over anyone. She is weak and unable to voice her opinions out loud. She is not able to assert her rights over others and put her view point across to others. She is unable to resist and say no to her abusers. She silently takes everything in. She suffers in silence for a long time. Because of the warning which Alphonso gives her right in the beginning of the novel, she believes that the only way to persevere is to remain silent and invisible. But as the novel progresses there is a change which is seen in her character. This is mainly because of the influence Sofia and Shug have on her. Over a period Celie is able to open up and say what she wants to day. She is not afraid of her husband anymore. She is able to have a descent conversation with him without being scared of him. She is able to voice her opinions. She is able to express herself.   

She has no identity of her own. Celie is essentially an object, an entirely passive party who has no power to assert herself through action or words. She pours out her hearts story and feelings by writing letters which are addressed to God, because she feels that God is the only one will listen to her. These letters to God become her only outlet, her only way to express her feelings and thoughts. However, because she is so unaccustomed to articulating her experience, her narrative is initially muddled despite her best efforts at transparency. As the novel progresses, Celie is able to find her voice and is able to say what she wants to say out loud. In Shug and Sofia, Celie finds sympathetic ears, who are ready to hear her and help her, and learns lessons that enable her to find her voice. She finds the kind of support she needs from both of them which pushes her forward. Shug calls her a ‘virgin’, which makes her believe in herself. It helps her create her own narrative, a new identity, a new interpretation of herself and her history that counters the interpretations forced upon her. Gradually, through the novel, she moves on from telling her story only to God to now sharing it with Shug. It was not until they discover Nettie’s letters that Celie has enough knowledge of herself to form her own powerful narrative. The climax of the novel is reached when Celie’s forceful assertion of this newfound power leads her to curse Mr. ______ for his years of abuse. Celie’s story dumbfounds and eventually humbles Mr. ______, causing him to reassess and change his own life.

Though Alice clearly tries to emphasize on the power of narrative and speech to assert selfhood and resist oppression, she also tries to show that such resistance can be risky. Sofia’s forceful outburst in response to Miss Millie’s invitation to be her maid resulted in her spending twelve years of her life in jail. Sofia regains her freedom eventually, so she is not totally defeated, but she pays a high price for her words.

References:

·         Walker, Alice. The Color Purple: A Novel. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1982. Print.

·         "The Color Purple: Themes, Motifs & Symbols." Sparknotes. B&N. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.

·         "The Color Purple Background." Gradesaver. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.

·         "The Color Purple." New Georgia Encyclopedia. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.

·         "The Color Purple." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.

·         "Alice Walker - The Color Purple." Alice Walker| The Color Purple. Web. 23 Aug. 2014.

·         http://danielakeogh.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/the-color-purple-the-power-of-narrative-and-voice/

·         http://trudyamiller.wikispaces.com/The+Color+Purple+Themes+and+Motifs