Introduction
This essay is going to deal with telling and writing as a means of liberation in the novel The Color Purple. Liberation in this context means, of course, women’s liberation. The paper comprises the analysis of the protagonist’s motivation for writing, its effects on her and the significance of different dialects. Furthermore the effects of the literary form of the letter as means of articulation will be explained and also the influence of Shug and her feminist language on Celie.
Motivation for writing Already at the opening of the novel a reason for Celie’s writing is given.:
You better not tell anybody but God. It’d kill your mammy.1
Celie takes this warning literally. She is frightened of her father and therefore obeys. Another motivation for Celie’s writing we get to know from one of Nettie’s letters to Celie: ...I remember one time you said your life made you feel so ashamed you couldn’t even talk about it to God, you had to write it, bad as you thought your writing was. Well, now I know what you meant.2
Celie feels guilty and ashamed, because of the alleged incest with her father. She is not allowed to tell anybody (certainly not her mother) but needs to articulate herself somehow to enable herself to cope with her situation. So Celie starts to write her letters to God, when at the age of 14 years her record of sorrow and pain begins. Celie loses her mother and later on also Nettie, her sister. From then on writing becomes even more significant, for it is also a substitute for the mother’s and sister’s missing love.3
1 Walker, Alice; The Color Purple, London, 1992. (p. 3)
2 ebenda, p. 110
3 Fifer, Elizabeth; “The Dialect And Letters of The Color Purple”
in: Rainwater C., Scheick, W:J. (eds.); Contemporary American Woman Writers, Lexington, 1985. (p. 156)
Table of Contents
Introduction
Motivation for writing
Effect of writing
The letter as a literary vehicle
The function and effects of Nettie’s letters
The use of language – Celie’s dialect
The influence of Shug on Celie’s development
Objectives and Themes
This essay explores how writing and telling act as essential tools for liberation within Alice Walker's novel "The Color Purple," specifically focusing on the protagonist's journey toward autonomy through self-expression.
- The psychological motivation behind Celie's act of writing.
- The transformation of Celie's character through language and narrative.
- The structural significance of the epistolary form in the novel.
- The liberating influence of Shug Avery and her feminist perspective on Celie.
Excerpt from the Book
The influence of Shug on Celie’s development
In order to develop an independent and strong character, Celie needs an objectification of a female to counter the victim figures like her mother. Shug Avery serves this function. She is an uncompromising character who uses an uncompromising language. In using a what Celie calls “manly” language, she crosses traditional gender boundaries. Once Shug greets Sofia with: Girl, you look like a good time, you do. Celie thinks:
That when I notice how Shug talk and act sometimes like a man. Men say stuff like that to women, Girl you look like a good time. Women always talk about hair and health. How many babies living or dead, or got teef. Not about how some woman they hugging look like a good time.
Her love for Shug has several important effects that altogether mean a support to Celie’s development. When Celie helps Shug, she helps an opponent to the culture of the community Celie lives in. Thus, in standing up for Shug, she becomes an opponent herself. The curious thing about this situation is the fact, that her love for Shug somehow unites her with Albert, as he loves her, too.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter defines the central theme of liberation in the novel, framing it through the protagonist's motivation for writing, her use of dialect, and the impact of the epistolary form.
Motivation for writing: This section details how Celie’s writing begins as a response to trauma, shame, and a desperate need to articulate her experiences after being forbidden to tell anyone about her life.
Effect of writing: This chapter examines the psychological evolution of Celie, showing how the act of writing enables her to move from simple reporting to self-assertion and eventual empowerment.
The letter as a literary vehicle: This chapter analyzes the epistolary genre as a tool for female expression, highlighting the distinction between Celie’s internal letters and the external influence of Nettie's correspondence.
The function and effects of Nettie’s letters: This chapter explores how Nettie’s letters expand the narrative horizon, providing Celie with a new sense of reality and releasing her from the guilt of her past.
The use of language – Celie’s dialect: This chapter argues that Celie's dialect is a powerful, precise tool for self-identity and community belonging rather than a sign of poor education.
The influence of Shug on Celie’s development: This chapter highlights how Shug Avery serves as a mentor, teaching Celie to embrace her body, sexuality, and a feminist consciousness that leads to her final liberation.
Keywords
The Color Purple, Alice Walker, Celie, Shug Avery, epistolary novel, liberation, writing, dialect, feminist consciousness, self-expression, identity, trauma, empowerment, narrative voice, Nettie.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the role of telling and writing as crucial mechanisms for the protagonist's liberation in Alice Walker’s "The Color Purple."
What are the core themes analyzed in the essay?
Key themes include the motivation for writing, the transformative effect of language, the use of dialect as identity, the epistolary structure, and the influence of feminist mentors.
What is the research goal regarding Celie's character?
The goal is to demonstrate how Celie moves from a victimized state to achieving autonomy and self-realization through the act of writing.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, referencing critical perspectives and thematic elements within the text to support the argument.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers Celie's motivation, the effects of writing on her self-development, the significance of letters as a literary vehicle, the contrast between different dialects, and the guidance provided by Shug Avery.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as liberation, self-expression, identity, dialect, and the epistolary genre.
How does Celie's dialect contribute to her development?
Her dialect serves as an expression of her identity; by using her own language, she affirms her existence and creates a sense of community, resisting the "white" language of her oppressors.
What role do Nettie's letters play in the narrative?
Nettie’s letters function as a major narrative device that expands Celie’s world, releases her from the guilt of incest, and provides her with a bridge to the outside world.
How does Shug Avery influence Celie's perception of divinity?
Shug teaches Celie to view God not as a distant, judgmental white man, but as a presence inherent in nature, love, and the whole of creation.
- Quote paper
- Maritta Schwartz (Author), 1998, Telling and Writing as Means of Liberation in The Color Purple, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/5108
