Walker the Writer

Reading The Color Purple in high school was an interesting experience. Second semester, junior year in my AP English class, I was allowed to pick any “contemporary” novel to read and write a detailed report on. For some reason, out of all of the options my teacher suggested, I choose to read The Color Purple. Having read and analyzed the book carefully, I then wrote a stellar paper about Celie and her struggle to cover come suffering and hardship. Celie faced sexism and relied on her writing to keep her going. In my analysis, I discussed Celie and the plot of the story extensively, but I never before thought about Walker’s reasons for writing or understood her thought process.

Walker was born in 1944 and published The Color Purple in 1970. She addresses African-American women issues, as well as issues of sexuality, domesticity, and religion. In comparison to Toni Morrison in her novel The Bluest Eye, Walker’s novel addresses an individual struggle against society. In this way, Walker has received much criticism for portraying African-American as abusive and violent. However, Morrison’s writing in The Bluest Eye allows the reader to peer into the mind of the sexual predators in the novel. However, Walker’s use of words and style of writing focuses mainly on Celie’s thought process and her way of dealing with her suffering.

I feel that while both books are extremely powerful, Walker’s novel is happier and represents a single perspective. Morrison’s novel represents different view points and presents the main character as an element of the entire story. I feel, however, that Walker’s use of a series of letters to “God” or to “Nettie” give the reader a different view point. It almost as if the reader is God and the reader is guilted with the responsibility to ensure Celie’s survival. Celie comments, “I can’t fix my mouth to say how I feel” (Walker 88). Such comment is interesting because Walker, in essence, is communicating Celie’s story to the reader through Celie’s writing. Celie obviously is not incredibly educated but is able to express her story through her letters to God. We are forced to rely on Celie to communicate effectively and we must believe in everything that Celie writes.

I feel that Walker intended on this because the reader plays the role of God. Celie addresses every letter to God, and we are the only ones to read these letters. It is like reading someone else’s private diary. We want to believe the writer and do not question her truthfulness. Obviously, Walker appeals to emotion and forces the reader to go through the pain and suffering that Celie experiences. We essentially see Celie’s struggle through her eyes. Her letters are our window into her life. This being said, I feel that Walker effectively portrays her message and demonstrates Celie’s struggle with society. Towards the end of the novel, we get a sense of optimism for the future. Nettie writes in her letter to Celie “In a few weeks, we will all be home” (Walker 279). I feel the transition of the recipient of Celie’s letters from God to Nettie signify Walker’s point that we must constantly reinvent ourselves to discover a reason for survival.