GED3073 Critical Appreciation

Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

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THE COLOUR PURPLE Alice Walker
The general & detailed meaning of the novel
Celie starts writing letters to God because her father, Alphonso (who she and her sister,
Nettie think is their real father until they know the truth years later) beats and rapes her until she
gets pregnant twice. Celie gave birth to a girl and her second child, a boy, whom both stole by
her stepfather. Celies mother becomes seriously ill and dies. Alphonso brings home a new wife
but continues to abuse Celie. Eventually, he marries Celie off to a man who is just as abusive as
him. Celies new husband, Mr.__ a.k.a Albert simply marries Celie to take care of his four
children, look after of his house, and work in his fields. Celie is somewhat happy to marry Mr.__
because she can now remove her younger sister, Nettie, from Alphonsos household. However,
after Nettie lives in Mr.__s household for a time without encouraging his sexual advances,
Mr.__ kicks Nettie out. Though Nettie promises to write to her sister, Celie doesnt hear from
her. Celies life gets worse and worse, as shes now separated from the only person in the world
whom she loves and who loves her back.
Celies life changes when Mr.__ brings his deathly ill mistress home for Celie to nurse
back to health. Mr.__s mistress, Shug, is everything that Celie isnt: sexy, sassy, and
independent. Celie quickly falls in love with Shug, and Shug falls in love back. For the first time
in Celies life, she has a chance to enjoy sex, romance, and friendship.
Together with Shug, Celie discovers the mystery of Netties silence for so many decades: Mr.__
has been hiding all of Netties letters in his locked trunk. When Celie finds her sisters letters, it
unlocks a new world for her. Instead of being submissive and downtrodden, she realizes the full
extent of the abuses she has suffered from Mr.__. This knowledge gives her the strength to
leave him. Celie heads off to Memphis with Shug to start a new life.
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

2 | P a g e

Netties letters transform the way Celie sees the world. From Nettie, Celie learns that Alphonso
whom they call Pa isnt actually her biological father. Celie also learns that Nettie is living with
the Reverend Samuel and his family, working as a missionary in Africa. The Reverend Samuel
had also adopted Celies two children from Alphonso many years back. Nettie, Samuel, and the
children plan to return from Africa soon.
Celie learns that Alphonso has died. She also finds out that the house that Alphonso
lived in actually has belonged to Celie and Nettie since their mother passed away. So now Celie
owns a home, which she prepares for Netties arrival. Now an independent woman, Celie
remains close friends with Shug, although Shug is not faithful or constant in their romantic
relationship. Celie also gains a new friend. After she left Mr.__, he became a changed man.
Hes reformed and is now a pretty decent guy. Although Celie isnt remotely romantically
interested in him, they now enjoy each others company. After several decades abroad in Africa,
Nettie returns with Samuel, who is now her husband, and with Celies two children. The sisters
have a blissful reunion, and although theyre now old women, the readers get the sense that
theyve just begun the best years of their lives.
The intention of the author/narrator
The authors intention was to show how African Americans are neglected for who they
are and are discriminated against even though they are the same as us. It is also deals with
oversea activity concerning African tribes and the importance for them to be protected. It also
shows that for people to grow as individuals, it takes us each a different amount of time, but we
should never surrender to a bad situation. The feeling of being discriminated because of racism
ultimately compelled her to write this novel which sold 5 million copies and won the Pulitzer
Prize for fiction in 1983.
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

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The characters (types and protagonist)
Celie
The protagonist and the narrator is Celie. She is a poor, uneducated black woman with a
sad personal history. As a young girl, Celie is constantly subjected to abuse and told she is ugly.
She survives a stepfather who rapes her and steals her babies. She also survives an abusive
husband. She decides therefore that she can best ensure her survival by making herself silent
and invisible. Celies letters to God are her only outlet and means of self-expression. To Celie,
God is a distant figure, who she doubts cares about her concerns. As an adult, Celie befriends
and finds intimacy with a blues singer named Shug Avery, who gradually helps Celie find her
voice. Shugs maternal prodding helps spur Celies development. The self-actualization Celie
achieves transforms her into a happy, successful, independent woman.
Shug Avery
A sultry blues singer who first appears as Mr. ________s mistress. Shug becomes Celies
friend and eventually her lover, all the while remaining a gentle mentor who helps Celie evolve
into an independent and assertive woman. Shug does not at first appear to be the mothering
kind, yet she nurtures Celie physically, spiritually and emotionally. Shug gives Celie the idea of
sewing pants for a living.
Nettie
She is a Celies younger sister whom Mr. ________ initially wanted to marry. Nettie runs
from Alphonso to Mr. __________ and later runs away from Mr. _________ . She meets a
husband-and-wife pair of missionaries, Samuel and Corrine. With them, she moves to Africa to
preach. Nettie becomes the caretaker of Samuel and Corrines adopted children (Celies
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
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biological children, whom Celie and Netties stepfather stole and subsequently sold) and
faithfully write letters to Celie for decades. Netties experiences in Africa broaden the novels
scope, introducing issues of imperialism and pan-African struggles.
Mr. _____________ / Albert
Celies husband, who abuses her for years. Mr. __________, whose first name is Albert,
pines away for Shug during his marriage to Celie and hides Netties letters to Celie in his trun for
decades. After Celie finally defies Mr. _________, denouncing him for his abuse, he undergoes
a deep personal transformation, reassessing his life and eventually becoming friends with Celie.
Sofia
She is a large, fiercely independent woman who befriends Celie and marries Harpo. Sofia
refuses to submit to whites, men, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. After defying the
towns mayor, Sofia is sentenced to twelve years in jail, but the sentence is later commuted to
twelve years labour as the mayors maid. The hardship Sofia endures serves as a reminder of
the costs of resistance and the difficulties of combating cultural and institutional racism.
Harpo Alberts eldest son.
Alphonso Celie and Netties stepfather.
Squeak Harpos lover after Sofia leaves him.
Samuel A minister, who along with his wife, Corrine adopts Celies biological children,
Olivia and Adam.
Corrine Samuels wife.
Olivia Celie and Alphonsos biological daughter who is adopted by Samuel and
Corrine.
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

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Adam Celie and Alphonsos biological son, who is also adopted by Samuel and
Corrine.
Tashi An Olinka village girl who befriends Olivia and marries Adam.
Miss Millie The wife of the mayor of the town where Celie lives. She is racist and
condescending.
Eleanor Jane The mayors daughter and develops a strong attachment to Sofia and
turns to her for emotional support.
Grady Shugs husband who is a loving and sweet man but also a womanizer.
Kate One of Mr. _________ s sisters.

The setting
During 20
th
century, 1910-1940 in rural Georgia. Though The Colour Purple is a
historical novel, it never refers to any factual events. There are no dates, little sense of the
passage of time and very few mentions of characters ages. Celies world is also dramatically
expanded as a result of her sisters travels in Africa. Living a poor, downtrodden life in the
South, Celie had never stopped to consider her African heritage until Nettie sends letter
describing the West African village shes living in.

Point of view
Celie speaks in the first person through a series of private letters she writes to God and
later to Nettie. At first, Celies letters focus only on what she does, hears, sees and feels. Over
time, they grow to include more complex themes and insights. The story covers thirty years of
Celie's life from childhood to her maturity as an independent woman. Later in the novel, the
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

6 | P a g e

narrative shifts back and forth between letters written by Celie and letters written by Nettie.
However, the letters from Nettie are still read through Celies eyes. The author, Alice Walker
brings the reader close to the quality and rhythms of life that her characters experience. Celie's
dialect also reflects her lack of formal education. Nettie, who was formally educated, writes her
letters in Standard English. They are full of information that becomes a source of knowledge for
Celie outside the world of her own small community.

Themes
The Power of Narrative and Voice
The author emphasizes throughout the novel that the ability to express ones thoughts
and feelings is crucial in developing a sense of self.
The Power of Strong Female Relationships
Throughout the novel, the author portrays female friendships as means for women to
summon the courage to tell stories. Relationships among women form a refuge,
providing reciprocal love in a world filled with male violence.
The Cyclical Nature of Racism and Sexism
Those who perpetuate violence are themselves victims, often of sexism, racism or
paternalism.
The Disruption of Traditional Gender Roles
Many characters in the novel break the boundaries of traditional male or female gender
roles. Sofias strength and sass, Shugs sexual assertiveness and Harpos insecurity are
major examples of such disparity between a characters gender and the traits he or she
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

7 | P a g e

displays. The novel subverts and defies the traditional ways in which we understand
women to be women and men to be men.

Style
The Colour Purple is an epistolary novel / a confessional novel. The tone is very
confessional and uninhibited as Celies letters to God are private, much like journal entries and
the tense used is present. The novel is composed of very short chapters, written as letters to
God, that explain in the shortest of possible ways the trials and tribulations Celie and later,
Netties experiences. The author presents Celies thoughts in the vernacular, with poor grammar
and spelling. These emphasize the point that Celie is not an educated woman. Celies letters
also tend to touch upon topics briefly and sparsely rather than being developed and embellished
in long paragraphs. After Nettie and Celie reconnect, Celies letters get longer and more
detailed. She is happier in her life, and tends to express joy by writing more.

Structure
The structure of The Colour Purple is the series of letters Celie writes to God and to her
sister Nettie. Some of the letters in the book are written by Nettie.

Personal viewpoint
From my personal point of view, I found that this novel is a powerful and uplifting book
with outstanding themes being revealed by the author. It was formatted well although when I
GED3073 Critical Appreciation
Assignment 2 - Narrative
NORAINI BINTI SHARI / 012011030785

8 | P a g e

was reading the first chapter of the novel, I thought that the author might made mistakes from
the aspect of grammar and spelling and the sentence structures. Later on, I realized that it was
done in purpose of showing to the readers that it is the way the protagonist speaks and thinks. It
shows the level of education she has and by keep reading it from chapters to chapters, my
empathy towards Celie becomes stronger. The part in the novel that really touched my heart the
most is the moment when she was peeping her own daughter, Olivia in the grocery shop with
Corrine. Her deep instinct as a mother tells her that the cute little baby is hers. I cant stop my
tears falling down my cheek while reading that part and it makes me appreciates every moment
I have with my own children deeper. I like the way it was written as a series of letters from one
sister to another, and from the main character, Nettie, to God. It allows the reader to receive a
better knowledge of the characters thoughts. The character that I like the most is absolutely
Celie as the protagonist. She is nave, faithful and naughty at certain part especially when she
spitted into the glass of water before she handed it to Alphonso, her Pa (which is actually not
her biological father). I love that part too where it proves that revenge is totally sweet. I have a
sister, so I was able to relate to the relationship that Nettie and Celia cherished so much. If it
was not for this good relationship between me and my sister, then I think that the novel would
not have been as interesting as it was for me. Furthermore, some of the other relationships
revealed in the novel were related to my own personal life. Even though I was not familiar with
the lifestyle of the people, I came to realize that the characters were extremely life-like in the
fact that they grew throughout the novel. I enjoyed the ending more than anything else. I felt that
I had trouble making myself read the middle sections. As my conclusion, it was a novel that I am
glad that I read for exposure to different things, if nothing else.