The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

Sydney Bridges, Allison Janos, Thomas Henson, Ebere Anokute


The novel is written out in epistolary form, meaning that it broken down into letter form. It is written in first person by the protagonist, Celie. This novel is about Celie’s personal struggle and her journey to happiness. Throughout this novel, Walker has a way of taking you through Celie’s life not only by the words she uses, but her syntax. In the beginning of the novel, Celie is barely literate, and it’s shows in her letters to God. She spells words wrong and her grammar isn’t any better than a second grader’s. However, this does not stop her from writing. Celie takes the reader through her life starting with her childhood of abuse from her father and her husband. You can tell that Celie wasn’t appreciated by anyone except for her younger sister, Nettie. Nettie is bright and smart and aspires to be a teacher when she grows up. She encourages Celie to learn which is gradually reflected in the way Celie writes her letters. However, Nettie leaves Celie, but promises to write her. Celie never receives the letters.
The novel reaches it’s pinnacle when Celie gets a hold of the letters. By this time, you are able to notice the difference in the way Celie is writing, she has continued learning despite her loss in faith that Nettie was alive. The letters from Nettie reveal answers that Celie never would have dreamed of getting. After this new found information, Celie finds the self confidence to curse at her abusive husband for the way he’s treated her over the years. Years later, she is reunited with Nettie and has opened up her own Clothing store. In the end, Celie states that although she is old now, she has never felt younger in her life.

Overall, this heart wrenching novel takes the reader through the struggles of an african american woman, and shows how it's never too late for a woman to stand up for herself and demand freedom.