The Color Purple

Discuss the form Alice Walker uses for this novel. What is this “novel of letters” called in literature? Why do you think Walker writes the novel this way? What advantages or disadvantages does it give her?

Alice Walker utilizes an interesting and less common form for her novel, The Color Purple. Instead of allowing it to read as a story, she places the reader in a secret and exclusive world where an author no longer exists. She removes the wall between the reader and the paper back cover. Walker places a stack of letters into the audience’s hands and encourages a personal experience, right alongside Celie and Nettie. This form, this “novel of letters” has been titled an epistolary novel.

This genre of writing originated in the eighteenth century and is often used to write about women and their personal concerns, seeing as a letter or diary entry is an intimate and secretive outlet. “Female characters in the novels often wrestle with sexual temptation and moral propriety and find that the only way to express themselves honestly and thoroughly is by confiding in a trusted friend through letters” (The Epistolary Novel). Alice Walker uses this form to her greatest advantage. By writing in a form of letters, her characters are able to express themselves openly and freely, providing the reader with a first hand account of their story. Walker is also able to establish several different relationships with the reader by alternating perspectives and characters without getting in the way. She removes herself from the entire picture, creating dimension and a great sense of credibility. The reader is able to witness the various actions and desires of both Celie and Nettie and connect the dots on one’s own terms throughout the novel.

Walker also uses this form of writing to stress the strength and power of communication. Both women grow stronger through their letters but are only saved when they are finally reconnected and able to express themselves to a listening audience. For example, Nettie begins to feel lost and confused when she doesn’t receive responses from her sister Celie. The reader sees her motivations and desires fade and alter themselves until she is rejoined with Celie. It is then that we witness a type of growth and implementation from Nettie, she is finally free. Walker paints a similar scenario with her character, Celie, who loses her faith and free will when she assumes her sister dead. It is when Shug Avery assists Celie in finding Nettie’s hidden letters that everything begins to change for her. She finds strength in communication and in turn, an open window to independence.

Another interesting reason as to why Walker chooses to write her novel in the epistolary form is to illustrate the similarities and differences between African Americans in Africa and the United States. Nettie writes her letters from Africa where she depicts the great amount of oppression of black people, especially black women. This parallels Celie’s experience in Georgia but by a much smaller degree. The reader is able to travel and understand the culture of two geographical locations, which affect both characters’ growth throughout the novel.

While there are many advantages to writing a novel in the epistolary form, many critics claim that because there are various perspectives, it becomes impossible not to compare. Many find Nettie’s letters to be much less interesting than Celie’s and therefore difficult to absorb. This dramatically reduces the pace of the novel and therefore becomes less affective. Another disadvantage is the lack of time. Although Walker does mention several musical artists of that time to put these characters on the map, she does not feel the necessity to provide dates. This allows her to warp, twist, and jump in time but has a tendency to confuse the reader and therefore disrupt the fluidity of the story.

A “novel of letters” might seem like a bold and difficult avenue, but Alice Walker does an impeccable job. The Color Purple would not be the incredible story it is without the vitality and personal struggle of the characters at arm’s length for the reader. Although there are criticisms, I find this epistolary novel to be stimulating and emotionally accessible.


WORK CITED

The Epistolary Novel Criticism. E-Notes, n.d. Web. 22 October 2009.

Dice, Paul. Does Alice Walker’s The Color Purple work successfully as an epistolary novel?. Helium, n.d. Web. 22 October 2009.