Tone: The tone of the novel appears serious and depressing as Celie, for example, suffers from many hardships and sadness. The only laughter expressed in the novel is when Shug Avery is present. When she is around, Mr. _'s whole attitude changes. He has always fantasized Shug for her beauty. Celie feels purposeless and useless because she is constantly reminded that she is no good and worthless. The men in the novel are portrayed as abusive to the women. Celie was never wanted by anyone. The only reason why Mr. _ took Celie in was for her hard-working ability and the fact that he was never going to get Nettie. Therefore, Mr. _ figured he better have someone there to take care of his children and to abuse, so he can feel powerful.
Style: Compared to her earlier novels, Alice Walker writes The Color Purple in a unique form. She presents the book in letter form. Alice Walker uses dialect and literary devices to help further portray her message of the story. The southern language of the novel helps to portray the description of characters more clearly. " For example, instead of using the word "ask," Celie consistently uses "ast". The effect of this dialogue is to put us right in the middle of Celie’s world – a black, rural, largely uneducated world. Nettie’s narration is contrasted with Celie’s. It’s clear from Nettie’s diction that she has received more education and is working as a teacher. It’s closer to Standard Written English. Her diction indicates a difference in the sisters’ levels of education and experiences of the world" (Shmoop Editorial Team 1). The author uses many descriptive words in the novel. The letters addressed to Celie from Nettie are thoroughly in detail. Nettie described everywhere she traveled and everything she saw and did. Nettie was amazed at everything because she was from a small rural community. Nettie would share her emotions in the letters to Celie and would always include words of encouragement. Celie is not as descriptive in her letters to Nettie. Celie does not have anything exciting going on in her world. She is abused and humiliated by Mr._ and deeply sorrows for the absence of her sister and her children. Alice Walker uses imagery in the novel. She allows the reader to formulate a mental picture of the setting. By describing the characters, dialogue, setting, and action taking place, the reader is able to analyze the geography of each location presented.
Mood: The Color Purple is written in a mood of endurance with an underlying sense of wonder and hope. Despite the existence of oppression in poverty, racism, and sexism, the main character, Celie, maintains a sense of her own dignity and when given the opportunity opens her heart fully to love.
Form: The novel is written in an epistolary form which is written as if it were a series of letters. These letters explain the tribulations that Celie and Nettie experience. The author presents Celie's letters with poor grammar and spelling, proving how uneducated Celie is. This choice of narrative technique Walker chooses accomplishes several things throughout the novel. She is able to capture a sense of time as it occurs in the passing moments. It also gives voice to a character who would otherwise be unheard because they are uneducated.
Genre: The Color Purple describes the psychological challenges and depths of one person, Celie, and touches on her sister's experiences as well. The author writes the novel as a story of friendship and sisterly love that lasts a period of a lifetime. When the novel begins, both of the girls are in their teens but by the close of the story, the two are both grey-haired old women about to embrace grandchildren.
Tone: The tone of the novel appears serious and depressing as Celie, for example, suffers from many hardships and sadness. The only laughter expressed in the novel is when Shug Avery is present. When she is around, Mr. _'s whole attitude changes. He has always fantasized Shug for her beauty. Celie feels purposeless and useless because she is constantly reminded that she is no good and worthless. The men in the novel are portrayed as abusive to the women. Celie was never wanted by anyone. The only reason why Mr. _ took Celie in was for her hard-working ability and the fact that he was never going to get Nettie. Therefore, Mr. _ figured he better have someone there to take care of his children and to abuse, so he can feel powerful.
Style: Compared to her earlier novels, Alice Walker writes The Color Purple in a unique form. She presents the book in letter form. Alice Walker uses dialect and literary devices to help further portray her message of the story. The southern language of the novel helps to portray the description of characters more clearly. " For example, instead of using the word "ask," Celie consistently uses "ast". The effect of this dialogue is to put us right in the middle of Celie’s world – a black, rural, largely uneducated world. Nettie’s narration is contrasted with Celie’s. It’s clear from Nettie’s diction that she has received more education and is working as a teacher. It’s closer to Standard Written English. Her diction indicates a difference in the sisters’ levels of education and experiences of the world" (Shmoop Editorial Team 1). The author uses many descriptive words in the novel. The letters addressed to Celie from Nettie are thoroughly in detail. Nettie described everywhere she traveled and everything she saw and did. Nettie was amazed at everything because she was from a small rural community. Nettie would share her emotions in the letters to Celie and would always include words of encouragement. Celie is not as descriptive in her letters to Nettie. Celie does not have anything exciting going on in her world. She is abused and humiliated by Mr._ and deeply sorrows for the absence of her sister and her children. Alice Walker uses imagery in the novel. She allows the reader to formulate a mental picture of the setting. By describing the characters, dialogue, setting, and action taking place, the reader is able to analyze the geography of each location presented.
Mood: The Color Purple is written in a mood of endurance with an underlying sense of wonder and hope. Despite the existence of oppression in poverty, racism, and sexism, the main character, Celie, maintains a sense of her own dignity and when given the opportunity opens her heart fully to love.
Form: The novel is written in an epistolary form which is written as if it were a series of letters. These letters explain the tribulations that Celie and Nettie experience. The author presents Celie's letters with poor grammar and spelling, proving how uneducated Celie is. This choice of narrative technique Walker chooses accomplishes several things throughout the novel. She is able to capture a sense of time as it occurs in the passing moments. It also gives voice to a character who would otherwise be unheard because they are uneducated.
Genre: The Color Purple describes the psychological challenges and depths of one person, Celie, and touches on her sister's experiences as well. The author writes the novel as a story of friendship and sisterly love that lasts a period of a lifetime. When the novel begins, both of the girls are in their teens but by the close of the story, the two are both grey-haired old women about to embrace grandchildren.