the color purple

I don't usually write book reviews. I'm usually hit with a sort of profundity when I read, like, "oh yes, I can feel the sublimity, though I don't really understand how to express it in my own words, yet it's there, and maybe I should feel lucky that I can perceive it". Books have that effect on me.

Yet because I need to practice writing for Lang, and because recently I have been encouraged to write by Damian and because one of my essays was out of two samples that were chosen to be read by the Lang classes as examples, I will attempt to write about some of my thoughts regarding The Color Purple.

First of all, I have to say I did not particularly like Celie in the beginning. Mostly because she acted out of jealousy and told Harpo to hit Sofia. I didn't like how she was propagating abuse, feeding into the very same system of patriarchy that caused her so much pain already. But then she and Sofia became good friends. And it was Sofia who inspired her to stand up to Mister in the end.

The first half of the book is very sad. However, I sympathized a lot with Celie and why she did not choose to speak up and fight against Mister's abuse like Sofia would with Harpo. I think society nowadays shame women for not speaking up. They don't realize how difficult it is. Society demands too much of women now. Especially in court cases.

I liked the integration of Nettie's letters, and how she found out and came to understand the relationship between African Americans in the United States and the Olinka people in Africa and their ancestors.

Family and what love really feels like is a prominent theme. I can feel the warmth between Celie and Nettie. The tension between Sofia and Harpo. The sickness between Alphonso and his children. The glittering infatuation that Celie has for Shug.

A subtle theme is implied, that education and literacy can drastically improve one's lives. Nettie was always posed as "the smart one". Patient with learning words, eager to consume news and information. It seems like she endured much less hardship than Celie did and landed herself in a position she liked--a missionary.

I think sexuality is also featured prevalently, which is probably why this book is controversial. Shug seems quite comfortable with it--Albert, then Grady, then Celie, then Germaine (I did not like Germain either), and she lends much of that confidence to Celie. I have mixed feelings about Shug. Mostly because she broke Celie's heart in the end, over Chinese food. Oh, those cold wontons. Infidelity will never strike a chord of empathy within me, even if it's with somebody as charismatic as Shug. I also did not have much affinity for her in the beginning because she was unnecessarily mean to Celie, but this changed drastically.

It is also worth noting that Celie, due to the abuse she experienced from her stepfather and Albert, is not attracted to men and instead is drawn in by the sweetness and affection of Shug. "I do not like frogs". There is also a transformation within Celie as she realizes that her body is not only an object to be taken advantage of, but instead a full-functioning vessel that she can claim agency over and feel pleasure in. It made me feel very happy and my heart was filled to the brim, reading about that.

Albert's transformation is worth digging deeper into. In the end, he listened and understood Celie, which is what caused her to forgive him somewhat. He began to work for himself and realized that to have the desire to understand other people on a deeper level transformed him into an entirely different being. I began to grow fond of him as well.

I was also very delighted to see Celie gain lots of happiness from her pants-making business. Economic independence lended her power to become her own self and the confidence to leave Albert. It was her way of self-expression. She began to have more self-autonomy.

Religion is another theme of the book. The color purple, whether that's Shug, or a representation of God, whatever it is, I like the position that the book took on what or who God is. It does not provide a clear answer, and it prompts the reader to come up with their own definitions of God and make it their own, like Shug's unique interpretation.

There is a lot more to say. But mainly, I was very glad to see love and happiness spring from people who were afflicted with the most tragic of experiences.

I should write more book reviews. This was fun. It helps me streamline my thoughts.