Most aspects connected to what we know as conventional family norms or values can be seen challenged in novels’ such as “Buried Child”, “The Little Girl Who Was Found of Matches”, and “The Color Purple”. In all three novels ' various themes such as murder, abuse, and family relations (i.e., incest), along with many taboo related or unacceptable behavior in society are displayed by characters giving us an interpretation of how the authors of each novel have chosen to portray family life in their works. In each novel, we are given an outlook into the darker aspects of what we may know of happening in society but maybe not in the graphic manner presented by writers Sam Shepard, Gaétan Soucy, and Alice Walker. These dark elements of family life
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Already loosing her mother, we find out early in the novel, Alice’s father has committed suicide. Being a religious man whose faith has strong views against suicide Alice’s father selfishly commits an act that will have substantial negative effects on his children. From a reader’s perspective through Alice’s memory we know that her father never bothered with Alice and her brothers psychological or emotional developments, but he also did something else that will have lasting effects on his children. Gaétan Soucy’s choice of plot development in this particular instance is important to point out because the issue that is being presented is a highly common thing that we know happens to many children in their lives. We can assume that the lives of Alice and her brother is a product of what happens when these things occur so, it should be understood that, when Alice’s father was alive the children had some form of stability in their lives. However, after the death of Alice’s father we can see that the children, as it would happen in real life, will have a difficult time getting by. For example, after their father’s death Alice and her brother’s lives have changed whether they realize it or not. Events such as Alice counting coins to purchase a coffin for her father can make us ask how long will they …show more content…
Celie’s marriage to Albert is more so sold than an intimidate relationship between two people which does not even reflect a marriage based on how one would view the situation. Celie’s account for her marriage can be understood when she states, “It took him the whole spring, from March to June, to make up his mind to take me “(p.19. Readers can come to terms with knowing that Celie’s father sold her through excerpts such as “Fact is, he say I got to get rid of her. She too old to be living at home” (p.18) and that Albert made the decision whether he would marry her or not. Albert’s relationship with Celie’s is an unhappy one and includes abuse leading to possible assumptions of marriage rape. Celie’s account for her first day as a wife when she recalls “I lay there thinking about Nettie while he on top of me” (p. 21) can make us consider if the interaction between the two is mutual or if Celie is confined to her marriage. Both issues presented by Alice Walker, being forced marriage and marriage rape, do not reflect the positive aspects of marriage that we come to know of. However, Alice Walker’s depiction of these issues can be realistic and reflective of many women and their situations along with the lives of black women during
Already loosing her mother, we find out early in the novel, Alice’s father has committed suicide. Being a religious man whose faith has strong views against suicide Alice’s father selfishly commits an act that will have substantial negative effects on his children. From a reader’s perspective through Alice’s memory we know that her father never bothered with Alice and her brothers psychological or emotional developments, but he also did something else that will have lasting effects on his children. Gaétan Soucy’s choice of plot development in this particular instance is important to point out because the issue that is being presented is a highly common thing that we know happens to many children in their lives. We can assume that the lives of Alice and her brother is a product of what happens when these things occur so, it should be understood that, when Alice’s father was alive the children had some form of stability in their lives. However, after the death of Alice’s father we can see that the children, as it would happen in real life, will have a difficult time getting by. For example, after their father’s death Alice and her brother’s lives have changed whether they realize it or not. Events such as Alice counting coins to purchase a coffin for her father can make us ask how long will they …show more content…
Celie’s marriage to Albert is more so sold than an intimidate relationship between two people which does not even reflect a marriage based on how one would view the situation. Celie’s account for her marriage can be understood when she states, “It took him the whole spring, from March to June, to make up his mind to take me “(p.19. Readers can come to terms with knowing that Celie’s father sold her through excerpts such as “Fact is, he say I got to get rid of her. She too old to be living at home” (p.18) and that Albert made the decision whether he would marry her or not. Albert’s relationship with Celie’s is an unhappy one and includes abuse leading to possible assumptions of marriage rape. Celie’s account for her first day as a wife when she recalls “I lay there thinking about Nettie while he on top of me” (p. 21) can make us consider if the interaction between the two is mutual or if Celie is confined to her marriage. Both issues presented by Alice Walker, being forced marriage and marriage rape, do not reflect the positive aspects of marriage that we come to know of. However, Alice Walker’s depiction of these issues can be realistic and reflective of many women and their situations along with the lives of black women during