From the beginning to the end of a novel, a character can go through countless changes; both physical and emotional. However, these transformations are what contribute to improvements in society, growth as an individual, and often times, the strengthening of relationships with others. Through experiencing the good and bad of life, one’s true self and beliefs are revealed. This emergence of inner values and understandings can lead to having a better outlook on life and finding oneself. In her novel, The Color Purple, Alice Walker demonstrates the themes of self-discovery and bonds of sisterhood through the perspective of a young African American woman growing up in Georgia during the early 20th century. Alice Walker was born in 1944 in
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In The Color Purple, Walker uses a very unique format to tell the story of Celie and her sister Nettie; letters. Letter-writing, or epistolary writing, is often used in expressing political, sisterly, and maternal relationships that can also reveal identity and role in society (Jolly n.p.). It is also much more effective in drawing the reader into the story so that he or she understands the feelings of the characters. This is very fitting for telling the story of Celie and her sister, as their sisterly relationship is a significant theme of The Color Purple. In the novel, a majority of the letters are very personal and written to God from Celie’s perspective, and are later switched to Nettie’s viewpoint as she is writing to Celie. This change of narration exemplifies how the bond between them remains strong throughout the story, learning from and helping each other to be a better person, even as they endure hard times (Hamamsy n.p.). Both of the sisters experience problems in their own way, however their differences in interpretations and reactions to these situations are what enable them to offer advice and support one another. From the perspective of Celie, she sees Nettie as a role model and is influenced by her to approach life differently and become a more independent person; Celie’s unbreakable relationship with her sister plays a key part in her own
In The Color Purple, Walker uses a very unique format to tell the story of Celie and her sister Nettie; letters. Letter-writing, or epistolary writing, is often used in expressing political, sisterly, and maternal relationships that can also reveal identity and role in society (Jolly n.p.). It is also much more effective in drawing the reader into the story so that he or she understands the feelings of the characters. This is very fitting for telling the story of Celie and her sister, as their sisterly relationship is a significant theme of The Color Purple. In the novel, a majority of the letters are very personal and written to God from Celie’s perspective, and are later switched to Nettie’s viewpoint as she is writing to Celie. This change of narration exemplifies how the bond between them remains strong throughout the story, learning from and helping each other to be a better person, even as they endure hard times (Hamamsy n.p.). Both of the sisters experience problems in their own way, however their differences in interpretations and reactions to these situations are what enable them to offer advice and support one another. From the perspective of Celie, she sees Nettie as a role model and is influenced by her to approach life differently and become a more independent person; Celie’s unbreakable relationship with her sister plays a key part in her own