90 Letters of Uncertainty

854 Words4 Pages
Child abuse, gender roles, racism, and sexism are all major conflicts for Alice Walker’s main character, Celie. Throughout The Color Purple all of these issues are explored in the format of letters. By writing letters Walker enhances the reader’s ability to experience the true everyday struggles of black women in 1910 and the thirty year journey of the main characters finding themselves and their voices through building relationships with each other. The book consists of ninety letters. These letters are written from Celie to God, from Nettie to Celie, and from Celie to Nettie. “Never tell no one but God.” Celie would hear the same six words every time Alphonso took advantage of her. Celie tried to protect Nettie and keep all of the bad things away from her, but by doing that she was forced into loneliness. Celie could not confide in anyone except God, so she wrote to him. Celie wrote all of her hardships down and asked God why she was having to go through all of this and why everything was happening. Celie expressed feelings that, if it weren’t for the letters that reader would never even know about. The reader learns many things about Celie within her letters to God. The reader can acknowledge her strength, and feel her heartache. The letters are what allow everyone to fall head over heels in love with Celie. Celie gets married to Mr.____, but her situation does not improve. Mr.____ does not love or respect Celie. Mr.____ loves Shug. The first strong female character introduced. Shug left Mr.____ heartbroken after going to pursue her career in music. Shug becomes Celie’s inspiration. The only thing that Celie wants is to be a beautiful as Shug. Celie tells God all about her. Every little detail that Celie can pick out she expresses to God. Shug eventually ends up coming to live with Mr._____ and Celie can barely control herself. She does not know what to do
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