This “novel of letters” form that ‘The Color Purple’ takes is called an epistolary novel. “An epistle is an archaic term for a letter.” (Ellis-Christensen, 2003) The epistolary novel was popular in the 18th and 19th century England and France, because the public was beginning to read more and looked for literature that depicted ordinary life and psychological realism. This form of writing provides a very personal connection with the characters, since their innermost thoughts and feelings are revealed.
I believe Walker decided to write the novel in this way because it allows the reader to connect with more than just one character. I think it works for this particular novel, because Walker is able to switch from one point of view to another, providing us with more than one perspective on the world and events surrounding the characters. I also believe that it allows Walker to get away with using the colloquial language that is used in the novel, it allows us to hear the characters’ voice, it gives a more personal feel. If Walker had not done this, we would not have felt the closeness of the characters- the letters are informal, much like how we would talk to friends or family, and this allows the reader to make a deeper connection.
I really appreciated how carefully this novel seems to be written, she gives us perspective of how much time is going by through descriptions of her surroundings and things that affected the world at that time. For example, in page 141 there are descriptions of Harlem- of people going to Africa and the “knickers” children wore- this gives us a sense of where and when the letter is written. Another example is on page 114, where Celie mentions that Shug Avery knows Sophie Tucker and Duke Ellington, this gives us a sense of time because we can look up when those artists were popular. What I think works most about this is the fact that she can play with time; she goes back and forth with old letters from Nettie and new letters that Celie writes, so she can fast-forward or slow down time.
Writing in this form, we are allowed to see two worlds as well. It allows Walker to portray Celie's world in America and contrast it to Nettie's life in Africa. Although I may be wrong, I believe that Nettie and Celie are not very different at times, because from my interpretation they are both going through roughly the same kind of transformations: Religious (Nettie moves to Africa as a Missionary, but I think she begins to lose faith after living with the Olinka tribe for some time. Celie, losing faith in God when finding out about her true family history); Amorous (Celie finding love in Shug, and Nettie finally forming a relationship with Samuel), and their accepting family life. It would have been very confusing for the reader if Walker had switched between narrators and settings, simplicity is key and she achieves it through these letters. I also like how Nettie and Celie's letters somewhat contrast each other in language, this helps Walker show the difference between the more "modernized and Northern" Nettie and the very Southern dialect that Celie speaks.
I do, however, think that it has its disadvantages. We see the surroundings as Celie and Nettie see them and as they are affected the setting changes. At times we can see how other characters are affected, such as Shug and Harpo or even his wife, but we do not get to hear them in any other form than the way Celie interprets it. I would have liked to see and hear these characters a bit more. As a reader, this aspect of the novel made me feel more connected with the narrators of the letters rather than all of the characters.
If there is one thing I learned in my years of taking Creative Writing classes, it is that dialogue keeps the story moving. This constant dialogue between Celie and God, Celie and Nettie and vice-versa makes the story flow and although it slows down and gets a tad dense at times, it works in a positive manner. Contradicting my previous paragraph to some extent, the novel also works because it allows the reader to see the other characters in very specific details that would have been lost with a chunky narration. For example, "Shug Avery sit up in bed a little today...She got the nottiest, shortest, kinkiest hair I ever saw..." (Pg.55) Or in the previous letter, where she offers Shug some breakfast, "She wearing a long white gown and her thin black hand stretching out of it to hold the white cigarette looks just right. Something bout it, maybe the little tender veins I see and the big ones I try not to, make me scared..." (Pg.53) These two examples give details of Shug Avery as Celie notices them, very specific details about her looks, her attitude, they make the reader picture her and get to know her.
The letters show the progress of Celie as a woman, but they also show the evolution of each and every character. Until the end, when the sisters finally meet, the characters are changing and I believe the emotion, detail and human yearning of the book would have been lost if Walker had not chosen to write in this form.
Source:
Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. "What is an Epistolary Novel?." wisegeek.com. 2003. conjecture corporation , Web. 10 October 2009.
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