The Color Purple

Discuss the significance of the novel The Colour Purple’s epistolary form.

alice walker

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"In “The Color Purple,” Walker utilizes “epistolary form,” or her narrator told her story through letters to God. This style has an effect on the point of view and bias of the story told, but also on the connection that the reader develops with the characters.

The style is writing is called “epistolary form” because letters to God in a religious context are called “epistles.” The epistles that Walker’s main character, Celie, writes are a narration of her life. Writing letters to God is a very personal process, and in this way the reader can feel a deep connection to Celie. We learn her innermost thoughts; ones that she wouldn’t or felt she couldn’t share with anyone else."

Source(s)

http://jtankamerlit.blogspot.com/2009/10/color-purple-epistolary-form.html