The Color Purple - Epistolary Form

In 1982, author Alice Walker wrote what would become her best-known work, “The Color Purple.” The novel was a critical and commercial success due to the inspiring story of the narrator, and her unique writing style. 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.
The reader discovers that Celie has been mistreated and abused for most of her life. This abuse led to low or no self-confidence, and the feeling that she had no one to turn to. Her letters to God are the only outlet she has to tell her story in. Whether or not God responds to her letters, God is always there to listen to her. Although later in the story she finds Shug, and also her sister Nettie, God is the first “friend” she has to turn to.
There are advantages to using epistolary form in a novel. In this case, we have both Celie’s feelings about people, and her narration of the events going on around her. The point of view puts the reader into direct context of everything happening in her life. We can see from her writing that she is uneducated, and the reader can also clearly see the difference in her confidence levels and thoughts about life from the beginning to the end. Her letters make the story feel authentic to the reader. Her writing “almost feels entirely removed of any direct story telling, (Rufle)” and feels “almost voyeuristic from a readers standpoint. (Rufle)” The reader also feels intimate in the characters life and relationships.
I personally don’t see any disadvantages to using this style. Walker’s use of such an intimate style was especially effective in the telling of an African American woman’s story. Celie’s story would not have been revealed in any other way. If she had used an omniscient narrator, the reader would not have had any real insight into Celie’s thoughts, especially because for about the first half she doesn’t speak much to any other characters.
“The Color Purple” is an extraordinary work of fiction. I think it is a very effective inspirational tool for both women and African American women. The use of the epistolary style elevated the book to a higher status, for the incredible insight and involvement it brings to the reader. Although most readers probably have not been through experiences as awful as Celie, she is still an icon of a strong woman. Her letters to God bared her soul, ensuring a deep connection to her story.

Sources:

Lavender, Catherine. "The Color Purple." Women's History and Feminist Theory. The City University of New York. 29 May 1998.

Rufle, Lisa. "An Overview of Epistolary Novels." Suite101.com. 18 Sep. 2008.