Page 233: Nettie appears to be taking the same route as Celie in terms of God - no idols and an internal relationship rather than outward observance of worship:
'...not being tied to what God looks like, frees us.'
Page 236-7: Albert and Celie share memories and Albert reveals that he's a more enlightened man than before.
Page 239: Miss Eleanour Jane brings round her new baby - Sofia doesn't care about it, Sofia tells her so.
Page 244: Albert and Celie discuss Shug. He reveals he beat Celie because she was Celie, not Shug. It appears Celie thinks love exists despite marriage getting in the way - that who you marry isn't necessarily who you love. A patriarchal, unfair society may suggest you marry Anne Julia in Albert's case, Celie because she's available and he needs someone to work.
Celie's love for Shug doesn't fit into a male domonated society's view of who you should love. It is non-standard, but it seems to continue and exist despite everything. Just like the Color Purple.
Page 246 extract:
Who is the dominant speaker in this interchange?
Find examples of where this is evident.
'Men spose to wear the pants' (Albert) Comment on this statement in terms of language, metaphor and patrirchal society.
'You ought to tell that to the mens in Africa' This is Celie's reply to Albert's statement above; what does she mean by this?
Look out for discourse markers on pages 246-247 - who is making them?
'And men sew in Africa too'
Celie then shows him how to sew. How would Albert have reacted back at the start of the novel if Celie had suggested he learn this?
Page 250: Celie explains to Albert the alternative history of man according to the Olinka, that the white people were cast out for being different, and they have sought vengeance on anyone with colour ever since.
Page 251: Adam and Tashi returned from the Mbeles encampment;
Why isn't Tashi happy about marriage?
Adam decides to get the tribal scars as well as Tashi and they decide to marry.
Page 256:
'The more I wonder, he say, the more I love'
And people start to love you back, I bet, I say.'
Page 259:
Epistolary style:
Celie now addresses her letter to God, stars, sky, people, everything - suggesting a pantheistic approach to religion.
She thanks all the above for bringing about good things - unlike her old 'male' idea of God, this kindly God brings her family back to her.
Language:
Alice Walker succeeds in voicing Celie's surprise at Nettie's arrival by her use of short sentences, brief descriptions using few words but conveying much.
'I'm so scared I don't know what to do. Feel like my mind stuck. I try to speak, nothing come. Try to git up, almost fall. Shug reach down and give me a helping hand. Albert press me on the arm.'
The power of this paragragh is in the brevity and directness of Celie's observation. We are able to picture the simple images and realise just how dramatic this must look.
