The Color Purple
AP Language and Composition Period 4
September 18, 2013
The novel, The Color Purple, by Alice Walker explores themes that irradiate the human condition: search for faith, the nature of human suffering, loss of innocence, and the exultation of the human spirit. The book delights the reader to a journey where the characters continually discover truth, love, beauty, and answers to the meaning of life. So if asked the question, ‘Which, out of all the summer reading novels, would you read next?’ my most truthful answer would be that I would reread The Color Purple, once again, in a heart beat. There is simply more knowledge to be gained in Walker’s writing, that cannot be completely retained from a single reading. Therefore, I have chosen to read the novel once again, in order to gain a clearer sight on my spirituality. Within The Color Purple I immediately connected with the characters, Celie and Shug, when they discussed an example of institutionalized racism in some religions, where a white God with a beard is praised. Society also raises us on the overall idea to come together as one in church to worship, and develop a relationship with the Lord. Like Celie, I slowly began to discover I would never be able to find God confided in the walls of a religious sanctuary. This realization is better described by the theologian, Rumi: “I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross and therein I found Him not. I went into the ancient temples of idolatry; no trace of Him was there. I entered the mountain cave of Hira and then went as far as Qandhar but God I found not. With set purpose I fared to the summit of Mount Caucasus and found there only 'anqa's habitation. Then I directed my search to the Kaaba, the resort of old and young; God was not there even. Turning to philosophy I inquired about him from ibn Sina but found Him not within his range. I fared then to the scene of the Prophet's experience of a great divine manifestation only a "two bow lengths'
September 18, 2013
The novel, The Color Purple, by Alice Walker explores themes that irradiate the human condition: search for faith, the nature of human suffering, loss of innocence, and the exultation of the human spirit. The book delights the reader to a journey where the characters continually discover truth, love, beauty, and answers to the meaning of life. So if asked the question, ‘Which, out of all the summer reading novels, would you read next?’ my most truthful answer would be that I would reread The Color Purple, once again, in a heart beat. There is simply more knowledge to be gained in Walker’s writing, that cannot be completely retained from a single reading. Therefore, I have chosen to read the novel once again, in order to gain a clearer sight on my spirituality. Within The Color Purple I immediately connected with the characters, Celie and Shug, when they discussed an example of institutionalized racism in some religions, where a white God with a beard is praised. Society also raises us on the overall idea to come together as one in church to worship, and develop a relationship with the Lord. Like Celie, I slowly began to discover I would never be able to find God confided in the walls of a religious sanctuary. This realization is better described by the theologian, Rumi: “I searched for God among the Christians and on the Cross and therein I found Him not. I went into the ancient temples of idolatry; no trace of Him was there. I entered the mountain cave of Hira and then went as far as Qandhar but God I found not. With set purpose I fared to the summit of Mount Caucasus and found there only 'anqa's habitation. Then I directed my search to the Kaaba, the resort of old and young; God was not there even. Turning to philosophy I inquired about him from ibn Sina but found Him not within his range. I fared then to the scene of the Prophet's experience of a great divine manifestation only a "two bow lengths'