The Color Purple

There are many obvious similarities between the classic novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Not only do the main characters embark on similar journeys towards self-actuality, but the structures of the novels are similar as well. First and foremost, both of the protagonists are African American women who have no sense of self. Both Janie (TEWWG) and Celie (TCP) are forced into marriage at young age. Because of the arranged marriages, both relationships are loveless. Both characters were abuses, physically and emotionally. Janie’s second husband, whom she thinks is somewhat of the “perfect man” begins to yell and hit her when she doesn’t do what she’s told or talks back to him. For example, when Janie doesn’t serve a customer at her husband’s store, Jody tells her not to “stand dere rollin’ yo’ pop eyes at me wid yo’ rump hangin’ nearly at yo’ knees!” (78) Starting at a young age, Celie is continuously raped by her stepfather, and ends up giving birth to two of his children, who Celie believes were killed by him. When Pa is trying to convince Mr. to marry Celie, he openly says in front of her that she’s ugly and that she’s “spoiled.” (9) When Celie marries Mr. he keeps a mistress in the house and continues to treat her as an object. Both women have a very hard time standing up for themselves.

Despite their hardships, both women eventually find their true. Janie finds true love with her third husband, Tea Cake. Janie can finally be herself with him and enjoys his company. Celie finds companionship in a sultry lounge-singer named Shug. At first, the two don’t get along because Shug is sleeping with Mr. However, eventually the two become lovers. Shug empowers Celie and teaches her life lessons about men and God. Both women find senses of self-empowerment by the end of the novel. Both women are able to recognize and appreciate the good things in life and realize that no one can control their lives accept themselves. At the end of “Theie Eyes Were Watching God”, Janie comments that she has been to the horizon and back and she was finally at peace. (191) At the end of The Color Purple, although Celie is now old, she claims she feels younger than ever. (295)

Structurally, both novels are set up the same. Even though The Color Purple is written in the form of letters, both novels tell a story and are written over a long period of time. The dialects of both novels also represent the vernacular tradition native to African American people at the time.

All in all, both novels are classic tales of the hardships endured by African American women and their journeys towards self-independence. Most importantly, both novels will remain classics until the end of our time.

Works Cited

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. New York: Pocket Books, 1985

Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. Harper Perennial, 2006.

Character Evolution: Grant--A Lesson Before Dying

At first, in Ernest Gaines’ novel, A Lesson Before Dying, the main character, Grant, is cold and compassionless. However, over the course of the book, because of his meeting with Jefferson, Grant evolves into a man of hope and kindness.

When is first introduced into the novel, it’s clear that he’s not like other African Americans during this time period. He is educated and became a school teacher in an effort to change the educational circumstances of local black children. He is naturally hostile because he has to hide his educated demeanor. During this time period, even if an African American is smarter than a white man, he is not allowed to show it. The fact that he knows he may not be able to get through to his students adds to his frustrations. He says on page 23 that he hates teaching. He knows he won’t make the difference he wants to make. Because of this, Grant is initially hostile and hopeless. Obviously, when he is first presented with the opportunity to help Jefferson, he is reluctant.

When they first begin their meeting, both men are quiet. Just like his students, Grant believes he will not be able to make a difference in Jefferson’s life. This is due in part that Jefferson is accepting of his impending execution and believes he deserves what he is getting. In jail he is frequently referred to as a “hog” and is fed from a bag, like an actual hog. At first, not matter what Grant says, Jefferson is not convinced that he can still change his life. The turning point in their relationship is in chapter 26 when Grant buys the radio. When he and Jefferson are conversing about the radio, it’s the first real conversation they’ve had. When Jefferson begins writing in the diary Grant gives him, he begins to realize that he is allowed to have thoughts and feelings and that they’re not insignificant just because he’s a “hog.” When Jefferson becomes more aware the value of his life, he begins to open up to Grant. This finally gives Grant the accomplishments that he has been hoping for. Since he is unable to make a real difference with his students, it was important to him to make a difference with Grant, especially because he was so unenthusiastic at the beginning. It’s important to realize that Grant’s growth is due in large part to Jefferson’s. If Jefferson had not transformed into a more self-accepting and confident, it’s unlikely that Grant would have become more hopeful and compassionate. At the end of the novel when Grant chooses not to go to Jefferson’s execution, it becomes evident that his relationship with Jefferson has developed into a true friendship. Even though he says he won’t cry, he does, which shows that he truly cares about Jefferson. By the end of the novel, it’s clear that the true “lesson before dying” is not about Jefferson, it’s about Grant.

Works Cited

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. New York: Vintage Contemporaries. Print

HOWL: Poetry Explication (Researched)

The poem HOWL, by Allen Ginsberg,, is a very unique and entertaining poem to read. Although who the speaker is specifically is not mentioned in the poem, it is safe to assume that the speaker is Allen Ginsberg himself. Even though specific names are not mentioned, readers know many facts about the narrator. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that the speaker has experienced many different people and situations. He mentions that he’s seen the best minds of his generation in poor neighborhood, looking for an angry fix, and being expelled from universities. (page 9) It’s also apparent that the narrator is very familiar with drugs and homosexuality. The drug “Benzedrine” is mentioned more than once. (page 10) He also provocatively touches on homosexuality by mentioning “endless cock and balls” (page 10) and certain homosexual indiscretions with “saintly motorcyclists.” (page 13)

The poem is bluntly written from the perspective of an outsider who is not content with the way society is running. In the section titled “America”, Ginsberg touches on many aspects he does not approve of, such as the atomic bomb. (page 39) He also alludes to the fact that America is beginning to rely too heavily on technology when he comments that America’s machinery is too much for him. (page 39) He also mentions smoking marijuana every chance he gets. (page 40) Another aspect he frequently criticizes is religion. He says that he refuses to say the Lord’s Prayer (page 40) but also encourages the spiritual aspect of religion, leading the readers to assume that he is not critical of all religion, just those of an organized fashion.

It’s evident that the poem is written in blank verse. Ginsberg’s style closely resembles that of Walt Whitman. Ginsberg even mentions Whitman in the poem. In the section entitles “A Supermarket In California,” he claims to of seen Walt Whitman and rhetorically asks him where they are going. (page 29-30) The diction of the poem is very unique. In some sections, certain words are repeated numerous times. For example, in “Footnote to Howl,” Ginsberg repeats the word “holy” almost religiously. He explains that everything from the world to a typewriter is holy. (page 27) This makes readers wonder if everything is apparently holy, does that demean the privilege of being considered holy, ultimately causing nothing to be holy? Questions like the aforementioned one are frequently raised throughout the poem.

Ginsberg’s word choice is also extremely confrontational, something that readers were not used to during the time period of the Beat Generation. Ginsberg talks about drugs, sex, alcohol, and openly criticizes the American government. Many thought the poem was too obscene, leading to the arrest of the publisher, Lawrence Ferlinghetti. In 1957 a judge ruled that the poem was not too obscene and continued to be printed and sold.

Although Allen Ginsberg’s style of writing and topic choice may seem unconventional at first, the poem opened readers’ eyes to the issues concerning society during the 50s and 60s. If Ginsberg had not chosen to write the poem in this fashion, HOWL would not have had the impact that it did.

Works Cited:

"Allen Ginsberg." Poetryarchive.org. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.

Ginsberg, Allen. Howl. Vol. 4. San Fransisco: City Lights, 1994. Print.