Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
TCP + SND: symbolism in 'The Color Purple' - Coggle Diagram
TCP + SND:
symbolism in 'The Color Purple'
mail-box
communication/epistolary form
main method of communication between nettie + celie
closely tied to the letters which is integral to novel
reinforces absence of spoken communication in celie's life
creates emotional intimacy despite physical separation
voice/personal development
celie only wrote to god (forced) + by the end she writes to nettie (stable)
reflects movement from passive suffering to active self-expression
shift in recipient mirrors changing sense of identity
mailbox facilitates transition from isolation to mutual diaglogue
knowledge
mailbox empowers celie to have knowledge of outside world
nettie's letters expose celie to different cultures + perspectives
challenges celie's internalised beliefs about race, gender, religion
knowledge gained contributes to celie's independence
power
mr_ has power to block celie off from outside world (stealing letters)
control over mailbox reflects wider male dominance in domestic sphere
denial of communication reinforces celie's subjugation
reclaiming letters= reclaiming autonomy
modernity
symbolises the modern world of travel + communication
positions personal narrative within wider historical change
quotes
'dear god'
'dear nettie'
'you better not never tell nobody but god. it'd kill your mammy'
'naw, I think I feel better if I kill him'
signifies the importance of the letters to celie
quilts
unity
composed of different patterns which symbolises diverse people coming together in unity
female solidarity
act of quilting represents women coming together to create something beautiful from discarded pieces
first quilt made by sofia + celie when sofia signals a truce- sisterhood
shug join the quilting
economic independence/female autonomy
quilting led to her own financial independence makes a business out of women's labour
identity formation
quilts symbolise piecing together a fractured sense of self
reflects celie's emotional + psychological healing over time
turning scraps into a while mirrors her journey from brokenness to wholeness
symbolises the power women can gain from productively challenging their creative energe
heritage
quilting reflects african american traditions of storytelling through craft
acts as a way of preserving history, memory, shared experience
connects the women to a broader cultural legacy beyond their immediate lives
suggests identity is not just personal, but inherited + collective
quotes
'let's make quilt pieces out of these messed up curtains'
quilting is a symbol of female solidarity + can fix their damaged relationship
contrasts of
'quilting'
and
'messed up'
represents unity of sisterhood within the chaos of societal oppression + gender inequality
'if the quilt turn out perfect, maybe i give it to her, if not perfect, maybe i keep'
song
silence/suppression of voice
early in novel there is lack of songs- lack of liberation + joy + loss of voice
reflects celie's emotional repression + inability to articulate trauma
absence of music mirrors absence of autonomy
silence enforced by patriarchal control + fear
lack of song suggests disconnection from culture + community
song as resistance/awakening of identity
middle of novel, song begins associate with resistance + identity
as celie becomes influenced by shug she gains agency
shug's blues singing introduces alternative model of female expression
music becomes a space where female desire + independence can be voiced
song allows celie to begin redefining herself outside oppression
links to african american musical traditions as forms of resilience
liberation/communal joy
at end of the novel, music + song represents community, rejoice + liberation- celie finds her voice + agency
music reflects emotional healing + reconciliation
shared song reinforces unity + collective strength
celie's voice becomes confident, no longer mediated through others
celebration through music signifies full psychological + social liberation
quotes
'I look at her and I hum along a little with the tune. First time somebody made something and name it after me'
shows how music brought shug + celie together and was a way for them to display their affection
purple
desire/luxury
purple gives idea of wealth; expensive
celie's favourite colour- asks mr_'s sister to buy her purple clothing, but too expensive
highlights how beauty + pleasure are initially inaccessible to celie
reflects her position within poverty + patriarchal restriction
self-esteem
lack of purple symbolises lack of beauty she sees in
herself
celie does not believe she deserves beauty or adornment
absence of colour mirrors emotional numbness + low self-worth
reflects internalisation of abuse + dehumanisation
transformation/reclamation of identity
associated with celie + her transformation
purple becomes something she can finally access + embody
shift from deprivation to ownership mirrors her personal growth
embracing colour reflects acceptance of self-worth + desire
recognition/emerging affection
mr_ carves celie a purple frog after she made a comment about men reminding her of frogs
suggests a shift in mr_'s behaviour from dominance to attentiveness
symbolic gesture shows celie beginning to be seen + valued
linked purple with emotional recognition rather than just material desire
preface
walker writes in preface to novel, 'purple is always a surprise but is found everywhere in nature'
quotes
'I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple in a field and don't notice it'
colour purple is symbolic of womanism + appreciation of life
'color of an eggplant'
'I think what color Shug Avery would wear. She like a queen to me...somethin purple...but us look an look and no purple'
god
patriarchal conception of god
in early parts of the novel, celie sees god as her listener + helping hand
celie does not have a clear understanding of who god is
imagines god as a white patriarch, reflecting dominant social ideology
acknowledges this image doesn't seem right but accepts it due to lack of alternatives
mirrors the male authority figures controlling her life
god as confidant/substitute voice
writing to god functions as celie's only safe form of expression
god becomes a silent witness to trauma when no human listener exists
reinforces celie's isolation from real relationships
her letters highlight both dependence + emotional survival
rejection/crisis of faith
celie begins to question + reject her patriarchal image of god
directly challenges god
parallels her rejection of the men who have oppressed her
marks a turning point in her psychological independence
spiritual reimagining/alternative theology
god associated with nature, creation, presence rather than authority
spirituality becomes personal rather than imposed
reflects a shift from organised religion to individual belief
aligns with ideas of freedom, joy, appreciation of life
selfhood
expands god into a universal, inclusive presence
her voice is now empowered to define belief + identity
quotes
'angels all in white, white hair and white eyes, look like albinos. God all white too, looking like some stout white man work at the bank.'
internalised racism
causes low self-esteem
'don't seem quite right'
celie knows deep down that her image of god as a white patriarch doesn't seem right but she thinks it is all she has
-
'you must be sleep'
lost faith
-
'Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky, dear peoples. Dear Everything. Dear God'
reimagining of God on her own terms symbolises Celie's move from an object of someone else's care to an independent woman
pants
gender subversion/challenging norms
celie + shug defy gender expectations by wearing pants (traditionally male clothing)
pants symbolise rejection of restrictive female roles
both shug + pants act as forces that free celie from societal expectations
self-expression
celie describes passion for designing + making pants
detailed description reflects excitement + newfound purpose
each pair of pants reflects individuality of the wearer- symbol of personal identity
empowerment/recognition
shug praises celie
celie gains validation for her talent
marks turning point in celie's self-esteem + self-discovery
economic independence
celie turns pant-making into a business- financial independence
subverts patriarchal control of labour + money
pants ebale celie to live outside male dependence
links work with dignity + freedom
transformation
pants evolve from masculine clothing into symbol of liberation
celie moves from submission to autonomy
mr_ wears celie's pants by the end: reversal of traditional gender roles
symbolises his character development + movement towards equality
pants represent broader transformation of relationships, not just celie
authorial purpose
pants act as central metaphor for celie's identity transformation
represent shift from patriarchal oppression to freedom
walker uses domestic craft to show empowerment rather than limitation
demonstrates that both women + men can change
symbol ties together themes of gender, power, identity, independence
quotes
me and Shug dress up in our new blue flower pants that match'
shows shug + celie defy gender expectations together
'Since us started making pants down home, I ain't been able to stop'
-
'You is a wonder to behold'
-
'I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time'
-
'I change the cloth, I change the print, I change the waist, I change the pocket'