Blog # 2 Diction
Use of unique diction sets The Color Purple apart from all other novels. Walker utilizes uneducated language and grammar, phonetical spelling, letter format, and incomplete sentences to give the reader a feel for the culture and life of the novel. Characters in the book constantly use poor grammar, for example “Harpo eat, watch her” (pg 62) and “I got children, I say” (pg 202). A lack of grammatical correctness shows the low level of education that the characters have. This gives insight to the lifestyle that they live and the circumstances that they must deal with. Phonetical spelling like “ast” (pg 65), “git” (pg 65) and “prob-limbszzzz…” (pg 206) also show the low level of education that the characters possess. By speaking in an uneducated way and with slang, Walker gives the reader insight into the culture and times that the characters live in.
The entire novel is written in letter format; all the information that the reader receives is given to them by the contents of Cecile and Nettie’s respective letters. This style of writing is unique and provides the book with a more honest and down to earth feel. Since the letters are supposedly meant for Cecile’s, God’s and Nettie’s eyes only, it creates a fictional environment for candor and confidence. The reader should feel as if they are getting un-falsified and complete information, which provides a reliability that helps the reader to relate to the novel.
Incomplete sentences such as “He don’t say nothing. Eat” (pg 62), help replicate the way people think and speak in real life, which contributes to the overall rawness and reality that is so apparent in the novel.