There are many different types of authors in the world of literature; there is always something about a certain author that makes them special. Alice Walker is one of the most adored African-American authors working currently. At a young age she was blinded in her right eye; after feeling insecure and shy she turned to writing poetry to help her express how she felt. After graduating college, Walker went to Mississippi to help fight for equality. She published two novels and a few volumes of poetry before getting her ‘breakthrough’ with her third novel, The Color Purple. Walker says, “The black woman is one of America’s greatest heroes…Not enough credit has been given to the black woman who has been oppressed beyond recognition.” Walker went …show more content…
In Walker's story In Search of Our Mothers Garden, she talks about everything her mother did for her and her siblings. Walker says, “But when, you will ask, did my overworked mother have time to know or care about feeding the creative spirit” (lines 20-21). Her mother was so overworked she could barely find time for herself. She talks about how ‘our’ mothers and grandmothers were not recognized for what they did in life. At the time many African-American women would anonymously show their ‘creative spark’; they didn’t want to be judged or criticized because they were African-American and woman. She expresses her belief that ‘our’ mothers and grandmothers didn’t get recognized for the beautiful things they created in lines 47-48, she says, “The seed of the flower they themselves never hoped to see.” This is a very powerful line in the story that helps the reader understand what it was like for African-American women to live in this time. Walker recollects her mother working in her garden all the time; it was her mother’s passion. Her mother was locally known for her beautiful flower garden. Walker says, “Whatever she planted grew as if by magic” (line 74) because everything she planted grew beautifully. Towards the end of In Search of Our Mothers Garden Walker writes a poem about mothers. She says that her poem isn’t enough to do justice to moms, but it’s something (line 94). The
Alice Walker’s love of Zora Neale Hurston is well known. She was the only one who went looking for Hurston’s grave. She describes her journey to get to the unmarked grave in her book, In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens. During that journey, Walker started to feel as if Hurston is family to her, an aunt. “By this time, I am, of course, completely into being Zora’s niece… Besides, as far as I’m concerned, she is my aunt – and that of all black people as well” (Ong). Walker’s book, The Color Purple, was influenced by Hurston and her works. Walker was greatly influenced by Hurston and her book The Color Purple has similarities to Hurston’s book Their Eyes Were Watching God.
I had the opportunity to read “The Color Purple” by Alice walker. Walker was able to illustrate neglect, abuse and oppression of a young black woman in the early 20th century. At the end, she shows how a woman must fight back to regain the self esteem and confidence lost way back in the early adolescent years. The Color Purple is a beautiful story about strength, growth, self-esteem, endurance, fight, all nurtured by love.
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews Have you ever imagined living locked up in an attic for 3 years and 5 months? Have you ever imagined not growing up with your mother's care and love at the time you were 5? Flowers in the Attic is one of the more original series written by V.C. Andrews of the Dollanganger series. It is one of the best books I've read because it's depressing and dark yet heart-touching. In this book report, the setting, plot and the characters of the book will be included. Flowers in the Attic is one tragic yet a hopeful story of four children.
Wade-Gayler, Gloria. Black, Southern, Womanist: The Genius of Alice Walker // Southern Women Writers. The New Generation. Ed. By Tonette Bond Inge. The University of Alabama Press, Touscaloosa & London, 1990
Gwendolyn Brooks is the female poet who has been most responsive to changes in the black community, particularly in the community’s vision of itself. The first African American to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize; she was considered one of America’s most distinguished poets well before the age of fifty. Known for her technical artistry, she has succeeded in forms as disparate as Italian terza rima and the blues. She has been praised for her wisdom and insight into the African Experience in America. Her works reflect both the paradises and the hells of the black people of the world. Her writing is objective, but her characters speak for themselves. Although the idiom is local, the message is universal. Brooks uses ordinary speech, only words that will strengthen, and richness of sound to create effective poetry.
So perhaps neither is Walker writing truly about gardening nor Jacobs about her adolescence. They are both speaking to the nature of sainthood-the sainthood of artists. Their work is our evidence that saints needn't be implored or opportuned for guidance-because the spiritual broadcasting of this direction is inherent in what makes them women, artists, and Saints. Their power is our reminder of the power and beauty of art-of creation. The hope that their genius and mastery exude is the flame which keeps ignited the sparks of creation fundamental to humanity.
Innocence is something always expected to be lost sooner or later in life, an inevitable event that comes of growing up and realizing the world for what it truly is. Alice Walker’s “The Flowers” portrays an event in which a ten year old girl’s loss of innocence after unveiling a relatively shocking towards the end of the story. Set in post-Civil War America, the literary piece holds very particular fragments of imagery and symbolism that describe the ultimate maturing of Myop, the young female protagonist of the story. In “The Flowers” by Alice Walker, the literary elements of imagery, symbolism, and setting “The Flowers” help to set up a reasonably surprising unveiling of the gruesome ending, as well as to convey the theme of how innocence disappears as a result of facing the harsh reality of this world.
The poem, “Field of Autumn”, by Laurie Lee exposes the languorous passage of time along with the unavoidability of closure, more precisely; death, by describing a shift of seasons. In six stanzas, with four sentences each, the author also contrasts two different branches of time; past and future. Death and slowness are the main motifs of this literary work, and are efficiently portrayed through the overall assonance of the letter “o”, which helps the reader understand the tranquility of the poem by creating an equally calmed atmosphere. This poem is to be analyzed by stanzas, one per paragraph, with the exception of the third and fourth stanzas, which will be analyzed as one for a better understanding of Lee’s poem.
Alice Walker grew up the youngest of eight children. She was in an accident as a child that left her blind in one eye. She is best known for her work The Color Purple. Much of her work is focused on Civil Rights for African Americans. In Alice Walker’s poem Remember? she begins by posing a question. Just by the title, the reader begins to believe that this poem is taking place in the past, it may cause the reader to think of another time where they have been asked the question, remember? To paraphrase, the poem begins rather dark, a hate for Walker’s physical appearance, which makes reference to her past time when her eye had been shot by a BB gun. She continues with detest towards her life and the way that she is living her life, "holding their babies / cooking their meals / sweeping their yards / washing their clothes." After these first two stanzas, the poem shifts into a powerful and defiant outlook. She no longer lets this hate for herself, or the hate that comes from the oppression against her skin color to affect her. She turns from looking at the bad times that have struck her life, as moments for possibility for the future.
There are numerous works of literature that recount a story- a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story that simply aspires to touch the hearts and souls of all of those who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of literature is racism. In America specifically, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her renowned book The Color Purple, Alice Walker narrates the journey of an African American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout the course of her life; nonetheless, through the help of friends and family, she is able to overcome her obstacles and grow into a stronger, more self-assured individual. While there are numerous themes transpiring throughout the course of the novel, the symbolism is one of the strongest prospects for instigating the plot.
Martin Luther King, Jr had a dream that one day “this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed – we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” (NAAL 1397). Authors during this time were more direct in their hopes of trying to end segregation. African American women writers were becoming more successful and Native American writers were also beginning to receive recognition. Instead of focusing on inequality, these writers focused more on their heritage and culture. They helped redefine reader’s understanding of the world (NAAL 1081). An example of this can be seen in Alice Walker’s Everyday Use and how it focused on the heritage of African Americans through the use of a quilt made by the main character’s ancestors. Many of Louise Erdrich’s poems focus on the historical devastations of Native American life. This can be seen in “Dear John Wayne” when she reflects on the Native Americans being attacked in the movie she is watching, “There will be no parlance. Only the arrows whining, a death-cloud of nerves swarming down on the settlers who died beautifully, tumbling like dust weeds into the history that brought us all here together” (NAAL
Alice Walker’s writings were greatly influenced by the political and societal happenings around her during the 1960s and 1970s. She not only wrote about events that were taking place, she participated in them as well. Her devoted time and energy into society is very evident in her works. The Color Purple, one of Walker’s most prized novels, sends out a social message that concerns women’s struggle for freedom in a society where they are viewed as inferior to men. The events that happened during and previous to her writing of The Color Purple had a tremendous impact on the standpoint of the novel.
Walker produces many different ideas and themes in 'The Flowers'. She mainly focuses on the lives and treatment of black men and women at the time. I would agree with a post-colonial critic, as I feel that Walker uses the text to air her views on the treatment of black and the divide between whites and blacks. Although this could be seen as a Marxists perspective it think that it is limited and cannot be applied to the whole text.
“Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence” -Alice Walker (Lewis n.pag) Walker is considered to an African American novelist, short story writers poet, essayist, and activist. Most of her literature are mostly from her personal experiences and are morale to numbers of African American all over the world. Walker defines herself as a “womanist” which means “The prophetic voice concerned about the well-being of the entire African American community, male and female, adults and children. Womanist theology attempts to help black women see, affirm, and have confidence in the importance of their experience and faith for determining the character of the Christian religion in the African American community. Womanist theology challenges all oppressive forces impeding black women’s struggle for survival and for the development of a positive, productive quality of life conducive to women’s and the family’s freedom and well-being. Womanist theology opposes all oppression based on race, sex, class, sexual preference, physical ability, and caste” (Wikipedia n.pag) The works of Alice Walker had a great influence on the African Americans community.
The progression of civil rights for black women that existed throughout the twentieth century mirrors the development Celie makes from a verbally debilitated girl to an adamant young woman. The expression of racism and sexism that evidenced itself during the postmodern era presented Walker with an opportunity to compose a novel that reveals her strong animosity toward discrimination. Without these outlets, Walker would not have had the ability to create a novel with such in-depth insights into the lifestyle of an immensely oppressed woman. The novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker is the story of a poor, young black girl, growing up in rural Georgia in the early twentieth century.