The Color Purple by Alice Walker was published in 1982 to both praise and criticism. While the novel won prestigious awards including the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, it also garnered its fair share of detractors. In this article, we’ll explore some of the main criticisms against The Color Purple and examine why such a groundbreaking work of literature also inspired backlash.
Published in 1982, Alice Walker’s epistolary novel The Color Purple chronicles the life of a young black girl named Celie who endures abuse and racism in the early 20th century American South. The novel follows Celie’s struggles and eventual empowerment through a series of letters she writes to God and her sister Nettie. The Color Purple explores complex themes of sexism, racism, domestic violence, sexuality, and sisterhood through Celie’s eyes.
Walker’s novel was met with high praise upon publication, winning the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and National Book Award for Fiction. It was lauded for its unflinching portrayal of Celie’s hardships as well as its nuanced examination of the experience of black women in the 1930s South. However, not all critics viewed the novel favorably. The Color Purple also inspired controversy and criticism from several angles.
Graphic portrayal of abuse
One of the most common criticisms of The Color Purple centered around Walker’s graphic depiction of abuse and violence against women. Celie endures horrific abuse from her stepfather Alphonso who rapes and impregnates her repeatedly as a young girl. She also experiences domestic violence from her husband known only as “Mister.” Some critics argued that the abuse described in the novel was gratuitously graphic and extreme.
For example, in a 1983 review in The New York Times, author Carolyn See wrote: “Ms. Walker deals quite graphically with incest, wife-beating, homosexuality and rape … In exposing these horrors, Ms. Walker also risks exploiting them, even sentimentalizing them.” Other critics agreed, arguing that the graphic and sensationalized way abuse was portrayed bordered on being exploitative.
Negative depiction of black men
Another common criticism of The Color Purple centered on its portrayal of black men. Many critics took issue with the fact that the vast majority of black male characters in the novel engage in violence, sexual assault, or other abuses of power. Both Alphonso and Mister subject Celie to repeated domestic violence. Other minor characters like Harpo also abuse women. The only redeemed black male figure is Shug’s father, a preacher.
Some argued this portrayal fed into racial stereotypes about black men being abusive and dangerous. In a controversial 1983 review, black literary critic Stanley Crouch wrote: “The Color Purple is the most racist depiction of black men since D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation.” Crouch and others believed Walker’s novel unfairly demonized African American men.
Depiction of lesbianism
The Color Purple also garnered criticism for its depiction of a lesbian relationship between Celie and jazz singer Shug Avery. Though their relationship is tenderly drawn, some critics condemned the lesbianism in the novel as immoral or unnatural.
For example, author James Baldwin wrote: “The relationship, as presented, is enough to make anybody throw up … The heroine is widowed, brutalized over and over again by black men, nursemaided and loved by a white woman.” Baldwin implies their relationship is unrealistic and meant to manipulate readers.
Other critics argued the lesbian relationship was included for shock value rather than organic character development. During the 1980s, openly lesbian relationships were still taboo and rarely depicted in mainstream literature and film.
Perceived anti-religion or anti-Christianity
Some critics also accused The Color Purple of being anti-religion or anti-Christianity. Celie initially represents God as oppressive, addressing her letters to “Dear God” with recounts of her abuse. The church also comes under critique in the novel. Celie’s stepfather Alphonso uses religion to justify his abuse, while Shug denounces the church as limiting.
In a 1983 review, writer Mel Watkins argued the novel depicted “a bias against established religion” and specifically “the black church.” Other critics agreed the novel contained potentially sacrilegious messaging through its negative portrayal of religion.
Reactions from Black Male Writers and Intellectuals
Some of the harshest criticism of The Color Purple came from prominent black male writers and intellectuals such as James Baldwin, Stanley Crouch, Ishmael Reed, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. They objected to the negative portrayal of black men and believed it promoted stereotypes. Here is a summary of their major criticisms:
| Critic | Major Criticisms |
|---|---|
| James Baldwin | – Portrayal of abusive black men was over-the-top and unfair |
| Stanley Crouch | – Depicted black men as savages – Was racist against black men |
| Ishmael Reed | – Reinforced negative stereotypes of black male violence |
| Henry Louis Gates Jr. | – Unfairly demonized black male characters – Affirmed white stereotypes of black men |
As the table shows, a common thread in these black male critics’ objections was that the novel’s portrayals were unfair, exaggerated, and reinforced racist stereotypes. They argued Walker’s writing played into tropes of predatory black male sexuality that have been used to justify oppression and violence against African American men.
Walker’s Responses to the Criticism
Author Alice Walker staunchly defended her novel against the backlash. She argued that the criticisms of The Color Purple represented discomfort with exposing the truth about violence against women.
In response to critics who objected to her portrayals of men, Walker said she was faithfully depicting common abuses women faced in 1930s Southern culture. She pointed out that demonstrating the evils of sexism and injustice was not the same as condoning them.
Walker also noted that not all the male characters were abusive, pointing to positive portrayals of Mister’s father and Harpo’s maturation over the course of the narrative. She argued that showing the possibility of change and redemption was important.
Overall, Walker stood by her novel and welcomed the debate it inspired about race, gender, and abuse. While acknowledging Some criticisms had validity, she maintained fiction had a vital role in illuminating injustice in society.
Ongoing Impact and Significance
Since its publication, The Color Purple has become recognized as a modern American classic. Though it generated controversy, it had an undeniable cultural impact and influenced generations of writers examining racism and sexism.
Despite early criticisms, the novel is today widely taught in high schools and universities around the world. It has sold over 5 million copies and been translated into over 20 languages. The Color Purple continues to shape dialogues about gender, race, sexuality, violence, and identity.
Steven Spielberg adapted the novel into a critically acclaimed 1985 film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. The musical adaptation of the novel premiered in 2005, sparking a new wave of interest. Far from being silenced by its controversies, The Color Purple continues to inspire discussion and debate into the 21st century.
While many of Walker’s stylistic choices and depictions drew criticism in the 1980s, modern audiences are able to appreciate the novel’s complex and unflinching portraits of injustice. The mixed initial reception underscores why The Color Purple is a brave and revelatory work of art that demanded society not turn away from the abuses women faced.
Conclusion
The Color Purple received both high praise and intense criticism upon publication. While some objected to the novel’s graphic abuse scenes, negative portrayal of black men, and lesbian themes, others argued these elements truthfully exposed issues like sexism and violence. Author Alice Walker staunchly defended her work and its significance in exposing injustice. Despite controversy, The Color Purple is now widely considered a masterpiece that prompted vital cultural conversations and shifted literary paradigms. Though initially divisive, the novel’s impact on modern literature and society is undeniable.