Letter 1

The reader is immediately on intimate terms with Celie.

The fact of the incest is described in terms which are graphic but not deliberately obscene

Celie's naivety means that she doesn't realise what she's saying is shocking; she arouses pathos because we react to her honesty not sensationalism.

Letter 2

Observation of details - baby born sucking fist - immediately humanises the child and depicts her maternal response to it

 

 

 

 

p 49/50

Clie is trying to tempt Shug to eat

food is presented as v. enticing

adjectives 'big' 'juicy'

appeals to the senses

verbs 'lavish' 'sop up' 'splosh' - all generous

lots of it - moist

compares to 'drunk her coffee, puff on her cigarette' - no description seems v. arid by comparison

Shug presented through her dialogue; she obviously wants to eat but doesn't want to be seen to climb down

Quite polite I believe I could drink

inferential - indirect request

'this aint fresh' but is is an order ('she hold out her glass')

Celie knows she's eaten - images of rat/mouse

to explain - presented through humour

Shug still mean 'begin to complain'

Celie - practical - motives made clear

presents dialogue through Mr

Mr - presented in a more sympathetic way Celie sees something 'crazy in his eyes'

Shown this? Celie and his own dialogue

'I been scared' - real feelings

C describes his behaviour - cover up his eyes (crying? / something crazy) hiding feelings from Celie

 

How is this like elsewhere?