Written Assignment

Daniela Zárrate 11C

Rationale
The Color Purple by the American writer Alice Walker narrates the touching story of an abused,
uneducated, African American woman named Celie, who struggles for empowerment, through
letters she writes to God.

As I read the letters Celie wrote, pouring her heart out to God, I always had a question in mind:
will God ever respond to her prayers and if so, how would he? In the present task, I intent to
provide an opportunity for God to deliver an answer in a form of a letter, which Celie very much
deserves to the all 90 letters she wrote to him from age 14 to 44. In this letter, God will explain to
Celie why everything in her life turned out the way it did. He will also mention events such as
Celie’s first letter, when Celie married Mr., how Mr. brutally punished her, and Nettie’s letters to
Celie.

Celie receives this letter the day of 4th of July when she finally reunites with Nettie and her children
Olivia and Adam after 30 years. Because of the occasion, Celie goes looking for the U.S flag in a
trunk, and as she unfolds it she is surprised by an envelope which reads: to Celie, from God. In
this letter God speaks to Celie in an informal way where he presents a hopeful, loving and paternal
tone.

Word count:224

July 4, 1930
10-23 Woodstock street, Georgia, USA

My dearest Celie,

It may be strange for you to see this letter and you may be wondering if this truly is me.
Well, I have to admit I have never written a letter to any of my children before, but you Celie, you
are special and deserve a response to all the letters you have written. I know you have been waiting
for a sign since your first letter where you said, “I am I have always been a good girl. Maybe you
can give me a sign letting me know what is happening to me.” Yes Celie, you have always been a
good girl, but good isn’t a word strong enough to describe you. Celie you are much more than
simply good, you are patient, caring, compassionate, and so much more. Because of who you are
and how you have dealt with life is that you are worthy of a respond.

There was more than once when I was reading your letters and I couldn´t hold my tears.
Do you remember that letter where you wrote: “I make myself wood. I say to myself, Celie, you a
tree.”? You said this when Albert was beating you. It was then when I knew that the pain you had
to go through was so strong that you had made yourself feel numb; like a tree. Celie, I want you
to know that one of the many gifts I have given you is your capacity to feel, and by no means I had
plans to take away such a special quality from you. Besides, that power of sensitivity were the
ones that enabled you to be a loving mother to Albert’s kids and a friend to Shug and Sofia, who
were also quite complicated at first. Even though I didn’t immediately take the pain away, I wasn’t
going to just watch how Albert mistreated you in every possible way. Instead I knew I had to send
you a guardian angel. Few days later, Shug Avery came along. I had a plan for Shug as well, she
wasn’t in the right path, but I knew that both of you would benefit for one another. You know my
perspective of life is different from yours, I have an intent for most things that happen. Such as
marrying Albert so you could meet Shug. Or when you found Nettie’s letters, which Albert was
hiding. Before this Celie you were a quiet, submissive wife, who didn’t fight back against his
abuses. However, after you found Nettie’s letters, you finally found a voice and stood up for
yourself. With the help of Shug, you were able to move to Memphis, and finally tell Albert all you
needed to tell him, there in Memphis was where you truly experienced happiness.

Although you couldn’t foresee this day, when you finally reunite with Nettie, Olivia and
Adam, and become the woman you are now, I knew all along that Shug was going to help you by
modeling what a woman is, how you deserve respect, and over all how to love yourself. I know
at first Shug was hard to deal with, but since she was so sick she was just scared of dying. In spite
of her cruelty you healed her, and through time you saw Shug was actually a warm and caring
person. Overall, I wanted you to know that I never left you unguarded, every word you wrote I
read, and every tear you shed I felt. I am proud that you have made peace with Albert, and that’s
what truly set you free. Now, I shall not take any more time away from you to be with Nettie and
your children, so go on, and never stop writing you’re letters because I’ll always be right there,
reading every word.

Love, God

Word count: 631

Source: McEwan, N. (2003). The color purple. Harlow: Longman.