Evaluation
Even though it may not be the best I've ever read, I did enjoy reading The Color Purple. It kept my attention because there was always something happening next. There are plenty of dramatic scenes in this book that will make readers want to keep reading. My favorite one was when everyone was gathered at the table and the women spoke up and said they were leaving. The men were apalled and thought it was some kind of joke. This is the part where the book took a different turn that I hadn't expected. At this point, women held the power over men; something they had been waiting for their whole lives.
One reason I really enjoyed this book is because it taught me some life lessons. In this book, it's not necessarily the men who always hold the power. Anyone can have power if they want it; although it is hard to withhold. In my eyes, that power relates to respect. So this part taught me that in order to really be successful one day and to gain respect from people, I need to start working harder now, rather than later when it might be more difficult. Something else this book taught me is that people can and do change. At the beginning of this book, Mr. _____ did not love Celie at all. He practically used her for everything she had and didn't ever care about her feelings. By the end, he started to have serious conversations with her and ask her how she had been doing.
Another reason I enjoyed it is because I got an idea of what life was like during this time period without reading a text book. The racism, violence, and sexual content was a lot to handle at times, but this is what reality was at this time. It's definitely not as bad today, and that's why reading all of this makes me appreciate being raised in this time period.
There have been some arguements about whether or not this book should be taught in schools, or should even be allowed to be taught in schools. Personally, I don't see a problem with teaching the material in this book to high school students. Students should be mature enough to handle it. Yes, there is foul language and sexual content, but that's not what this book is all about. If people don't focus on all the bad content, they might notice that the book is mostly about love and friendships. It gives readers insight to racism and violence that some have never experienced before. Do I think it's important enough to be taught? Not necessarily. There could be plenty of books out there with the same messages to be taught, and this is just one of them. In my opinion, it's just up to the teacher, and if they want to teach it they shouldn't be stopped.
One reason I really enjoyed this book is because it taught me some life lessons. In this book, it's not necessarily the men who always hold the power. Anyone can have power if they want it; although it is hard to withhold. In my eyes, that power relates to respect. So this part taught me that in order to really be successful one day and to gain respect from people, I need to start working harder now, rather than later when it might be more difficult. Something else this book taught me is that people can and do change. At the beginning of this book, Mr. _____ did not love Celie at all. He practically used her for everything she had and didn't ever care about her feelings. By the end, he started to have serious conversations with her and ask her how she had been doing.
Another reason I enjoyed it is because I got an idea of what life was like during this time period without reading a text book. The racism, violence, and sexual content was a lot to handle at times, but this is what reality was at this time. It's definitely not as bad today, and that's why reading all of this makes me appreciate being raised in this time period.
There have been some arguements about whether or not this book should be taught in schools, or should even be allowed to be taught in schools. Personally, I don't see a problem with teaching the material in this book to high school students. Students should be mature enough to handle it. Yes, there is foul language and sexual content, but that's not what this book is all about. If people don't focus on all the bad content, they might notice that the book is mostly about love and friendships. It gives readers insight to racism and violence that some have never experienced before. Do I think it's important enough to be taught? Not necessarily. There could be plenty of books out there with the same messages to be taught, and this is just one of them. In my opinion, it's just up to the teacher, and if they want to teach it they shouldn't be stopped.