There are many literary works that tell a story: a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story which simply aspires to touch the hearts and souls of all who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of this type of literature is racism. In the United States in particular, African Americans suffered heavily from racism, especially in the South, and did not achieve equal rights until the 1960s. In her famous book The Color Purple, Alice Walker tells the journey of an African-American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism and hardship throughout her life; nevertheless, with the help of her friends and family, she is able to overcome her obstacles and become a stronger, more confident person. Although many themes run throughout the novel, symbolism is one of the strongest perspectives to drive intrigue. In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, many symbols influence and drive the plot of the novel. One of the most important symbols that Walker incorporates into the plot are the letters written by Celie to God or Nettie, signifying the power of the voice. The epistolary format of the novel itself allows us to understand Célie, whose letters are initially addressed to God. After she was raped by her stepfather at the age of fourteen, he told her to “tell no one but God” (Walker 1); thus, Celie's original letters come across more as confessions and prayers. This first letter itself "initiates the story of Celie's relentless victimization" (Bloom and Williams 77-88), and the audience notices that the manner in which Celie tells...... middle of paper .... ..- 583a32991f55@sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLWxpdmU=>Edrich, Matthias. "Alice Walker, "The Color Purple". ENGL 3060 Modern and Contemporary Literature, 2003. Web. November 14, 2011. .Harris Abrams, Patricia (1985) "The Gift of Solitude: Alice Walker's The Color Purple", Language Arts Journal of Michigan: Vol. 1: Iss. 2, Article 8. Kane, Matthew. “New Growth Found: The Color Purple.” November 14, 2011.583a32991f55@sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLWxpdmU=>Walker, Alice. The color purple. New York: Pocket Books, 1982. Print.