There are numerous literary works that tell a story: a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story that simply aspires to touch the heart and soul of all who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of this type of literature is racism. In America, in particular, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her famous book The Color Purple, Alice Walker chronicles the journey of an African-American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout her life; however, with the help of friends and family, he is able to overcome his obstacles and become a stronger, more confident individual. While there are numerous themes that emerge throughout the novel, symbolism is one of the strongest perspectives to instigate the plot. In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, numerous 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 readers to understand Celie, whose letters are initially addressed to God. After being raped by her stepfather at the age of fourteen, he tells her to "never tell anyone but God" (Walker 1); thus, Celie's original letters are presented more as confessions and prayers. This first letter itself "starts the story of Celie's unrelenting victimization" (Bloom and Williams 77-88), and the audience notices that the way Celie tells... half of the paper... 583a32991f55@sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLWxpdmU= >Edrich, Matthias. “Alice Walker, “The Color Purple.” ENGL 3060 Modern and ContemporaryLiterature, 2003. Web. 14 November 2011. Harris Abrams, Patricia (1985) “The Gift of Solitude: Alice Walker's The Color Purple,” Language Arts Journal of Michigan : Vol. 1: Iss. 8.Kane, Matthew. "Colour Purple." 14 Nov 2011.583a32991f55@sessionmgr110&bdata=JnNpdGU9bHJjLWxpdmU=>Walker, Alice. The color purple. New York: Pocket Books, 1982. Print.