‘The Color Purple’

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 8

‘The Color Purple’

Sir, —It would seem that Dr Smith is attempting to jump on a rather tired and dilapidated bandwaggon, that of book banning in our schools. If we are heading for another series of pointless debates, may I add one or two suggestions about authors I studied and read while in my formative school years. “The Bone People” by Keri Hulme, includes child-bashing and molestation. Maurice Gee’s “Plumb” trilogy, with a definite homosexual character and the questioning of God’s existence. All of Sam Hunt’s work (too much sex, drugs and alcohol). I am sure we could find reasons to axe Janet Frame, J. K. Baxter, and Katherine Mansfield, not to mention a myriad of other New Zealand authors. Internationally speaking, gosh, we have not even started on the likes of good old D. H. (too much sex) Lawrence, John Irving’s “The World According to Garp” (definite transvestite character) and let us not forget that good old banning standby, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Why not throw Shakespeare in for good measure? Perhaps Dr Smith’s time would be better spent encouraging our young to read instead of on this tired and offensive _head-in-the-sand attitude. — Yours, etc., A. J. R. HARRE. March 27, 1989.

Sir,—l was sorry to read of Dr Lockwood Smith’s objections to Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” as a school text. Many school children have already suffered some of the abuse suffered by Celie in the book. Reading of Celie’s sufferings validates their own sufferings: “Sister, I was there, too.” Her eventual triumph over her low expectations — and contempt — for herself parallels their misery and hopelessness and gives hope, although nobody should expect so amazing an ending to unhappiness. The book also opens our eyes to the ongoing pain of many lives. Only when our eyes and hearts are opened can we feel the active sympathy called love; only then can we be motivated to fry to; ;help, to look .and Understand. Dr Smith also objects to the supportive and sexual love .between the two women which is artistically and psychologically necessary to wean Celie from her gruesome submissiveness. In no way is the book pornography relishing; it is the effect, not the act, and it is the ending. — Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. March 27, 1989.