Syntax

The Color Purple Blog Number Three: Syntax• “Pa git up and follow ‘em. The rest of the week I vomit and dress wild game.”(10)• “I seen my baby girl. I knowed it was her.”(13)• “Your skin. Your hair. Your teefs. Everyday it something else to make miration over.”(17)Walker demonstrates the ignorance of the people of the 1930s South in the novel using syntax. The first quote used here shows Celie’s ignorance of grammar and of life and sex. She is referring to pregnancy in the quote. The way that the sentence is written, the reader can infer that Celie does not fully understand what is going on. It invokes a sad, sympathetic tone in the novel.The second quote once again uses poor sentence structure to demonstrate ignorance. However, Celie is sure about something. It shows some confidence and intelligence. The passage creates a hopeful, but once again sympathetic tone. The third quote uses poor syntax. This is an effective way for Walker to demonstrate ignorance. It can show poor education and a lower standard of living.