Redemption in the Color Purple Alice Walker grew up in rural Georgia in the mid-1900s as the daughter of two poor sharecroppers. Throughout her life, she had to face and overcome difficult life lessons. Once she managed to transfer her life's struggles into a book, she instantly became a world-renowned and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The Color Purple is a gripping novel about the struggle between redemption and revenge by Dinitia Smith. The novel takes place in rural Georgia, beginning in the early 1900s over a period of 30 years. Albert, also known as Mr._____, and his son Harpo must overcome their evil acts towards others, especially women. Albert and Harpo harmed many people throughout their lives. To be redeemed, they must first learn to love others, then reflect on their mistakes, and finally become courageous enough to take responsibility for their actions. In The Color Purple, Alice Walker effectively develops Albert and Harpo through redemption using love, reflection, and responsibility. Throughout the novel, Albert is a terrible husband, father, and person. He treats his wife, Célie, as if she were his slave since the beginning of their arranged marriage; he expects her to cook three meals a day and take care of his many children from his previous marriage. Albert does not begin to realize the pain he is causing, or at least to try to change himself, until Célie leaves him. “What’s wrong is you being an ignorant dog,” I said. It is time to leave you and enter Creation. And your corpse is just the welcome mat I need…” (Walker 207). It took such powerful words for him to realize that he didn't like or respond...... middle of paper......). In The Color Purple, Alice Walker effectively develops Albert and Harpo through three key aspects of redemption: love, responsibility, and reflection. Both Albert and Harpo are practically forced to acknowledge the way they treated people; Albert with Célie's speech and Harpo with how Sofia beat him. Afterwards, the two reflect on their mistakes in life. How they both mistreated their wives and suppressed them. Then they gain the courage to apologize to the people they have realized they truly love and be forgiven (Walker 231). Albert and Harpo learn a valuable lesson over the years; one that they will surely never forget. Alice Walker skillfully shows the development of two new people, through redemption using love, reflection and responsibility. Works Cited: Walker, Alice. The color purple. 1982. New York: Pocket, 1985.