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Oxymorons
Definition of Personification
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down on the wedding guests, indifferent... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the sentence, "The rain poured down... read full definition
Personification is a type of figurative language in which non-human things are described as having human attributes, as in the... read full definition
Letter 50
Explanation and Analysis—Natural Attraction:
In the following excerpt from Letter 50, Celie recounts Shug's statement about her relationship with Albert. Shug personifies nature to contextualize the way she experiences sexual and romantic attraction:
I never really wanted Albert for a husband. But just to choose me, you know, cause nature had already done it. Nature said, You two folks, hook up, cause you a good example of how it sposed to go. I didn’t want nothing to be able to go against that. But what was good tween us must have been nothing but bodies, she say.
Personification in this passage replaces God with Nature, eschewing the dominance of the former over the latter. This undermines the religious "rules" laid out by God to govern romantic and sexual relationships.
Walker situates attraction in this passage as a natural force, not something to be categorically resisted for social or religious reasons. This counteracts the commonly-held belief that certain restrictions should be placed on sexual/romantic relationships (i.e. monogamy; waiting until marriage to have sexual relations; heteronormativity). Shug defies these restrictions, many of which, in Walker's view, exist to suppress and control the population for the benefit of hegemonic power. Walker uses personification in this passage to critique the white supremacist/heteronormative institutions that benefit from these restrictions.
Related Themes:
