A Lesson before Dying | Literary Precedents
There are similarities in the work of Alice Walker, particularly The Color Purple. Both novels are set in the rural South in farming communities. Both deal with growth in self-esteem, pride in one's self, and each has a character who serves as a role model for the protagonist. Though Walker's protagonist is female and Gaines's is male, each needs support from others to become a strong adult. Each author uses language to differentiate between his educated and uneducated characters. The oppressed characters in both novels use the written word to express their feelings and gain...
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