Over the past two centuries, major Western cultures have adhered to the belief that crying is commonly associated with femininity, regardless of gender (Warhol 182). A considerable amount of literature, including Alice Walker's The Color Purple, has been regarded by critics as effectively using “narrative techniques” to make readers cry (Warhol 183). Highlighting these themes, Robyn R. Warhol, author of “Narration Produces Gender: Femininity as Affect and Effect in Alice Walker's The Color Purple,” analyzes the usefulness of the novel's narrative approaches, focusing on the meaning of Nettie's letters to Celie and especially the fairytale unity in Celie's last letter. Using The Color Purple as an illustrated example, refusing to consider accounts of gender and sexuality, the author suggests that the applications of the culture's "feminine mythologies" in the novel give readers the chance to experience the physical (crying openly) and emotional sides (identify with character) effects of femininity (Warhol 186). Although Warhol's interpretations have successfully brought the sentimentality of the novel into the context of culture and other novels, there is still a general lack of comprehensive examples that illustrate after each of his arguments. To corroborate and extend Warhol's central argument, the surprising factors of the novel's ending combine with elements of foreshadowing in Celie's first confrontation with Albert regarding Nettie's letters, Celie's relationship with Shug, and ugly truths about racism and the sexism that shine through Nettie's letters. and Celie's letters should be considered significant in creating the sentimentality of the novel. At the heart of Robyn R. Warhol's essay is her point of view... middle of paper... Although Shug often helps Celie see the best in herself, his indecisive behaviors cause Celie to see the worse than herself. After hearing about Shug's new love interest, Celie spends time in front of the mirror, seeing herself as having "nothing special here that no one can love" (Walker 263). Shug slowly becomes the purpose of Celie's life as when “Shug is gone, happiness [is] deserted” (Walker 263). Through the relationship between Celie and Shug, readers are emotionally aware of the burgeoning topic of love and sexuality. Work CitedWalker, Alice. The color purple. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2003. Print.Warhol, Robyn R. “How Narrative Produces Gender: Femininity as Affect and Effect in Alice Walker's 'The Color Purple'.” Narration 9.2 (May 2001): 182-187. JSTOR. Network. April 23. 2014. .