In Alice Walker's "The Color Purple," a character expresses deep feelings of shame about their life, to the point where they find it difficult to speak to God directly. Instead, they resort to writing their thoughts and emotions down, believing their writing may not be good enough. This moment highlights the struggle of conveying personal pain and the importance of finding alternative ways to communicate one's feelings, even if that means writing letters instead of praying aloud.

The character reflects on the significance of this act of writing, suggesting that regardless of whether a higher power reads these letters, the process itself is healing and meaningful. This realization becomes a form of guidance, emphasizing the power of self-expression through writing as a means of coping with life's struggles and finding solace in one’s own voice.