In The Colour Purple we see how the theme of separation can help someone leads back into wholeness .The main plot concludes to a series of reunions including Celie and her biological children and Albert.
Albert has completely transformed himself from a cruel, cold, sexually abusing and unloving man into a loving, understanding and kind friend. The key from this transformation was their separation; Albert became depressed, isolated himself and reflected on himself. The separation helped him gain a sense of clarity as to what is most important in his life. He realized he followed his father’s judgement, since he first felt real love with Shug but his father disapproved since his father only believed women was good for cooking and cleaning. He then married Celie for this purpose “Took me long enough to notice you such good company, he say. And he laugh. He ain't Shug, but he begin to be somebody I can talk to." (pg.284) From his transformation he realizes how following his father’s judgment all those years caused him from enjoying the new Celie when they were married.
The reunion of Celie and her children demonstrates and symbolizes the theme of separation can lead to wholeness. Celie and her biological were separated from the beginning, she only learns about their existence is through reading Nettie’s letters.
“But never fear, Celie, Olivia has your stubbornness and clearsightedness and she is smarter than all of them, including Adam, put together.” (pg. 157)
In Nettie’s letter she includes how similar Celie and her daughter are becoming. Through that connection Celie becomes more emotionally attached towards her children through reading Nettie’s letters about their personality traits and how their how they are growing up over the span of thirty years. Even though Celie has not met them first hand but knowing her children are alive and well gives Celie hope, relief and motivates her to carry though in her miserable and troubled life. The separation from Celie and her biological ultimately give Celie the hope and longing to be become the independent women she dreamed of. “I think this the youngest us ever felt”(pg. 288) Their reunion of all her biological family and friends symbolizes Celie’s wholeness in her life she is finally happy and achieved her dream.