Color purple in literature - Research
For this part of my research, I decided to dive into poetry and novels that refer to the color purple and what is the meaning behind those lines.
For a start I will focus on an extract from a poem by Marge Piercy called "Colors passing through us". Here is the verse:
into lush velvet, purple
as the stain blackberries leave
on the lips, on the hands,
the purple of ripe grapes
sunlit and warm as flesh." (Pierce, 1999)
I think it is an interesting piece because it can be read in multiple different ways. Starting in the first line, there is a reference to flowers in May, which paints an image immediately. Everyone who reads a sentence "purple as tulips in May" can imagine the scene with their eyes. It is pleasant. There is this carefree atmosphere, the landscape seems very pretty, may remind the audience of the tulip fields in the Netherlands. The next line is talking about a lush velvet. This we can not only see but also feel. In my opinion, a reader can imagine touching velvet and all those sensations connected to it. What is experienced are still very pleasant, delicate sensations connected to experiencing the color. In the next line, the author is mentioning blackberries. Here, another sense is being triggered, it is the sense of taste. Blackberries are generally considered as sweet and juicy. All the sensations are very pleasant. What is mentioned next are the stains blackberries leave on lips and hands and here I am not quite sure if the subject is still so delicate and friendly. Generally the word 'stain' is seen as not very positive, because no one really wants or likes stains. The fact that there are purple stains on lips and hands could possibly mean that someone has eaten a blackberry, therefore they are enjoying the stains, however purple stains could also refer to bruises. Bruises are purple spots on the skin and they are not something people like, they usually occur after a fight or an accident, so here we are either eating a blueberry or there is a physical fight mentioned, whichever it is, it is still referring to some sort of physical sensation. The last two lines are once again talking about a fruit, this time a grape and the fruit is described as 'sunlit and warm as flesh' therefore even this simile is triggering sensations.
I think this poem is a great example of how a simple color can trigger different feelings and sensations, depending on how it is described. As I was saying earlier, it can describe more than just positive feelings. It can be associated with bruises for example which is a negative sensation. I think it is interesting to think about. To give color a feeling associated with it. Very interesting option in my opinion. I think the idea can work really well in character design, however I still need to think about how I can incorporate it.
Going deeper into literature, it is clear that this color is often associated with magical, mysterious characters. Often characters shown in purple are the ones looking for answers for questions. One of a great example of that sort of magical creature being portrayed in purple is the Cheshire Cat from "Alice in the Wonderland". 
The next thing I decided to look at is an extract from Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra". This is from Act 2 Scene 2.
"The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold,
Purple the sails, and so perfumèd that
The winds were lovesick with them." (Shakespeare, 1607)
The truth is, that original 'Alice in the Wonderland' illustrator did not make this character purple, John Tenniel (the illustrator) made the cat golden brown. It was Disney Studios that decided to change the cat's color to match its personality more. Since Cheshire Cat is Alice's spiritual guide, color purple is here to present the spirituality and mystery around this character. It is not just a simple cat, it is magical and because it is not normal, its color is perfectly presenting that. I think Cheshire Cat is a great example of a mystical, out of this world character presented in color purple.
"The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold,
Purple the sails, and so perfumèd that
The winds were lovesick with them." (Shakespeare, 1607)
There is a reference to the color purple in the third line '... purple the sails...', here the reader can wonder why purple, why did Shakespeare specify that it was purple. Here purple is used to show Cleopatra's status. "Purple is the colour of emperors, of royals, of lords and ladies; it is the ruling colour of the ruling classes." (Howard, 2014). Here purple is used to underline royalty and show the higher status.
Looking at this concept of Cleopatra's Barge, created by Ed Graves, the color purple is definitely standing out from the rest. It is extremely rich and as I would even say - fancy. I think that both in the extract and the image, Cleopatra is portrayed as a very affluent person and her barge is like a frame for her.
Knowing this, I am sure about my idea with creating a royal family, because even in literature I can see proof of purple being a color of the wealthy and important.
This research has made me aware of two main things: color purple is associated with magical and spiritual creatures, therefore there may be some magic involved in my cartoon concept, but I cannot overcomplicate it. Also what I have learned from the passage from the poem is that color can give an actual sensation if used the right way. In the poem, the color was explained through using words, in character design the color can be explained through visuals. That does not mean necessarily that the color can only be shown by itself, but also through objects that a person's brain associates with the color. For example, blackberries, blueberries or grapes. All are purple and definitely if a person saw those fruit in a different colors, it would seem odd and out of place. However, those fruit not only exist visually but also have a flavor. They create sensation and use the sense of taste too. Using this knowledge in character design is a great idea.
There already are a few existing characters based on the idea of using the sense of taste to make them more interesting.
Strawberry Shortcake is a great example of using the method I have talked about above. The cartoon has been popular for years and I even remember owning a Strawberry Shortcake doll that smelled like strawberries. The idea of pairing up fruit and characters together to trigger more sensations for the audience is great. I think it is something I can think about, because it definitely make the audience more interested.
Reference List
Howard, F. (2014) 'Shakespeare and purple', Silver Painted River, 13/06. Available at: https://silverpaintedriver.com/2014/06/13/shakespeare-and-purple/ (Accessed: 25/01/2021)
Pierce, M. (1999) 'Colors passing through us'. Available at: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47398/colors-passing-through-us (Accessed: 25/01/2021)
Shakespeare, W. (1607) Anthony and Cleopatra, Simon and Schuster : New York. Act 2. Scene 2: 202-205
This is an interesting post, because by using the poem by Marge Pierce, the visualisation of your project is much clearer. If the atmosphere that she captures in this verse is close to what you are planning it adds a much greater depth to what you are doing. You identify this is the last two paragraphs, the importance of evoking not just the nature of the character but the personality identifiable through a range of sensations. Very good.
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