Is purple prose a good form a writing? If so, why?

Question

When it comes to writing, there are many unique styles that have come from a wide array of authors and novelists, spanning across countless centuries. Whether it be the free indirect style of Jane Austen, the short yet deeply moving words of S.E. Hinton, the whimsical narratives and semantics of J.R.R. Tolkien, or the vivid and imaginative style of Neil Gaiman, there are certainly many amazing and distinct forms of writing.

However, one controversial form of writing that I often see discussed in a negative light is purple prose, which in literary criticism is known for its rather flowery and ornate style, utilizing long sentences, excessive multi-syllabic words of varying sizes, and a heavy focus on emotion. In a sense, its the novelistic version of monologues or poetry, focusing more on style rather than substance.

Though is it a good form of writing? And if so, why? Are other forms of prose, like blue, orange, or beige more superior? What do you think?

Answer 1

'Purple Prose' refers to writing that is ornate, flowery, indulgent, to the point of being difficult to understand or masking the main idea. As Katerina explains in her comment, it is always bad.

However, it's true that many literary giants use long and complex sentences and flowery diction. Some authors even intentionally write sentences that are grammatically incorrect. What distinguishes this from purple prose?

The answer lies both in skill and intent. Some authors are particularly gifted at crafting sentences that are every bit as convoluted as purple prose but, through clever structuring, rhythm, or whatever other artful magic, remains perfectly clear. Perhaps this is what you mean by 'the novelistic version of monologues or poetry.' For the vast majority of writers, including myself, attempts to write ln this style will just result in purple prose. That said, many classic authors would indeed be criticized today for purple prose. There are plenty of authors whose works are known for reasons other than their beautiful writing. If you want to replicate this style, the best way to start is learning to differentiate the purple prose from the good flowery prose.

Other authors craft complex, drawn-out sentences to fulfill a specific artistic intent. For instance, stream-of-consciousness authors may use such sentences to suit a certain voice. Some authors deliberately use confusing sentences to highlight a certain emotion rather than paint a clear picture of a scene, just as Impressionist painters used rougher brushstrokes to create more emotive paintings. Again, I leave a warning to writing students here: trying to write like James Joyce is akin to trying to paint like Van Gogh. It may look easy or lazy, but try and you will see--it is not.

Answer 2

You are correct in that "purple prose" is a critical description of a certain style of prose and, thus, widely looked down upon. Purple prose is generally not used to criticize simply elegant or flowery prose, but prose that is indulgent to the point of senselessness, where the prose becomes ostentatious and detracts from the actual content. Purple prose is not so much a writing "style" as a writing error/criticism of prose. No author (I know of) sets out to write "purple" prose, it's not some controversial writing style certain authors embrace. Rather, they simply want to write beautifully and end up using overly descriptive and complex language to a fault. That said, what constitutes "good" writing is very subjective and always shifting among popular media and academics alike, and the controversy around "purple" prose regards the individual interpretation of literary works: what seems "purple" to one person may seem tasteful to another.

Answer 3

This is a matter of opinion. I do not care for such prose as I prefer authors who "get right to the point." Isaac Asimov was known for extremely unornamented writing, and he is one of my favorite authors. Yet, there are many people who appreciate those ornate details inherent in "purple prose." The takeaway, if you are a writer, is to consider your audience. Who are you writing for? Has that demographic historically appreciated "purple prose" or do they prefer the unornamented style of Asimov, who admitted marketing his writing to the "skinny intellectuals?" That's the best advice I can give: consider your audience. Good luck.