The Color Purple By: Alice Walker

Alice Walker Born in February 9,1944

in Eaton Georgia. Civil Rights Activist,

Women’s Rights Activist, Author

The Color Purple (1982) Pulitzer Prize Winning Banned Book

Foundation Setting:

Rural Georgia 1910-1940s Travel to Memphis and Africa

Point of view: First person Celie rights letters to God

Main Characters Celie – protagonist/ narrator. She is an African

American women who is abused by her “father” and later on her husband. She writes letters to God and then shifts to her sister.

Nettie- Celie’s younger sister who runs away from home refusing to be abused by her father. She then stays with a missionary couple and Celie’s two children. They end up traveling to Africa. She marries the man after his wife dies and takes care of Celie’s children.

Main Characters Mr. _____ (Albert)- Celie’s husband that

abuses her until Shug Avery his Ex-wife tells his that he needs to treat Celie better. He is a force that makes Celie weak. Celie leaves him and in the end they end up being friends.

Shug Avery- A blues singer, starts as Mr.___’s mistress. She ends up being a mentor, friend and lover to Celie. She is the character who has an influence on everyone.

Secondary Characters Alphonso- Celie and Nettie’s Stepfather Harpo- Albert’s eldest son Sofia- Harpo’s wife Mary Agnes (Squeak)- Harpo’s girlfriend Miss Millie- Mayor’s wife Samuel and Corrine- He is a Revend and they are the that

adopt Celie’s children. They are also missonaries. Kate- Mr. ____ sister who encourages Celie to stand up for

herself. Adam- Celie’s son Olivia- Celie’s Daughter Tashi- Adam’s Wife Germaine- Shugs young boyfriend

Author’s Thoughts

Summary Overview Celie is fourteen years old and is writing letters to God about her

abuse and mistreatment Her father uses Celie to fulfill his sexual wants because her

mother is too sick and weak Celie has her second child by her father Alphonso (father) takes her children and gives them away Mr. ___ ask for Nettie’s hand in marriage but Alphonso says that

she is too young and will give him Celie instead Celie is force into an abuse marriage with Mr. ____ Hapro marries Sofia who is very strong and independent Shug Avery is sick and Mr. ____ gets her to come stay with them Celie falls inlove with Shug Avery Celie tells Harpo to beat Sofia to make her listen. Then Sofia

confronts Celie about her advise Sofia leaves Harpo

Summary Overview Sofia punches the mayor and lands herself in prison Harpo starts seeing Mary Agnes Mary Agnes gets involved in a plan to get Sofia out of jail and ends up

getting raped by the prison warden Mary Agnes finds her voice Nettie is now a missionary in Africa with Samuel, Corrine, Adam and Olivia Nettie writes letters to Celie which she does not receive Celie and Shug find all the letters and Celie finds out about her two

children Celie finds out about her real father who was lynched because of his

success Celie confronts her father and Albert Celie moves to Memphis with Shug and starts a business making pants Shug finds a boyfriend Nettie marries Samuel Celie returns to Georgia Alphonso dies. Celie and Nettie find out that they own his former home. Celie and Nettie are reunited and Celie finds happiness with her family

Connections in literature Othello: Women’s Voice MacBeth: Women’s Influence

Quotes “Harpo say, I love you, Squeak. He kneel down

and try to put his arm around her waist. She stand up. My name Mary Agnes, she say.”

Shug act more manly than most men” “I'm pore, I'm black, I may be ugly and can't

cook, a voice say to everything listening. But I'm here.”

“We all have to start somewhere if us want to do better, and our own self is what us have to hand.”

“The more I wonder, the more I love.”

Themes Family Hope Women relationships Sexism Identity Courage Culture

Symbols in text Letters The color purple Syntax