THE COLOR PURPLE – ALICE WALKER

PLOT

The narrator and protagonist of Color Purple, Celie was an uneducated, fourteen year old Black girl living in rural Georgia. She belonged to a poor family. Celie lived with her father, Alphanso, her mother and her sister Nettie. Celie was physically and sexually abused by her father and was impregnated twice by him. She wrote letters which were addressed to God thinking that she would feel better if she wrote the letter to the Supreme Being. After the death of Celie’s mother, Alphanso brought another lady home, yet he continued to abuse Celie. After her mother’s death, Celie feared that Nettie too would be abused by Alphanso. Nettie knew about a man named Mr.____  who wanted to marry her. But Alphanso forced Mr. _____ to marry Celie instead. He did not treat Celie in a proper manner. He gave her a pitiful life. Nettie was scared that Alphanso might take advantage of her and she left and went to her sister’s place. When she realized that Mr.____ had feelings for her, she fled from their place, without informing Celie. Celie gets worried and when Nettie doesn’t return she assumes that Nettie is dead.

Mr. ____ had a son named Harpo, who had a girlfriend named Sophia. They were in a relationship when Sophia got pregnant, after which they got married. Harpo also abused Sophia and treated her badly. Sophia did not tolerate it. She left Harpo and went away with her children. Celie was amazed by Sophia’s boldness.

Mr._____ had a girlfriend by name Shug Avery, who was a sultry lounge singer whose photograph had fascinated Celie before she married Mr. _____. Shug came to town to sing in a local bar but Celie was not allowed to see her. When Shug got very ill, Mr. ____ allowed Shug to stay back at his place until she got well. Initially Shug did not treat Celie in a proper way but later she understood about Celie and  Celie’s concern towards her. Shug started to sing in Harpo’s juke joint every night. Celie was sexually attracted towards Shug. Shug slowly understood the relationship between Celie and Mr. ____. She was very sad that Celie was not treated properly and knew that she was being abused by Mr. _____. Shug slowly became close to Celie and began to ask Celie, questions related to sex.

Sophia got to know that Harpo was in a relationship with another girl by name, Squeak. Sophia was asked to work as a maid in a mayor’s house. Sophia did not want to work and she did not agree. The mayor’s wife slapped and she pushed Sophia away. Later, Sophia was sent to jail and was ordered by the court to work in mayor’s house for twelve years.

Shug still had affection towards Celie and shared the same bed, though she was married to Grady.  Shug told Celie that Mr. ____ was hiding letters from her and he had kept those letters in the trunk. They managed to get the letters and Celie read those letters which was written by Nettie to Celie on a regular basis. Celie broke down and was happy that her sister was still alive. Nettie wrote that she befriended a missionary couple, Corrine and Samuel and travelled with them to Africa regarding some ministry work. Corrine and Samuel adopted two children, Olivia and Adam. Corrine and Nettie got close. But Corrine thought that Nettie had a secret relationship with Samuel because her children resembled Nettie. Then Corrine doubted Nettie and kept her away from her family. Nettie did not have any false idea about the missionary she found in the African self-centered and obstinate. When Corrine fell ill, Nettie asked Samuel about his adopted children. After Samuel told her the story, she got to know that Celie was their biological mother and she was the biological aunt of those children. She also got to know that Alphanso was not their real father and their father was a store owner who was captivated by the White because he was more successful in his work and he was a Black. Alphanso adopted Celie and Nettie, only for their property. Nettie told Samuel that she was the biological aunt of his adopted children. Though Corrine did not believe this in the beginning, later she understood. Celie went to Alphanso and asked how they were adopted and Alphanso accepted and acknowledged that he was not their real father. Celie lost faith in God but Shug made her understand that God has his own way of dealing with everything.

The mayor released Sophia in six months prior. Celie threw out all her anger and vengeance against Mr. _____ because he hid the letters. Celie and Shug were still in a relationship and they decided to leave to Tennesse. Celie started her own way of living by stitching pants which was her hobby. She had her own way of living. Later Celie returned to Georgia and thought that Mr. _____ has changed for good and apologized for his mistakes. Celie also got to know that her father was dead and the property was hers. She moved from Tennesse to Georgia and stayed at her father’s place. After Celie moved to Georgia, Celie and Mr.____ got back and she was emotionally free. She enjoyed her life from then.

Nettie and Samuel were married after Corrine’s death. Adam married Tashi. All of them returned to America. Sophia remarried Harpo and they led a happy life. Celie had no feelings for Shug and now was leading a peaceful life. Celie felt very old and she never enjoyed her childhood or adulthood with her sister. All in all, she was happy that she was leading a peaceful life with her loved ones.

Reference:

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