Summary
The story begins by introducing Celie, a young African American girl, brutally abused by her father. At the age of 14 Celie is already the mother of two. Celie has a younger sister named Nettie, Nettie is the sister that men are chasing. Mr. Albert was the first man to ask their Pa to marry Nettie. Pa responds by explaining that Nettie is too beautiful, but Celie is not worth having around. Mr. Albert then proceeds to take Celie, treating her the same way her father did.
Shortly after Celie and Mr. Albert were married, Nettie ran away from home and joined them at their house. For months Mr. Albert was keeping his distance from Nettie, but one day as Nettie was walking to school he furiously grabbed her arm with the intention of rape. Fortunately for Nettie she was able to escape and ran to Celie. Mr. Albert was embarrassed and frustrated, resulting in Nettie getting kicked out. Years had gone by and Celie did not receive any letters from Nettie, giving her the impression that her sister had died.
All throughout Celie and Mr. Albert’s marriage, a lady named Shug was Mr. Albert’s mistress, Celie was constantly comparing herself to Shug, making her very upset when Shug showed up on her doorstep one afternoon ready to move in. Mr. Albert had now treated Celie as her maid while Shug was his wife. As Celie and Shug became closer they fell in love. Soon after falling for one another Celie tells Shug that Mr. Albert had been abusing her before she arrived. Shug then decided to stay and work at Harpo’s bar. At the bar was Grady, Grady and Shug decided to get married. Shug and Celie were still very close, but Celie was heartbroken.
After everything was going so poorly, Celie and Shug find a letter from Nettie that Mr. Albert was hiding. Celie finds out that Nettie is living with a couple named Sam and Corrine, also living with them was Celie’s children, Olivia and Adam. Not long after the discovery Corrine died. This encouraged Celie to stand up against Mr. Albert and move to Tennessee with Shug. She started a new life, sewing and selling clothes, she then returned to Georgia, discovering Mr. Albert’s changed ways. Also finding her father to be dead. Although it was heartbreaking Celie felt free. Her and Mr. Albert remarried and Nettie was sent back home from Africa with her new husband Sam and Celie's children.
Shortly after Celie and Mr. Albert were married, Nettie ran away from home and joined them at their house. For months Mr. Albert was keeping his distance from Nettie, but one day as Nettie was walking to school he furiously grabbed her arm with the intention of rape. Fortunately for Nettie she was able to escape and ran to Celie. Mr. Albert was embarrassed and frustrated, resulting in Nettie getting kicked out. Years had gone by and Celie did not receive any letters from Nettie, giving her the impression that her sister had died.
All throughout Celie and Mr. Albert’s marriage, a lady named Shug was Mr. Albert’s mistress, Celie was constantly comparing herself to Shug, making her very upset when Shug showed up on her doorstep one afternoon ready to move in. Mr. Albert had now treated Celie as her maid while Shug was his wife. As Celie and Shug became closer they fell in love. Soon after falling for one another Celie tells Shug that Mr. Albert had been abusing her before she arrived. Shug then decided to stay and work at Harpo’s bar. At the bar was Grady, Grady and Shug decided to get married. Shug and Celie were still very close, but Celie was heartbroken.
After everything was going so poorly, Celie and Shug find a letter from Nettie that Mr. Albert was hiding. Celie finds out that Nettie is living with a couple named Sam and Corrine, also living with them was Celie’s children, Olivia and Adam. Not long after the discovery Corrine died. This encouraged Celie to stand up against Mr. Albert and move to Tennessee with Shug. She started a new life, sewing and selling clothes, she then returned to Georgia, discovering Mr. Albert’s changed ways. Also finding her father to be dead. Although it was heartbreaking Celie felt free. Her and Mr. Albert remarried and Nettie was sent back home from Africa with her new husband Sam and Celie's children.
Themes
Racism
To Celie racism was nothing ordinary, she witnessed racist behaviors her entire life.
Self-Discovery
Both Celie and Nettie lived their own life pleasing others. After years of doing so their father passed away, releasing the chain that held back the two sisters. They finally found their own voice.
Violence and suffering
The physical and mental violence Celie dealt with by both her father and husband led to an immense amount of suffering, this made it hard for her to love.
Quote
“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.”