The Color Purple

1. The Color Purple By: Alice Walker

2. 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

3. Foundation • Setting: • Rural Georgia • 1910-1940s • Travel to Memphis and Africa • Point of view: First person • Celie rights letters to God

4. 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.

5. 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. • ShugAvery- 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Connections in literature • Othello: Women’s Voice • MacBeth: Women’s Influence

11. 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.”

12. Themes • Family • Hope • Women relationships • Sexism • Identity • Courage • Culture

13. Symbols in text • Letters • The color purple • Syntax