Plot Overview

About the Author

Novel Notes

The Color Purple is made up of letters written by

Celie, an uneducated black fourteen year old who's
been raped by her stepfather. The novel first starts
with a letter to God, asking for answers for why
terrible things are happening to her. Her father has
impregnated her twice, which he has killed both of
them. After her mother dies, Celie is sent to go get
married to Mr.__. The marriage was horrible for her,
he treated as if she was property and had her
working as if she was a slave. He is initially
interested in Celies younger sister Nettie to marry
but her father would not allow it, making
Mr.___settle for Celie. Mr.___ has a lover with him
or in better words, a mistress named Shug Avery.
Celie then moves to a house with her new
husband,Mr.___. Nettie runs away from home to
find Celie.Once she had, Celie had to keep her
secret, once Mr.___ had found out he attempted to
attack Nettie. Nettie goes away for awhile and
Celies sad that she left, but still write letters to each
other. Back at home, Mr.___ finds out that his
mistress of many years, Shug Avery, is ill. Celie is
required to take care of her, and she is more than
happy to do so. Shefinds Shug to be very beautiful.
Taking a liking to Celie,Shug promises not to leave
until Mr.___ stops abusing her. With the help of
Shug, it also becomes clear to Celie that she could
never enjoy her intimate moments with Mr.___
because she is attracted to women. The moreCelie
interacts with Shug, the more in love she falls
withher.In Nettie's letters to Celie, it is revealed that
Nettie andSamuel get married while on a trip to
England and that they plan to return home. Later,
Celia found out who her real father is and life finally
is doing Celie good. Nettie returns home and Celie
sends a letter to god thanking him for everything.

The author, Alice Walker, born on February 9, 1944 in

Putnam County, Georgia. Alice is also a seventy one year
old author, poet, civil and women's right activist who has
been awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1983 and the National
Book Award for Fiction the same year for her novel The
Color Purple. Graduated high school as valedictorian
and attended Sarah Lawrence College. Walker took
inspiration from her rough childhood to write this novel,
who was never comfortable in her own skin. She was
really insecure about her eye, for she was shot in one of
her eyes with a BB gun.

The Color Purple

Historical Context
The author of The Color Purple wrote this novel in
1982, takes place in Rural Georgia in the early 20th
century. The time when women were considered as
property and weaker than men, Celie was a clear
example of how horrible women were treated back
then. The novel is ranked 17th in the American
Library Association top 100 list of frequently most
challenged books from 2000-2009. The Color
Purple is known as having lots of violence and
harsh explicit language. Also, seems to be a lot of
racism in the book as well, which Walker can relate
since she was active in the Civil Rights Movement.
Walker wrote The Color Purple for people to
imagine how horrible an African American girl was
treated in the early 1900s.

Alice Walker
Estefania Villicana
April 25, 2016

Essential Quotes
But she keep on, You got to fight. You got
to fight. But I dont know how to fight. All I
know how to do is stay alive (Walker 18).
But I dont think us feel old at all. And us
so happy. Matter of fact, I think this is the
youngest us ever felt (251).
Add Work Cited Here: (google how to do this)
Walker, Alice. "Biography." Bio. N.p., n.d. Web.Alice
Walker - Author, Civil Rights Activist, Women's ... Biography.com
"Alice Walker (b. 1944)." New Georgia Encyclopedia.
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2016.Alice Walker (b. 1944) |
New Georgia Encyclopedia

Character Analysis

Themes

Motifs and Symbols

and analyze some of the significant themes Identify and interpret some of the major motifs and
Celie- an innocent 14 year old who Identify
in the novel.
symbols in the novel.
was abused and raped by her own Stay strong- Celie tries her best every Family- Celie didnt really have much
father. Goes through many life
single day staying strong, especially for what family, but her sister pretty much was
challenges such as been sent off to she has been through. She doesnt give up, her own family. With her sister she went
just keeps going and going. Everything
through tough times and made it
marry a man who treated her as a she
pays off at the end, when her life is finally
because of her. Her sister kept her
servant and being abused. She
complete and happy. Celie has gone through going, even if they were separated for
awhile. Along, the way she met people
cares very deeply for her younger so much and been abused by her father.
Thankful-Celie was always grateful for that treated her as family. Her father
sister Nettie. At the end of the
was abusive to her, but blood doesnt
what she had, after going through tough
story with the help of Shug and
make you family. This story revolves
times. People should be blessed for what
Nettie, she has much more
around sisterhood a lot.
they have and if they dont like where they
confidence of herself and finally is are in life, then they should go for it. Celie Letters- Walker uses letters to
didnt like her life, so she stood up for
symbolize Celie's faith that her life will
happy with life.
get better. The story starts and closes
Nettie- Celies younger sister, who herself and work for what she wanted.
with a letter to god. These letters help
adores her very much. They both
Celie stay strong through tough times
and helps her express her feelings. She
have a strong sister bond, for they
spills all her feelings out on these letters,
only got each other since their own
and it shows more about the character.
father abuses Celie. Nettie moves
At the end, Celie writes a letter to god
to Africa for a while and comes
thanking her for everything and so happy
that she got her life that she deserves
back to the United States with a
after going through abusive, dark times.
new husband. When she moves
back, she realized how much has
changed.