The Color Purple

1
The Color Purple

• Alice Walker

2
Major Characters

• Celie
• Mr. _______ (Albert)
• Shug Avery
• Nettie

3
Celie

• Protagonist and narrator
• Poor, uneducated, timid, powerless
• Abused by Mr. _____
• Looks up to and in love with Shug Avery
• Wants to see Nettie again
• Grows empowered and independent by storys end

4
Nettie

• Sister of Celie
• Lives in Africa as missionary
• Intellectual, kind, confident, open-minded
• Cares for Celies children, Adam and Olivia
• Wants to see Celie again

5
Mr. _____

• Legally married to Celie
• In love with Shug Avery
• Abusive, cruel, heartless
• Hides Netties letters for Celie
• Reevaluates own life and becomes peaceful,
  understanding, loving towards all, especially
  Celie

6
Shug Avery

• Professional performer
• Bad reputation for behavior and promiscuity
• At heart compassionate, independent, but
  unpredictable
• Used to be in love with Mr. _____
• Mother, sister, lover to Celie
• Helps Celie become independent and empowered

7
Point of View

• Epistolary form (series of letters)
• Celies letters
• First person P.O.V.
• Changes from descriptions of actions, characters,
  surroundings to complex, insightful thinking
• At first towards God, then to Nettie
• Netties letters
• Read through Celies eyes

8
Setting

• United States

• Africa

• Village of the Olinka people
• Little contact with outside world
• Invaded upon by English manufacturers for rubber

• Rural southern farm
• Few outside visitors or events

• Before World War II
• No specific worldwide times, places, events
• - Focuses on character development
• Themes more universal

9
Symbols

• Purple
• Beauty and good things in the world
• Sewing
• Power and independence of women
• Unity between people of different backgrounds,
  gender, ethnicities
• God
• Universal nature of faith

10
Themes

• Power of independence and defining oneself
• Significance of female relationships
• Sexism and the destruction of traditional gender
  roles
• Destructive effects of racial oppression
• Perpetual nature of sexism and racism
• Power and universal nature of religion