The Color PurpleAlice Walker

CharactersMajor Characters Supporting Characters

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

•Sofia•Harpo•Samuel & Corrine•Adam & Olivia

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

story’s end

Nettie

•Sister of Celie•Lives in Africa as missionary •Intellectual, kind, confident, open-minded•Cares for Celie’s children, Adam and

Olivia•Wants to see Celie again

Mr. _____

•Legally married to Celie•In love with Shug Avery•Abusive, cruel, heartless•Hides Nettie’s letters for Celie•Reevaluates own life and becomes

peaceful, understanding, loving towards all, especially Celie

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

Point of View

•Epistolary form (series of letters)•Celie’s letters

▫First person P.O.V.▫Changes from descriptions of actions,

characters, surroundings to complex, insightful thinking

▫At first towards God, then to Nettie•Nettie’s letters

▫Read through Celie’s eyes

SettingUnited States Africa• Rural southern farm• Few outside visitors or

events

• Village of the Olinka people

• Little contact with outside world

• Invaded upon by English manufacturers for rubber• Before World War II

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

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

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