Characters



"But what you got? You ugly. You skinny. You shape funny. You too scared to open your mouth to people. All you fit to do in Memphis is be Shug's maid" (205). "You too dumb to keep going to school, Pa say" (9).
 * CELIE:** Celie is a sensitive, quiet, understanding woman. Celie has had a very rough life. For example, her father married her off to a man that she had no feelings for. The man that Celie was married to, Mr._, was in love with Nettie. Nettie is Celie's sister and one of the only people that Celie ever loved. Celie's life with Mr. was not much better than her life with her "pa". On her wedding day, Mr _s children chased her around because they didn't like her. To make matters worse, Mr. beats her and is in love with another woman. This woman, Shug Avery even comes to live with them. Shug Avery becomes very close with Celie and is the other person that Celie has loved/trusted.

"Nettie the celver one in this bunch" (9). "I know i'm not as pretty or as smart as Nettie [...]" (9).
 * NETTIE:** Nettie is Celie's younger sister. Nettie is very intelligent. When Celie and Nettie were younger, Mr._ liked Nettie and wanted to marry her.. But their father doesn't want Nettie to marry him. Nettie goes to see Celie once at her house with Mr._ and then she leaves. She joins a couple, Corrine and Samuel, and she lives with them. They then go to Africa as missionaries. Nettie is strong and a deep thinker. She continually writes letters to Celie.


 * HARPO**: Harpo is one of Mr.__'___s Children. Harpo doesn't like Celie when Celie and Mr. get married but he warms up to her. Celie and Harpo talk about things. Harpo seems misguided. Many of Harpo’s actions overturn stereotypical gender roles. He confesses to Celie about his love for Sofia, cries in her arms, enjoys cooking and housework, kisses his children, and marries an independent woman, Sofia. Mr.'s ideas about the male role in the family differs from Harpo's which causes Harpo to think that the male needs to be in control. Because of these teachings from his father, Harpo feels he needs to beat his wife, Sofia, to establish dominance in the relationship. This attempt fails, however; because Sofia is very, very strong.

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" She out to the woodpile making shingles" (64). "I'm getting tired of Harpo, she say. All he think about since us married is how to make me mind. He don't want a wife, he want a dog." (64).
 * SOFIA:**__ A large, fiercely independent woman who befriends Celie and marries Harpo. Sofia refuses to submit to whites, men, or anyone else who tries to dominate her. After defying the town’s mayor, Sophia is sentenced to twelve years in jail, but the sentence is later commuted to twelve years labor as the mayor’s maid. Sofia is very outspoken and doesn't look to kindly on being talked down to.

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"Who dis woman, say Squeak, in this little teenouncy voice" (82). "Squeak push her greasy brown hair back from her face" (91).
 * SQUEAK:**__ Squeak, who's actual name is Mary Agnes, is Harpo's lover after Sofia leaves. Squeak is very quiet and sensitive. Although abused like many of the women in the novel, Squeak eventually undergoes a transformation much like Celie’s. Squeak demands to be called by here real name and eventually leaves to persue her dream in singing.

__ "She bout ten thousand more prettier then me." (6)
 * SHUG:**__ A sultry blues singer who first appears as Mr._’s mistress. Shug becomes Celie’s friend and becomes a gentle mentor who helps Celie evolve into an independent and assertive woman. Shug is very forthright and demands respect, which she gets. Shug eventually convinces Celie to leave with her and they go to Memphis.

Albert - Celie's husband, who doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself. He has four children that live with him and Celie and Celie is expected to take care of. Samuel and Corrine- Family that took in Celie's children and her sister Nettie. He is a paster and they went to Africa as missionaries. Olivia and Adam - Celie's children that were given away by her father. They live with Samuel and Corrine and Nettie watches over them. Miss Beasley - Celie and Nettie's teacher who believed in them. Odessa- Sofia's sister that Sofia moves in with after leaving Harpo. Prizefighter- Sofia's new husband Miss Millie-The mayor's wife that Sofia punch and ended up in jail because of. Now Sofia works for her and her family.