The Color Purple Shug Character Analysis

Shug’s Relationship with Celie In Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, Walker uses Shug Avery to show the ways that Celie has not yet come alive, as well as the ways that Shug has not come alive. These two characters truly bring out the best in each other. From one’s ignorance, to one’s inattentive ideals, these two started out not liking each other. Or rather, Shug not liking Celie, and Celie adoring all of Shug whether she looked down on Celie or not. Shug defines the magnificent color of purple in her own special ways. Celie is abused and raped by her Pa, who takes her children once they’re born. Pa marries her to Mr.___, who is just as abusive and just uses her to watch his kids and work the fields. Celie brings her sister Nettie with her

After leaving Mr.___, she made a new friend while he became a new man. Even though Celie is not remotely romantically attracted to Mr.___ any longer, they can now enjoy each others company. Even as Celie and Nettie are old women now, it seems as if the best years of their lives are just now starting.

When Mr.___ brings Shug into his home, the first thing that she manages to say to Celie is, “You sure is ugly” (Walker 46). Shug is, and always will be brutally honest to anyone and everyone she comes in contact with (“The). In fact she refuses to be “sweet” like her name suggests (“The). She has been Mr.___’s mistress for many years and was to be the mother to his kids. When he tells Harpo, his oldest son, to help him get her inside, Harpo asks who she is. All Mr.___ says is, “The women should have been your mammy” (Walker 45).

From the moment Celie first laid eyes on Shug, she was basically in love with her. “She dress to kill,” even in what looked to be her last moments on Earth (Walker 45). “She look like she ain’t long for this world but dressed well for the next,” Celie observes this as Mr.___ brought her closer (Walker). Mr.___ tells her to go prepare the guest bedroom for Shug but Celie can’t move. She must get a look at Shug’s face before she can move. Once Mr.___ tells her twice to prepare the room, As Shug looks up, Celie turns around and runs

“Do you mind if Albert sleep with me?” and at first, Celie thinks I don’t care who Albert sleep with. But she instead tells Shug she might “git big again.” Shug answers with, “Naw, not with my sponge and all.” So Celie then asks if Shug still loves Mr.___. Shug says she has what you would call a passion for him. If she were to have gotten married, it would have been to Mr.___ (Walker 77).

Celie asks Shug if she likes to sleep with him and she says, “Yeah, Celie, I have to confess, I just love it. Don’t you?” and Celie answers with, “Naw, Mr.___ can tell you, I don’t like it at all.” Shug asks what it’s like for her and she says, “He git up on you, heist your nightgown round your waist, plunge in. Most times I pretend I ain’t there. He never know the difference. Never ast me how I feel, nothing. Just do his business, get off, go to sleep” (Walker 78).

Shug laughs at the way Celie describes it and tells her she makes it sound like he’s going to the toilet on her. Celie just calmly says that that is what it feels like. Shug stops laughing and asks her if she ever enjoys it all, even with her children daddy. Celie says never and Shug tells her that she is still a virgin. Shug tells her that there is a little button down there that gets real hot when you do you know what with someone. Then it melts and that’s the best part. She explains some other things as well that make Celie embarrassed (Walker 78).