The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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Recommended: 123 essays on character analysis

The story of The Color Purple begins with a fourteen year old girl named Celie who was raped repeatedly by her step-father. The only one she was told to speak to was God, so she did this by writing him daily letters. The book starts out in the first letter with Celie describing how and why she is pregnant with her second child. This child was the result of her getting raped by her step-father, Alphonso. At the time, Celie believes that Alphonso is her real father because that is what her mother has always told her. Her mother ends up dying shortly after, and her step-father brings home a new wife. Although he has a new wife, he continues to abuse and rape Celie. Celie never saw her children for they were taken away from her by Alphonso and given to the wife of a missionary who couldn't have children. After the acts of rape Celie hated and feared men, but she didn't fear women. Celie's younger sister, Nettie, was incredibly smart and more educated than her, but they loved each other deeply. Soon after Celie had her children, she was then married off to a man who loved Nettie. When Nettie finally got the chance to get out and make something of herself, she took advantage of this by running away to Celie's house. Any place was better than at her step-father's, where everyone would get beaten or raped. However, Nettie soon realized that Celie is always cleaning, cooking, working the fields, or getting beaten by her husband, Mr._____, which wasn't any better than where they grew up at. After Nettie lived with Celie for awhile, she was kicked out by Mr._____, also known as Albert, because she wouldn't sleep with him. Celie told Nettie to go to Samuel, the pastor and missionary, because he was the only one Celie had ever seen who... ... middle of paper ... ...acres of land, and a convenient store to his two step-daughters, Celie and Nettie. Technically Celie is still married to Mr._____ and after being away from Celie for so many years, he learns to appreciate life and women much more. When Celie comes back to claim her land, Mr._____ and her become real good friends and spend more time together. When he asks Celie to come back to him again, she still claims she doesn't love men, but she will remain his good friend. Mr._____ accepts Celie as a friend and will always love her company. He takes up sewing with Celie and while she sews pants for everyone, he makes the shirts. One day while Celie is relaxing on her porch, sewing away with Mr._____ and Shug, Nettie, her husband, and the kids arrive. Celie is so happy she falls to the ground hugging everyone tightly with love. Celie claims this is the youngest she's ever felt.

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