Struggle and Growth in the Color Purple by Alice WalkerThe Color Purple describes the struggle and growth of Celie, an ignorant Southern slave who became a victim of racism, sexual roles, men, and social injustices, in numerous letters that he writes like a diary. Walker uses Celie's uneducated grammar to help the reader perceive the pain she thinks and feels about becoming a mature twentieth-century woman. As Celie writes to God for guidance and strength asking her to be able to move forward, her letters subtly shift towards being intended for her beloved sister, Nettie, who separated from Celie at an early age. Celie becomes a victim of brutal violence as she refuses to fight back against the injustices that black men, like her husband and father, inflict on her, including rape, verbal abuse, and physical abuse. When Shug Avery, a blues singer who was having an affair with Celie's husband, enters the novel, Celie's outlook on life gradually changes. Shug's manipulative, powerful, and independent character helps Celie grow strong and ultimately learn to love others as well as herself as they share an intimate, sexual relationship together. Shug's belief in black women's freedom pushes Celie to take complete control of her life. After years of keeping Nettie's memories alive, Celie's courageous spirit and love for Nettie and Shug lead Celie to forgiveness and reconciliation for all the pain inflicted on her. When Nettie returns home with Celie's children after experiencing a completely new life in Africa, Celie is finally able to encounter true happiness through mental and emotional rebirth. Although Nettie's character remains aloof for years, she serves as Celie's confidante...... middle of paper ...although Celie did not receive Nettie's letters until months, sometimes years, after they were written, Celie continued to confide in Nettie with her deepest emotions. Without the character of Nettie existing in the novel, Celie would ultimately give up her perseverance and cling to the abuse and injustices she grew up around. Nettie served as Celie's emotional and spiritual support by allowing the reader to experience learning about her African culture. Nettie explains to Celie the big differences between her life in Africa, with blacks as the majority, and life in America, with blacks as the minority. She serves not only as a confidante but also as an educator to Celie's lost mind. The character of Nettie intensifies Celie's need to love and be loved in The Color Purple.Works Cited: Walker, Alice. The Color Purple.New York: Pocket Books. 1982