Character Analysis - Sabeana Uthayakumaran

By: Sabeana Uthayakumaran

The young protagonist Celie displays many great characteristics throughout the novel. She proves how she is strong and courageous. Celie is an uneducated African woman that has been constantly dealing with abuse and gets put down because of her appearance. For this reason, she decided to write letters to God to express what is actually going on in her mind.  Celie beings her first letter to God by writing, “I am- I have always been a good girl.” This instantly displays how Celie’s character is full of innocence. She is a true Christian who believes all of her gifts and talents have been given by God. She understood that calling herself a good girl is selfish and was trying to show god that she is truly trying to be the best person she can be. That has given readers immediately the impression that Celie is well morals and is an admirable character.  Celie unfortunately has been suffering with abuse from her father and her husband, Mr._____. She lacks the ability to fight for her to not be mistreated. However, she soon finally meets a character that is currently helping her to come out of her shell and motivates her to fight for herself.  She steps outside her comfort because of Shug being a positive influence on her. Celie has also learnt that she is also attracted to women. An attraction that no man has ever left her feeling.

Not much has been introduced about the character Shug Avery, although there are certain parts revealed that has created a clear image of her personality. Shug Avery is a singer that Mr._____ has been and is currently in love with. However in Celie’s letters, her character is first portrayed as one with a sickening personality. “A woman at church say she dying--- maybe two berkulosis or some kind of nasty woman disease”, Celie writes when collection information from people in her town about Shug being sick. This indicates that Shug is likely to be suffering with a sexually transmitted disease. Although not from being raped as Celie had been, but by choice. She has been neglected by her own parents, which could possibly mean that she was not able to gain her parents respect to allow them to accept her. Shug has a unique character unlike others, where she chooses to grant people the opportunity to define her. She showcases herself as someone who believes its best to hide her experiences and past from others, and does not care about what others think of her. When Shug Avery first meets Celie she says to her, “you sure is ugly.” This presents Shug as someone who is quick to judge and also brutally honest. Shug had no concern or thought of what Celie’s first impression of her could be, but the truth is, she does not care.

Mr._____, also known as Albert according to Shug, has played a significant role in Celie’s life. Albert has already shown many interests in different women in the novel so far. He had first desired to marry Celie’s little sister Nettie. But then gets persuaded to get married to Celie by Alphonso’s (Celie’s father) command. He does not show any affection towards Celie and treats her as an object. Which makes sense, due to the fact that later he reveals to Celie that he is in love with the mysterious Shug Avery. However, he was not able to marry Shug because of bad impression she has on the public, and most importantly Albert’s father’s opinion of her. Although Mr._____ decides to bring Shug to his home in order for her to recover from her illness, he isn’t the one who is taking care of her, Celie is. This is demonstrated when Celie states, “They have made three babies together but he squeamish bout giving her a bath.” Albert is possibly only interested in Shug Avery in physical aspects, because of him not wanting to take initiative to take care of Shug Avery. Regardless, there has not been much about Mr._____ that has been exposed but knowing about Shug’s and Celie’s connection will cause Mr._____ to begin to play an important role in the novel.