Character Analysis- Jeffrey Pan

By: Jeffrey Pan

The three most influential characters in my section (pages 148-216) are Celie, Shug, and Nettie.

Celie is the protagonist as well as the narrator in the novel. In this section, we get to see the development of her character from having a quiet and timid attitude, into being a confident and poised person. At the beginning of the section, she speaks to others very little, allowing Shug to do most of the talking for her. This is demonstrated when Shug and Celie go to visit Celie’s father, and Celie says very little, keeping her thoughts to herself, and speaks only when being asked a question. However, Celie becomes a more empowered person, and learns how to fight for herself. She finally stands up to Mr.____ for all his years of abuse and says “I curse you...until you do right by me, everything you touch will crumble.” (Walker 206) She is finally able to express her true emotions. Towards the end of the section, her changed character and attitude brings upon positivity and happiness, “I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time.” ( Walker 205) Celie values her family (excluding Mr.____) and friends above all else. Celie tells Mr.___ “You took my sister Nettie away from me, I say. And she was the only person love me in the world.” (Walker 200) revealing her anger at him for what he did, and in turn demonstrates her love and care for her sister. After finding out that her children and sister are alive, she is determined to see them, and works hard to provide for them in the future. In other words, her goal is to reconnect with her long lost family, and she is motivated by her love of her family. Celie states “Since us started making pants down home, I ain’t been able to stop” (Walker 211) demonstrating her hard work to make a living for her family. Celie does not have many interests, besides her admiration of Shug Avery, another influential character. Celie is with Shug through almost all of the section. Celie confides in her and asks for her advice.

Shug Avery is a famous singer that is loved by many for her good looks, and beautiful voice. She is an important character in this section as she serves as the greatest influence over Celie, the protagonist of the novel. Shug is the complete opposite from the ‘old’ Celie. Shug is confident, and has a lot of self-esteem. She demands respect from everyone, even men. This is demonstrated when she speaks to Celie’s father, someone she barely knows “I brought Celie...Your daugter Celie. She wanted to visit you. Got some questions.”(Walker 180) Shug says this in a very assertive manner. We also learn that Shug is also a very compassionate and loving person. When Celie could not find the place where her mother was buried, she was sorrowful and heartbroken, but Shug said “Us each other’s people now”, (Walker 183) demonstrating her care for Celie. Shug aspires to be an even more successful performer, which is why she moves to Memphis. She also hopes to bring joy and happiness to Celie, who becomes a good friend of hers. She tells Celie “I brought you here to love you and help you get on your feet.” (Walker 211) Shug is interested in singing, which is why she is a singer, and in turn explains the main reason why she moves to Memphis.

Nettie is Celie’s younger sister. Nettie communicates to Celie in the form of letters, but Mr.____ hid many of the letters for several years, which led Celie to believe Nettie was dead. Celie finds and reads these letters from which Nettie. Nettie writes Africa, she is missionary that teaches children in a small village. Nettie is extremely influential because she is the person who gives Celie faith and confidence to keep a positive attitude in life, through her letters. We learn that Nettie, like Celie, values her family and friends highly. “Since Corrine’s illness, all her work has fallen on me, and I must nurse her as well, which she resents” (Walker 172) This reveals her love for her friends, even if they do not like her much as she enjoys them. This is also demonstrated when she continually writes to Celie, though she receives no response, she has the slightest hope that maybe one Celia may be able to read it. “And I imagine that you really get my letters and that you are writing me back.”(Walker 155) It is clear that Nettie is not interested in men, nor is she influenced by them. “But I am not the mother of anybody’s children, I said, and I am something.” (Walker 156) This reveals that she does not care for marrying and having children, but instead spending time on what she is interested in, like teaching children and learning. She `ultimately wants to reconnect with her sister Celie, we can infer this through her many letters to her, though receives no response. She also wants to inform Celie of the events Africa and Celie’s long lost children as much as possible. “I will write more when things start looking up. I trust God they will.”(Walker 171)