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Celie's Transformation

Decent Essays

Multiple characters in Walker’s The Color Purple undergo transformations and awakenings throughout the course of the story. Most prominently, Celie, the protagonist and narrator of the story, experiences many changes to her character as a result of her relationship with Shug Avery. Shug’s love empowers Celie to develop into a strong, independent, and spirited woman by helping her discover a sense of self worth. In the beginning of The Color Purple, Celie’s inability to combat the abuse from her father and Albert demonstrates her passive nature. The very first words on the first page of the book show the cruel treatment and forceful silencing Celie received from her father: “You better not tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy” (1). This …show more content…

Though Shug was bitter, hostile, and unfriendly to Celie when she first met her, her attitude changes and she begins to change Celie’s life for the better. Grateful for being nursed back to full health, Shug writes and sings “Miss Celie’s Song” one night at Harpo’s club (73). This simple song immediately sparks an amazing feeling inside Celie, because no one has done anything special for her like that before. Celie’s spiritual journey begins with this experience, as this is one of the first times she has felt truly appreciated. Later, when talking to Celie about her sexual life, Shug gives her an unconventional and redefined definition of virginity. Celie doesn't enjoy having sex with Albert -- she “don’t like it at all”; this lack of balance leads Shug to tell Celie “you still a virgin” (77). Giving Celie the ability to choose when she has lost her virginity based on her enjoyment makes the concept of virginity metaphysical and protectable. This new definition allows Celie to have control over something very personal, and she uses this to define herself and and build the strength she was lacking at the beginning of the book. By the end of the story Celie has gained enough self esteem to begin to love herself and all the people around her. When Nettie finally returns home and the two sisters are reunited, Celie points to Shug and Albert and calls them her “peoples”

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