-
Celie is abused by her (step)father
The book starts with Celie’s memory of her father’s command that she stay quiet about his abuse of her. Celie begins writing letters to God. In her first letter, Celie is pregnant with her second child—the result of rape and incest. She worries about her studious sister Nettie, and seeks to protect her from her (step)father Alphonso. -
Period: to
The Color Purple
-
Celie marries Mr.___
Mr. wants to marry Nettie. Alphonso wants Nettie to continue her schooling and offers Mr. Celie. Celie wants to stay in school and watch over Nettie. She does marry Mr. Her wedding night was spent with Mr. on top of her while she worried about Nettie’s safety. Mr. also has a lover, Shug Avery, who Celie eventually falls in love with. -
Shug and Celie find the letters from Nettie
When Celie marries Mr., Nettie promises to write every day, but Celie never gets the letters. Years later, after Shug comes to live at the house, the two women find the letters that Mr. has been keeping from Celie. This is a turning point of growth for Celie, who until now has been submissive to Mr. -
Nettie travels to Africa
Through the letters, Celie learns of Nettie's travels to Europe and then Africa with missionaries. Nettie starts developing as a character with her own mind and direction in life through the letters. The letters also help reveal the story of Celie's children, as well as create a back story for Nettie's marriage and return to the US with Celie's children. -
The road through the Olinka Village
Nettie becomes attached to the Olinka people while in Africa. A road is forcibly built through the Olinka Village, and this is extremely impactful for Nettie. This part of her story starts her ultimate return to the US and her sister Celie, bringing along Nettie's husband Samuel, Adam and Olivia (Celie's children) and Adam's Olinka wife. -
Celie goes to Memphis
Celie and Shug go to Memphis after a large conflict at dinner with Mr. Celie begins to stand up for herself more during this time as she tells Mr. of all the abuses he's inflicted on her. She opens a pants-making business while in Memphis. This is a happy time for Celie as she makes her own life and works on her relationship with Shug. -
Nettie and Celie's children in Africa
Missionary Corrine adopted two children before the Africa trip. They turn out to be Celie's children, and Nettie ends up understanding this while in Africa. Corrine has a hard time accepting that these children are related to Nettie, but as she dies, she does accept these facts. -
Celie, Shug, and God
Celie and Shug have multiple discussions about God and religion. Celie thinks of God as a more negative figure in her life. Shug has a more positive idea of God, calling God "it", explaining that God is something to discover in the world around you. This shows a turning point for Celie and her view of God and religion. -
Nettie travels back to the US
After Corrine dies, Nettie and Samuel fall in love. They agree to travel back to the US with Adam, Olivia and Tashi. Nettie and Celie are at last reunited. This scene starts the wrap-up of the story in this book, sharing the moment the reader has been waiting for as we read through the letters between Nettie and Celie. -
Celie and Mr.'s relationship
When Celie returns from Memphis, she discovers that Mr. has changed. He is more introspective and seems more kind. The two talk about life and love and their marriage. They don't get back together, but the gap between them is now smaller and they can be friends. It's nice to read that Celie's life seems to be getting easier, and some past pain is lessened now.
