![]() ![]() We can see just how far Celie has come when Nettie finally returns home and Celie introduces Albert (Mr._) and Shug as "her people." If that's not love, we don't know what is.Ĭelie embodies the strength of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness. By the end of the novel, Celie loves more people than ever before-and she's not even mad at Mr._. Through Shug’s love, Celie begins to realize her own self-worth, which in turn increases her ability to love others. As Mr._ and Celie realize in one discussion, when you start to love other people, "people start to love you back." It's kind of like waving. Because Celie is finally opening herself up by loving someone, Celie becomes more lovable. With gentleness and care, Celie nurses the sick woman back to health. Even Celie admits it, but Shug is someone to love. Finally, someone shows up for Celie to care for: Shug Avery. She’s stuck in a bad marriage where her stepchildren are "rotten" and her husband considers her a servant. She’s numb not only because she desperately needs someone to love her, but because she needs someone to love. most of the novel-Celie is emotionally numb. As Long as She Knows How to Love She Knows She'll Stay Aliveĭuring her years of mistreatment and isolation-a.k.a. Celie finally realizes that she can leave Mr._, and leave she does. ![]() This emotional abuse doesn't just affect Celie-it also affects Nettie. Though Mr._ has been physically abusing Celie for years, she doesn’t find her own strength until she learns that he has been spitefully and intentionally separating her from Nettie for decades. If there’s anything that gets Celie riled, it’s people mistreating her loved ones.Įventually Celie leaves her victimhood behind. Sure, it's gross, but he totally deserved it. When Mr._’s father comes and criticizes Shug, Celie silently rebels by spitting in the man’s water. Now if that's not love, we don't know what is.Ĭelie also fights for Shug, though in a smaller way. Even as a downtrodden victim of her Pa, Celie sacrifices herself and offers herself to her father so that he keeps his hands off of Nettie. Like a true fighter, Celie proves herself to be willing to stand up for the people she loves. However, there are certain triggers that lead Celie to stand up. ![]() She meets other women who tell her that she should stand up for herself and fight, but Celie feels that it’s better to survive than to fight and risk not surviving. Talk about lonesome.įor much of the novel, Celie is completely passive. For a very long time, God is the only being she has to talk to, as she’s either emotionally or physically isolated from most of the other characters in the book. So Celie goes and confides in God about her struggles. Sheesh! When it rains, it pours.Ĭelie’s narrative actually begins as a result of her victimization: Her father tells her she’d better not tell anyone that he’s raping her, at least not anyone aside from God. And then Nettie is also taken away from her. The only person she loves-and the only person who loves her back-is her sister Nettie. She is purely a victim: She’s repeatedly raped by her father, her children are taken away from her, and she’s literally sold into marriage to a man who wants a servant, not a wife. She's got it tough straight through the first part of the book.
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