The Color Purple Shug's Relationship

In the Color Purple, Celie, the protagonist, lived in a place riddled with racism and sexism, the South. The novel takes place over forty years of Celie’s life, from the age of fourteen to the age of fifty. The importance of a friend or mentor was a significant theme in The Color Purple. Someone who can make one see their inner beauty is a vital part of life, especially for women. Shug Avery, a carefree, glamorous woman, was that person for Celie. As the novel progressed, Shug’s relationship changed Celie from a dependent to an independent character. Before Shug was introduced into her life, Celie was an abused, shy, and broken teenager. Her Pa had mentally and physically abused her, raping her and eventually impregnating her twice. She then was married off to a man referred to as Mr. ______, who was no better than her Pa. He always said that she was ugly, skinny, useless and worthless. She was treated as an object, nothing more. Celie allowed the men in her life to treat her this way, saying, “All I know what to do is stay alive.”(18) Celie’s feelings were dead- not only her love, but all her rage, her hate, her sense of injustice, and her happiness. …show more content…
The intimate relationship she had with Shug empowered Celie to be her devoted self and to realize her true potential. Celie started out as a submissive, weak girl and blossomed into a powerful individual. All of these changes in Celie’s life were critical to her psychological and mental health. Through Shug’s mentoring and love, Celie was able to grow into an independent individual capable of thinking for herself. Celie became a stronger person because of Shug's role in her life. At the end of the book, Celie was no longer emotionally dead but, wholeheartedly loved who she had become. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself.” -Harvey