Struggle and Growth in The Color Purple by Alice Walker gender roles, men, and social injustices, in numerous letters she kept in her diary. Walker uses Celie's uneducated grammar to help the reader perceive the pain she thinks and feels in order to become a mature 20th century woman. As Celie writes to God for guidance and strength, asking him to continue, her letters subtly shift toward being intended for her intensely loved sister, Nettie, who separated from Celie at a very young age. Celie becomes a victim of brutal violence because she refuses to fight against the injustices that black men, like her husband and father, inflict on her, including rape, verbal abuse, and physical violence. When Shug Avery, a blues singer who had an affair with Celie's husband, enters the novel, Celie's outlook on life gradually changes. Shug's manipulative, powerful, and independent character helps Celie become strong and ultimately learn to love others as well as herself as they share an intimate sexual relationship together. Shug's belief in the freedom of black women pushes Celie to take complete control of her own life. After years of keeping Nettie's memories alive, Celie's courageous spirit and love for Nettie and Shug lead Celie to forgiveness and reconciliation for all the pain that was inflicted on her. When Nettie returns home to Celie's children after living a whole new life in Africa, Celie is finally able to experience true happiness through a mental and emotional rebirth. Although Nettie's character remains detached for years, she serves as Celie's confidante...... middle of paper ... Although Celie did not receive Nettie's letters until months, sometimes years, after whether they were written, Celie continued to confide in Nettie with her deepest emotions. Without the character of Nettie existing in the novel, Celie would eventually give up on her perseverance and cling to the abuses and injustices she grew up with. Nettie served as emotional and spiritual support for Celie while allowing the reader to learn about her African culture. Nettie explains to Celie the great differences between her life in Africa, with blacks as the majority, and life in America, with blacks as the minority. She serves not only as a confidante but also as an educator for Celie's lost spirit. The character of Nettie intensifies Celie's need to love and be loved in The Color Purple. Works Cited: Walker, Alice. The Color Purple.New York: Paperbacks. 1982