Essay in The Color Purple: It Was the Worst of TimesThe book The Color Purple was written by Alice Walker. The book was not written in a conventional way. It was a series of letters retracing the life of Célie, the main character. Most of the letters were written by Celie and some by her sister Nettie. The theme of the book is to be true to yourself despite difficulties and to never give up on what you believe in. Don't let people make you believe that you are something you are not, so you have the will to survive the worst. of times. The color purple tells the story of Celie's life. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Célie was raped by her father. We also learn that Célie's mother is ill and unable to take care of the family. Célie is forced to cook and clean for her family. Celie conceived two children because of her father's continued rape. She never sees her children and believes her father killed them. A man in town wanted to take Celie's sister, Nettie, as his wife, but her father convinces the man to take Celie instead. Celie is now forced to marry an older man who already has children. Celie's husband beats and rapes her constantly without any remorse. He even made Celie Shug Avery's nanny, his mistress, when she was sick. It is now that Celie learns from Shug Avery what love is. Shug Avery encourages Celie to stop putting up with her husband's abuse and that she deserves better. Célie was finally going to leave her husband when she discovered that he was hiding his sister's letters from her. Nettie was the only reason Celie had managed to survive. Celie could not tolerate any further abuse and left with Shug Avery and Mary Agnes. Mary Agnes was the mistress of Celie's stepson. Celie finally finds Nettie and her two children whom she thought were dead. She then returns to her husband who has changed radically since Shug Avery and Celie left. This novel takes place in the early 1900s. At that time, black people were oppressed by white people. They were mistreated and exploited. Not only were black people oppressed, but women were oppressed as well. They had little freedom and were unable to be self-sufficient.