The Color Purple Characters

Celie

Poor Celie. She's got it tough straight through the first part of the book. She is purely a...

Nettie

Nettie is the only character who loves Celie consistently and unconditionally throughout the...

Alphonso

Pa is a remorseless child molester at the beginning of the book, and unfortunately no better at...

Mr.__

Mr.__ (or Albert as he is occasionally called) may be a jerk for most of the book, but at least...

Harpo

Harpo has some issues. Naturally, he’s a really nice guy and enjoys domestic activities...

Sofia

Sofia is the type of assertive woman that Celie is not. She won’t back down from a fight...

Shug Avery

Shug is larger than life, and she sure does know how to love. Her problem is that she loves and...

Mary Agnes

Squeak might have been mousy at first, but she gains power after the white warden rapes...

Corrine

Corrine is the Reverend Samuel’s wife and the adoptive mother of Celie’s two...

Samuel

Samuel is the kind minister who takes Nettie in after she escapes both Pa and Mr.__. As Nettie...

Grady

Grady is Shug’s husband. Celie thinks Grady is extremely boring and just plain not good...

Tashi

Tashi is a bold, intelligent, and assertive young Olinka girl who befriends Olivia and Adam. She...

Olivia

Olivia is Celie’s daughter who was raised by the Reverend Samuel and his wife Corrine.

Adam

Adam is Celie’s son who was raised by the Reverend Samuel and his wife Corrine. Adam...

Germaine

Germaine is Shug’s nineteen-year-old lover. He’s sort of like Shug’s last...

Eleanor Jane

Eleanor Jane is the mayor’s daughter who Sofia raises. Eleanor Jane is the only member of...