Celie Harris Johnson is a fictional character and the protagonist of the 1982 novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker, as well as its 1985 film adaptation by Steven Spielberg. She is a poor, uneducated, and abused African-American woman who lives in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. She writes letters to God to cope with her suffering and to express her thoughts and feelings.
Background[]
History[]
Celie's life is marked by violence, incest, rape, and oppression. She is impregnated twice by her stepfather, who takes away her children and marries her off to a cruel man named Albert Johnson, whom she calls Mister. Mister treats her as a slave and a punching bag and prevents her from seeing her beloved sister Nettie, who becomes a missionary in Africa. Celie endures years of abuse and humiliation until she meets Shug Avery, a glamorous singer, and Mister's former lover. Shug helps Celie discover her self-worth, her sexuality, and her voice. She also helps Celie find Nettie's letters, which Mister had been hiding from her. Celie learns that Nettie is alive and that her children are with her in Africa.
Celie eventually stands up to Mister and leaves him with Shug. She inherits her father's house and land, which he had left to her and Nettie before his death. She also learns that he was not her biological father, but the man who raped and impregnated their mother. Celie starts a sewing business and becomes financially independent. She also reconciles with Mister, who has changed his ways, and helps her reunite with Nettie, who returns from Africa with Celie's children. Celie finally achieves happiness and peace in her life.
Celie is portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg in the film version of The Color Purple, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress1. She is also portrayed by LaChanze in the original Broadway musical version of The Color Purple, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Personality[]
Celie is a quiet, timid, and submissive woman who has been conditioned to accept her fate as a victim of abuse and oppression. She has low self-esteem and believes that she is ugly and worthless. She is also deeply religious and writes letters to God as a way of coping with her pain and loneliness. She is loyal and compassionate to those who show her kindness, such as her sister Nettie, her friend Sofia, and her lover Shug. She is also resilient and courageous, as she endures years of suffering and eventually finds the strength to stand up for herself and leave her abusive husband. She is independent and resourceful, as she learns to sew and starts her own business. She is loving and forgiving, as she reconciles with Mister and welcomes him as a friend. She is also joyful and grateful, as she celebrates her reunion with her sister and children.
Physical Appearance[]
Celie is a dark-skinned, slender, and short-haired woman who is considered plain-looking by most standards. She wears simple and modest clothes, often in shades of purple. She has a scar on her forehead from when her stepfather cut her with a razor. She also has a gap between her front teeth, which she considers a flaw but Shug finds charming. She ages gracefully throughout the story, becoming more confident and radiant as she finds happiness and love.
Appearances[]
The Color Purple (1985)[]
In the 1985 film adaptation of The Color Purple, Celie is played by Whoopi Goldberg, who received critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her performance. The film follows the main events of the novel, with some changes and omissions. For example, the film does not explicitly show Celie's sexual relationship with Shug, nor does it reveal that Mister's first name is Albert. The film also ends with Celie and Nettie's reunion, without showing their later lives or Mister's redemption.
The Color Purple (2023)[]
In the 2023 musical film adaptation of The Color Purple, Celie is played by Fantasia Barrino, who previously portrayed the role on Broadway. The film is based on the 2005 musical version of the novel, which features songs by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. The film is directed by Blitz Bazawule and produced by Oprah Winfrey, who also played Sofia in the 1985 film. The film was released on December 25, 2023.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Celie's name is derived from the word “celery”, which is a vegetable that her mother liked to eat.
- Celie's character is partly inspired by Alice Walker's own grandmother, Rachel, who was a poor and abused black woman in rural Georgia.
- Celie's letters to God are written in a dialect that reflects her lack of education and exposure to the world. Alice Walker used the letters as a way of preserving the authentic voice of black women in the South.
- Celie's favorite color is purple, which symbolizes her spirit and dignity. She also associates the color with God and nature along with Shug Avery, who says, “I think it p----- God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.”
