Harpo Johnson is a character featured in the 1985 film The Color Purple (1985) and the 2023 film The Color Purple. In the 1985 film, he was portrayed by Willard E. Pugh, and in the 2023 film, he was portrayed by Corey Hawkins.
Background[]
Biography[]
Harpo Johnson is the eldest son of Albert Johnson, also known as Mister, and his first wife, who was murdered by her lover. Harpo grows up witnessing his father's abuse of his stepmother, Celie, who becomes a mother figure to him. Harpo falls in love with Sofia, a strong and independent woman, and marries her. However, he struggles to assert his authority over her, as his father and society expect him to. He resorts to beating Sofia, but she fights back and injures him. Harpo becomes obsessed with dominating Sofia, even trying to gain weight to overpower her, but his efforts fail. He eventually opens a juke joint, where he meets Squeak, a singer who becomes his lover. Harpo and Sofia separate, but they still love each other.
In the 2023 film, Harpo is portrayed as a more complex and sympathetic character. He is shown to enjoy cooking and housework, and to be affectionate with his children. He also confides in Celie about his marital problems and seeks her advice. He is conflicted between his love for Sofia and his desire to please his father and fit into the patriarchal society. He also faces racism and discrimination from the white authorities, who imprison Sofia for defending herself against the mayor's wife. Harpo tries to help Sofia by bribing the warden with Squeak, but this backfires when Squeak is raped by the warden, who turns out to be her uncle. Harpo feels guilty and ashamed, and breaks up with Squeak. He later reconciles with Sofia, who forgives him for his past mistakes. He also stands up to his father and defends Celie when she leaves him. Harpo becomes a successful businessman and a supportive husband and father.
Role in the films[]
In both films, Harpo Johnson plays an important role. He is Mister's son and Celie's stepson, and he is Sofia's husband. He is also the owner of Harpo's Juke Joint, a popular place for music and entertainment. He represents the challenges and changes of the Black men in the rural South during the early 20th century. He also shows the possibility of overcoming the oppressive gender roles and the abusive cycle of violence.
Trivia[]
- Harpo Johnson is a character in the novel The Color Purple, as well as the plays and films of the same name.
- In the 1985 film, he was portrayed by Willard E. Pugh.
- In the 2023 film, he was portrayed by Corey Hawkins.
- His name is a reversal of Oprah, the name of the actress who played Sofia in the 1985 film.
