Mary Agnes, also known as Squeak, is a character featured in the 1985 film The Color Purple (1985) and the 2023 film The Color Purple. In the 1985 film, she was portrayed by Rae Dawn Chong, and in the 2023 film, she was portrayed by H.E.R. in her acting debut.
Background[]
Biography[]
Squeak is a mixed-race woman who becomes Harpo’s girlfriend after he separates from Sofia. She is quiet and submissive, and often tries to please Harpo, who does not love her. She is also related to the white prison warden, who raped her mother and is her biological father. In the 2023 film, Squeak is portrayed as a dynamic character. Initially, she is insecure and passive, but she gradually develops her self-esteem and independence.
Role in the films[]
In both films, Squeak plays a supporting role. She is Harpo’s second partner and a friend of Shug, Celie, and Sofia. She also helps Sofia get out of prison by confronting the warden, who rapes her. She later leaves Harpo to pursue her singing career and changes her name to Mary Agnes.
Trivia[]
- Squeak is a character in the novel The Color Purple, as well as the plays and films of the same name.
- In the 1985 film, she was portrayed by Rae Dawn Chong.
- In the 2023 film, she is portrayed by H.E.R. in her acting debut.
- Her original name, Mary Agnes, is revealed by Shug, who encourages her to use it instead of Squeak.
- She is the only character in the story who is explicitly identified as mixed-race.