Nettie Harris is the deuteragonist of the 1982 novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker, as well as its 1985 film adaptation by Steven Spielberg. She is the younger sister of Celie Harris Johnson, the main protagonist. She is a smart, compassionate, and courageous African-American woman who escapes the harsh life in rural Georgia and becomes a missionary in Africa.
Background[]
History[]
Nettie is the younger sister of Celie, who loves her dearly and teaches her how to read and write. Nettie is also the object of affection of Mister, who wants to marry her instead of Celie. However, Nettie's father refuses to let Mister have Nettie, and forces him to take Celie instead. Nettie runs away from home and goes to live with Celie and Mister, but Mister tries to rape her and throws her out of the house. Nettie promises to write to Celie, but Mister intercepts and hides her letters.
Nettie meets a missionary couple, Samuel and Corrine, who take her with them to Africa. There, she learns about the culture and history of the Olinka people and helps them with education and health care. She also discovers that Samuel and Corrine's adopted children, Adam and Olivia, are actually Celie's biological children, who were taken away from her by her stepfather and sold to the missionaries. Nettie develops a close bond with the children and eventually marries Samuel after Corrine's death.
Nettie writes letters to Celie for many years, telling her about her life in Africa and expressing her love and hope for their reunion. She also sends Celie a quilt made of old clothes, a symbol of their sisterhood. Nettie faces many challenges and dangers in Africa, such as drought, war, colonialism, and female genital mutilation. She also helps Adam's wife, Tashi, who suffers from trauma and low self-esteem after undergoing the mutilation ritual.
Nettie and her family return to America after the death of Celie's stepfather, who left his house and land to Celie and Nettie. They arrive at Celie's house and embrace her in a joyful and emotional reunion. Nettie introduces Celie to her children and husband, and they celebrate together. Nettie also meets Shug Avery, Celie's lover, and Sofia, Celie's daughter-in-law, and becomes friends with them. Nettie finally fulfills her promise to Celie and lives happily with her family.
Personality[]
Nettie is a very intelligent and curious person, who values education and knowledge. She is also very kind and caring, especially towards her sister Celie, whom she loves more than anyone else. She is brave and loyal, willing to stand up for herself and others against injustice and cruelty. She is optimistic and faithful, believing that God has a plan for her and Celie. She is adventurous and open-minded, enjoying traveling and learning about different cultures and people. She is also a good teacher and a good mother, who nurtures and supports her students and children.
Nettie is different from Celie in many ways. She has a more positive attitude towards men, religion, and society. She does not accept the abuse and oppression that Celie endures, but rather fights back and seeks a better life. She does not see God as a white man, but rather as a spirit that is present in everything. She does not conform to the norms and expectations of her own culture but rather embraces and respects the diversity and richness of other cultures. She does not lose her sense of identity and self-worth, but rather grows and evolves as a person.
Nettie's experiences in Africa shape her worldview and identity. She learns about the history and heritage of her ancestors, and the struggles and achievements of her people. She witnesses the beauty and the tragedy of the continent, and the resilience and the creativity of its inhabitants. She develops a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human condition, and the interconnectedness of all living things. She also realizes the importance and the power of love, family, and sisterhood.
Physical Appearance[]
Nettie is a dark-skinned, slender, and curly-haired woman, who often wears colorful dresses and headscarves. She has a beautiful smile and expressive eyes. She resembles her sister Celie but is considered more attractive by most people. She ages gracefully, retaining her beauty and vitality even in her old age.
Nettie changes her appearance over the years, depending on her circumstances and environment. She cuts her hair short when she leaves for Africa, to avoid attracting unwanted attention from men. She wears African clothes and accessories, to blend in with the Olinka people and to honor their culture. She gets a scar on her face from a fight with a white man, who tries to stop her from taking pictures of the Olinka village. She also wears glasses, to help her with her vision and to give her a scholarly look.
Appearances[]
The Color Purple (1985)[]
Nettie is played by Akosua Busia in the film version of The Color Purple. She appears in several scenes, mostly in flashbacks or in Celie's imagination. She is seen as a young girl playing with Celie, as a teenager running away from Mister, as a young woman leaving for Africa, and as an old woman returning to Celie. She also narrates some of her letters to Celie in voice-over.
The Color Purple (2023)[]
Nettie is played by Halle Bailey and Ciara when she is older in the 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple. Bailey's casting as Nettie was announced in May 2021, along with Fantasia Barrino as Celie and Taraji P. Henson as Shug Avery. Bailey is best known for being part of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, and playing Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Bailey said that she was honored and excited to play Nettie, a character she admired and related to.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Nettie's name means "little net" or "clean" in English.
- Nettie is the only character in the novel who travels outside of America.
- Nettie is one of the few characters in the novel who does not use African-American Vernacular English in her letters, but rather standard English.
- Nettie's quote "Nothing but death can keep me from it." is a reference to Ruth 1:17, a biblical verse about loyalty and love between sisters-in-law.
