The Color Purple is a story of sisterhood, adversity, resilience, and triumph. These are the qualities I see in so many women, which is why it's the second movie I'm covering for Women's History Month. Alice Walker's novel, which has landed on several banned book lists since its 1982 release, was first adapted into a feature film in 1985. The Broadway adaptation opened in 2005, and 18 years later, it premiered as a movie musical starring American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, and Colman Domingo–with a brief cameo from Whoopi Goldberg, who played Celie in the 1985 film.
The 2023 musical adaptation brought to the surface some old critiques Steve Spielberg's adaptation had received. People like Spike Lee claimed the story negatively depicted black men, while many black women argued that the film deeply resonated with their pain and trauma. Oprah Winfrey, who starred as Sofia in the original film and produced the 2023 musical film, defended Walker's story, saying, "This movie is not trying to represent the history of Black people in this country any more than 'The Godfather' was trying to represent the history of Italian Americans. In this case, it's one woman's story."
Sisterhood
There is a strong theme of sisterhood throughout The Color Purple, which begins with Celie and her sister Nettie but continues with some of the other relationships between women. Even though Nettie is younger than Celie, she is the one Celie leans on. The Color Purple is a story about abuse and violence, but Nettie is Celie's safe haven amidst her dire circumstances. They have a very wholesome relationship, showcased through scenes of them sitting in a tree singing the film's opening number, "Huckleberry Pie," and running through the trees and onto the beach during "Keep It Movin."
“Don’t let him walk all over you. You keep your head held high just like mamma taught us,” -Nettie, The Color Purple.
The most powerful part of their relationship is how, even when they were separated for years, they always had faith they would see each other again. Faith is a major theme in The Color Purple, and while Celie struggles to find faith that things will ever get better, she always keeps her sister in her heart. Nettie continued to write Celie letters for years even when she never heard back–we learn Mister was hiding Nettie's letters from Celie. Nettie never stopped writing because she had faith that one day she'd hear back from her sister, and when Celie finally does find the letters, she responds to her sister, bringing them close together once again. The most beautiful moment comes at the end when Nettie and Celie reunite after 30 years, and Nettie brings Celie's children with her, whom Celie hadn't seen since their birth when her father took them away from her.
Sofia & Celie
While Celie and Nettie are apart, Celie finds another sisterly bond with Harpo's wife, Sofia. Like Nettie, Celie seems to look up to Sofia and lean on her for strength and optimism in the midst of the hardships of her life. But Sofia is unlike any woman Celie has ever known. Celie has only ever witnessed abuse toward women, so when Sofia enters her world as an opinionated, self-assured woman who only tolerates respect from her husband, she's pretty mesmerized. This is why it's heartbreaking and confusing when Celie encourages Harpo to beat Sofia, though I understand it was coming from a place of envy and not understanding what it's like to receive love and respect from a man.
Sofia only proves to Celie why she admired her so much to begin with. She stands her ground and performs the number "Hell No!" as she leaves Harpo, singing to Celie about why his behavior is unacceptable and why she will not stick around and tolerate it. However, as Celie learns from the women around her, she grows more resilient, and when Sofia gets arrested, it's Celie who has to be strong for Sofia. Sofia even thanks her later on in the film for always visiting her in jail and showing up for her during such a difficult time. However, while Nettie and Sofia both offered solace, it was also Shug Avery who had the biggest impact on who Celie became.
Shug Avery
The vivacious Blues singer is introduced through the extravagant musical number "Shug Avery," letting audiences know someone very important is arriving in town, and she's about to shake up the whole story. Mister–also referred to as Albert–wouldn't dare raise a hand to Shug the way he abuses Celie. He respects her. He kisses the ground she walks on. He dotes upon her and craves her attention in return. Celie is intrigued as she's never seen Mister behave this way before. Through Shug, Celie learns what it's like for a woman to have power over a man instead of the other way around, as she's experienced her whole life.
When Shug takes Celie to a glamorous movie theater to see a black and white film, Celie and Shug perform the song "What About Love?" which takes us into Celie's imagination, revealing she actually has feelings for Shug. Though, the film, like the 1985 adaptation, doesn't go much further into their relationship. Instead, we see how being around Shug changes who Celie is. She's tired of being abused and pushed around. She's tired of living in the shadows, just trying to please Mister so he'll treat her better. In one scene, she spits in Mister's father's water before giving it to him and watching him drink the whole thing. She then goes inside and laughs. We see that Celie is fed up with allowing everyone to get away with treating her so terribly. Her new behavior is thanks to the women she met who empowered her to stand up for herself.
Faith & Forgiveness
One of the first songs performed in the film is "Mysterious Ways," where Reverand Samuel Avery, Shug's father, sings with an ensemble about how god works in mysterious ways. This is reaffirmed throughout the story through various characters, but Celie still doubts it. She doesn't understand why god would put her through so much abuse in her life or how it could possibly benefit her. However, the other characters around her continue to encourage her to have faith. In one scene, Celie walks with Shug through the grass as Shug explains the power of god to her. Shug herself has a complicated relationship with religion. She has a strained relationship with her reverend father because he didn't approve of her becoming a Blues singer. Still, she doesn't allow her father's disapproval to turn her against her faith.
“Everything done to me, already done to you”-Celie to Mister, The Color Purple.
Celie questions why god would allow so many horrible things to happen to her, but Shug reassures her that it wasn't god who abused her. It was the cruel men in her life who did that. Celie is still doubtful, but this scene does seem to have an impact on her. After all, in the end, everything turned around for her, meaning she must have had faith that things would eventually get better. When Celie's father dies, she learns he wasn't actually her biological father and that her real father loved her very much. She then inherits her step father's store and home after learning her real father was the rightful owner. This isn't long after she gets the strength to escape Mister, which she is only able to do because she has faith in herself.
The theme of forgiveness is very present at the end of The Color Purple, as it is in many films. It is one of the most controversial and debated topics, and rightfully so. T.D. Jakes once said, "Forgiveness does not exonerate the perpetrator. Forgiveness liberates the victim." Still, it is one of the most difficult things for human beings to do. Many still feel people who do atrocious things in the world do not deserve forgiveness. I, for one, don't fully understand how Celie was able to invite Mister to her Easter dinner at the end of the film. After everything he did to her, I thought she'd be better off never seeing him again and never putting herself in danger by being in his presence again. However, Celie sees the world differently.
Before leaving, Celie tells Mister, "Until you do right by me, everything you think about gon' crumble." This is exactly how his life plays out. Mister's life falls apart toward the end of the film, and it seems like his fate is to die alone until he receives a letter from Nettie asking for Celie's help. The scene is so powerful because as Mister lays in the mud after burning down his farm due to a beetle infestation, he takes Nettie's letter and realizes his only hope for redemption is to do as Celie said. He sells his land to pay for Nettie to reenter the United States and then visits Celie's store to give her a box full of her things, including Nettie's old hat.
I wrote about righting wrongs in my Pride & Prejudice newsletter, but The Color Purple's story is a lot more complex than that of a man who was rude to a woman he actually had feelings for. Mister put Celie through years of abuse and torture. I don't know if he could ever truly right his wrongs, but Celie still finds it in her heart to forgive him. This is because she has finally found her power. She has a relationship with her sister again, even if only through written letters. She has learned her biological parents always loved her, and she has a store and home to herself. Most of all, she has faith and confidence in herself that she never had earlier in her life. It is Mister who now has nothing.
Before The Color Purple ends, we see Shug reconcile with her father, and when Mister arrives at Easter, he brings Nettie and Celie's children with him as his final attempt to make it up to Celie. Mister can never take back what he did, and Celie can never undo her traumatic past, but they were both able to move forward regardless.
How Music Enhances The Color Purple
The upbeat music throughout The Color Purple contradicts the heavy and dark story being told, though this feels intentional. My initial thought is that the music makes the story a lot more fun. However, the word fun does not feel like an appropriate adjective to describe The Color Purple. I do believe the music is meant to give the characters light-hearted and fun moments in their otherwise brutal lives. These characters deserve to enjoy themselves, no matter how short these moments of enjoyment are compared to the many moments of torture.
"Huckleberry Pie" bonds Celie and Nettie and allows them to enjoy each other's presence while they're abusive father is not around. "Mysterious Ways" inspires the characters to look for the ways in which their circumstances may be blessings in disguise. Celie went through horrible abuse that no one should ever have to endure, but just look at who she becomes in the end. I believe that's what the song conveys.
“I may be black. I may be poor. I may even be ugly, but I’m here”-Celie, The Color Purple.
"She Be Mine" allows Celie to express herself as her child is taken away from her. "Keep It Movin'" demonstrates the faith Nettie has and how she encourages her sister to keep her head held high. "Workin" lets the audience into Harpo's world for a moment, and then "Hell No" showcases just how serious Sofia is about not taking disrespect from anyone. It also taught Celie a lesson, giving her a powerful role model for the first time in her life. “Shug Avery" and Dear God–Shug" demonstrate how influential and powerful Shug is to everyone she meets. We truly got a feel for how she was about to shake up these characters' world simply by coming to town. "Push Da Button" further expresses the appeal of Shug and how extravagant she is. In a way, Celie doesn't understand; Shug takes up space and allows herself to be seen and heard. As a result, the world pays attention.
"What About Love" expresses Celie and Shug's feelings for each other, and "Agoo" brings Celie into the world in which Nettie is living in Africa. It seemed larger than life and far more eventful than anything Celie had experienced at home in Georgia. The "Hell No (Reprise) finally gives Celie a voice, while "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)" completely changes the tone of the film because Celie is now safe and surrounded by people who love and care about her. "Miss Celie's Pants" celebrates Celie's newfound freedom and power now that she owns her own store and can make her own rules instead of living under someone else's control.
Then, "I'm Here" not only showcases Fantasia's powerhouse vocals but lets us know Celie is done playing small. She's proudly announcing that she is here and she is going to take up space and be known. "Maybe God Is Tryin' To Tell You Somethin'" makes the reconciliation between Shug and her father that much more emotional, and the film's closing number, "The Color Purple," is a beautiful conclusion. Celie has forgiven, she has moved on, and she has reunited with her sister. The cast performs the song at sunset as if the sun is literally setting on the story, which has been an emotional journey from start to finish.
“I think it pisses God off if you walk past the color purple and not notice it.”-Shug, The Color Purple.
People write and produce music because it helps them express themselves. The best songwriters are the ones who can use lyrics and music to tell a story. That's what the music in The Color Purple does. It helps us better understand the characters, and it invites us inside their minds for at least a few minutes. I also felt the music helped me through some of the darker moments of the film and was able to give me faith that everything would be okay in the end, the same way Celie had to learn this very crucial lesson.
Wow great article never saw the movie 🍿 but I’m definitely going to watch it now.Gina thumbs up for this article. Thanks great job.