But I dont know how to fight. All I know how to do is stay alive.

(17)

Celie is the speaker in this quote. Shes in Mr._______s house with her sister Nettie. This quote is significant because it shows how Celie views herself as an insignificant person and she doesnt believe in violence. Nettie is advising Celie to take matters into her own hands and fight back her abuse with Mr.______ and his children. Celie doesnt have enough self esteem to believe she can defend herself. Her fathers abuse of her both physically and sexually and his threats has made Celie afraid of men in general and she cant break free of that hold on her psyche on her own. This quote is also significant because it shows that Celie is a pacifist and that she is also scared of retaliation from Mr.______ should she decide to fight back. Shes still like the fourteen year old girl that was raped and she couldnt fight back then and she cant fight back now. No matter how much Celie wants to be free, as long as shes being beating and there is no one to help her, shell just take the abuse and leave the rest to God. This quote is related to the theme sisterhood; Nettie and Celie are bonding over Celies hard life. Nettie is the practical sister and she wants Celie to be strong. The two sisters mean everything to each other; they are the armors of each other. As long as they both are together and believe in each other, they can get through anything. Their love for each other is what will help each one survive wherever life will take them.

Beat her I say. (36)

Celie is the speaker in this quote. Shes talking to Harpo. This quote is significant because we see Celie advising Harpo to physically abuse his wife Sofia as Mr.______ does to her. Shes jealous that Sofia can defend herself and she cant. This also shows that Celie only knows beating as a way to make someone listen or mind. Despite her experiences Celie hasnt learned that beating is not the only way to make someone do what you want. This quote is also significant because we see the cycle of abuse continuing from father to son and Celies advice to Harpo makes it possible for that cycle to continue. Celies ill advice to Harpo made her feel guilty and unworthy of Sofias friendship. This quote is also significant because its the start of a sisterhood bond between Celie and Sofia. The theme in this quote is jealousy. Jealousy made Celie become this uncaring and selfish person. Even though her conscience later made her apologize to Sofia, she was jealous for the most selfish reasons. In this quote we learn that Celie actually would love to learn how to fight the circumstances shes in and the only thing lacking in her is courage. Celies advice comes from all the experiences she has had since she was living with Pa. I believe if shes surrounded by strong people like her sister Nettie and Sofia, someday shell break out free and start defending herself.

She Stand up. My name is Mary Agnes She say. (97)

Squeak is the speaker in this quote. Shes at Mr.________s house after her attempt to convince her uncle to let Sofia stay in jail rather than go becoming a maid for the mayors wife. This quote is significant because we see Squeaks awakening. She only has the courage to do so after being raped by her uncle. Squeaks awakening makes Harpo sees her worth. Harpo finally tells Squeak that he loves her and that enrages her because he says I love you Squeak and her traumatized state gives her strength to stand up to Harpo and let him know that shes not weak and that shed rather be called by her giving name. This quote is also significant because it shows that a horrible experience gave courage to Squeak. By letting people know her real name, that makes her more like an individual than someone who has a nickname based on her voice; it gives her an identity; and that self discovered puissance makes Squeak seen in a whole new light in front of everyone. The theme in this quote is self discovery, Squeak discovers that by being called Squeak her identity is being diminished and her given name gives her power and strength. I think that by letting everyone know her real name, she has earned their respect and in return has increased her self esteem.

Good God, Celie, she say, What happen to the man I love? (121)
Shug Avery is the speaker in this quote. Shes talking to Celie about how Mr.______ used to be when they were together. This quote is significant because we learn that Mr.______ wasnt always cold, miserable, and mean the way he is now. Shug is surprised that the fun loving Mr.______ she fell in love with is no more and that worries her. We learn that Shug still loves Mr._______ and she probably always will. This quote is also significant because Celie actually empathizes with Mr.______. Celie feels sorry that Mr.______s current behavior is the result of not being with Shug. This quote is also significant because its related to the theme sister hood. Shug and Celie are bonding over Mr_____s past and the circumstances that made him the man he is today. Shug is sad that the Mr.______ she knew has changed dramatically and she cant accept that he may not be the same man again. I believe that Shug is in denial when it comes to Mr._______s attitude and behavior changes. She still wants to believe that theres goodness left deep down in him and she wants Mr.______ to be who he was in the past.

A needle and not a razor in my hand, I think. (147)

Celie is the speaker in this quote. Shes talking to Shug about sewing pants for themselves. This quote is significant because it shows Celie and Shug bonding and she has to fight off the urge to kill Mr._________ for keeping Netties letters from her. Celie thinks about a needle in her hand rather than a razor to avoid murderous thoughts towards Mr._______. This quote is also significant because it deals with how much restraint Celie has to put on her anger towards Mr.______ for fear she will kill him. This is the first time she has shown her anger, despite all the abuses she went through in her life; this is the one form she couldnt take. This involved her sister; the one person in the whole world who understood her and who she understood and who understood her. The theme in this quote is sisterhood. Celie and Shug are bonding by making plans to sew pants which will help assert their freedom and independence. The pants symbolizes her fear of men and how by making pants and wearing them shes empowering herself and asserting her awakening. As long as Celie has a way to express herself, shell refrain from thinking about killing Mr.______. Does thinking about a needle reduce the anger Celie feels toward Mr._____? Well, I think the only way shell be able to get past her anger is if Mr._____ apologizes to her and give her all of Netties future letters.

I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and dont notice it. (196)
The speaker in this quote is Shug Avery. This quote is significant because we gain an insight on how Shug view God. She believes God is in nature, trees and everything therefore by not admiring a field of flower you are not admiring what or who God is. She also believes that God wants to be loved as much as people and the flowers are aw ay for God to gain love from people. This quote is also significant because despite Shugs lifestyle, she still believes in the idea of God and shes trying to make Celie see the beauty in the world even though Celies losing her faith in God. Celie is discovering something she had already seen, in the solidarity between Squeak and Sofia, between herself and Shug. She is discovering the interdependence of the world around her belongs. This quote is related to the theme faith and how even though they cant see God, they believe in the idea of him. I believe that Shugs reference to a purple field of flowers is important because it connects with how much Celies life has been changed since Shug. I believe the quote refers to the changing of everything and everyone in the world.

Im pore, Im black, I may be ugly and cant cook, a voice say to everything listening. But Im here". (207)

Celie is the speaker in this quote. This quote is significant because we see Celie finally accept who she is. She gets angry at Mr._________ but she accept the facts that she is all these labels and she realizes that it doesnt matter that she has all those labels as long as shes alive she can change them. Mr.________ calls her pore, black and ugly and that doesnt even bother her anymore like it used to. This quote is also significant because Celie finally assert her self individualism and be happy that shes alive. The theme in this quote is self acceptance; Celie is finally able to break free of her fathers and Mr._________s dominant natures. Her self esteem which was shot down ever since she was a teenager has reemerged slowly until now she is able to standup and be proud to be all of these. I believe that Shugs presence has made Celie rediscover her innocence she lost so early in life and no man now can make her feel less worthy than she thinks she is. By standing up for herself she has taken away Mr._______s power over her.

You know meanness kill. (225)

Sofia is the speaker in this quote. Shes talking to the new and improved Celie. This quote is significant because we learn that Celies move to Memphis almost killed Mr.______. His Guilt over mistreating Celie and keeping Netties letters made him incapacitated to do anything. Sofia wanted Celie to know that her suffering under Mr.______ went back to him in different ways. This quote is also significant because we see a prayer of Celies being answered by God, she told Mr.______ before she left that whatever he did to her will come back to him and he did suffer. This is related to theme sisterhood, even though Celie now lives miles away from Sofia, they still understand each other and still are friends and. I believe that God finally answered Celies prayers, maybe not the way she wanted but in some way. Mr.______ finally faced the consequences of his actions. I believe Celies move did more good for Mr.______ than anything else in his whole life.

If you know your heart sorry, I say, that mean it not as spoilt as you think. (282)

Celie is the speaker in this quote. This quote is significant because we see Celie and Mr._____ connecting on an emotional level. Celie is making Mr.______ feel better about how he thinks he should have raised his kids better and that guilt is making him think that he has an evil heart. This quote is also significant because we see a shift between oppressor and oppressed. Celie has always been afraid of Mr._______ and in this quote we see Celie comforting Mr._______, the man who made her life a living hell. Mr._____s realization of his mistakes makes Celie more sympathetic than she would have been. The theme related to this quote is awakening; Mr.______s awakening into a more simple nice and humble man. I believe that as long as Celie is around Mr.________, shell make him become a more honest and lovable man.

If she come, I be happy. If she dont, I be content. And then I figure this the lesson I was suppose to learn. (283)

The speaker of this quote is Celie. This quote is significant because Celie finally realizes that she doesnt need anyone to be happy. Celie realizes that she doesnt need Shug to make her feel better for herself. This quote is also significant because Celie found her freedom to be something she has earned for herself and she doesnt need anyone to remind her of that. Celie discovers she doesnt need Shug Avery or anyone else to make her happy. As long as she has her freedom she can do anything she wants. By being herself and believing in herself, she can be as happy as she allows. For the first time in her life shes in control, something she hasnt been able to do for a very long time. By detaching her ability to be happy to Shug, she has become freed like The Color Purple in a field.