- Celie: In The Color Purple, Celie acts not only as the protagonist but also as the narrator and heroine of the novel. In the beginning, Celie is abused and raped by her Pa. Throughout her life, Celie lives in an abusive home and is constantly told she is ugly and good for nothing. Without any regard to her feelings, her Pa gives her to Mr. _ because he needs someone to work around his house and keep his children. Both of the men in her life, Pa and her husband, Albert, treat Celie cruelly and without any regard to her feelings. Celie, being a passive woman, allows them both to walk all over her. She writes to God and her sister as a means of survival. She finds these letters the only way to express herself because for a long time she does not have anyone to talk to about how she feels. Eventually, Celie develops a womanly relationship with Shug Avery; Celie looks up to Shug because Shug accepts Celie for several reasons. Shug is the only person Celie can talk to, in person and without writing, about her feelings. She also looks up to Shug because she knows Shug will help her fight back, so Albert will not try and continue to treat Celie poorly. Shug also helps Celie dig up the letters Albert had kept hidden. These letters were from Celie's sister and best friend, Nettie. Nettie has written Celie several letters about her life and the things she is doing. The reader finds that Celie's two children, by her Pa, are safe and with Nettie. Soon, the letters to God and Nettie are not only her means of survival, but another means of survival comes from knowing her kids are safe and she may one day meet them when she sees Nettie again. Shug finally helps Celie to leave Albert's house so she can start her own life. Celie begins to make something of herself by making pants and sending a pair to each of her friends. By the end of the novel, the readers sees that Celie has transformed from a repressed individual to an independent woman.
- Nettie: Nettie is Celie's younger sister. Before separated by Mr. _ , Nettie and Celie were very close to one another and very good friends. Although they were very close, they were very different in many ways. Unlike Celie, Nettie stands up for herself. Before separation, Nettie went to visit her sister, Celie, and Mr. _ . During Nettie's stay, Mr. _ tried to abuse her. Unlike other women, Nettie refused to allow him to abuse her. He became frustrated with Nettie and tells Celie that Nettie has to leave immediately. Since Celie was afraid to stand up for herself, Nettie often played the role of protector for her older sister. Nettie is also educated. The reader sees how important education is to Nettie when she tells of her travels to Africa. Through her letters, we see how important it is to Nettie that she knows history and sees how different life is in other places. The letters also tell of the missionaries Nettie is staying with and that they have two children. After a while, the reader finds that Nettie has been taken to Africa to do mission work with the people she is living with. In Africa, the mother of the two children falls very ill and is near death; this is when Nettie admits to the missionaries that the two children are her sister, Celie's kids. Not very long after the woman's death, Nettie marries the father missionary. Although it is a long time before Celie finds Nettie's letters, the letters help her get along everyday knowing that her sister and children are still alive and that her children are in good hands.
- Mr._: Initially, Mr. _ presents himself as an unfeeling person. Even though Celie does much of the work around Mr. 's home and keeps his children, he treats her as if she is an animal, showing her no respect. Once Mr. _ finds out that Shug Avery has fallen ill, he cannot help but find her and bring her to his house to try and get her well. Shug Avery is the only woman Mr. _ has ever been in love with, but the reader sees that Shug Avery does not have the same feelings for Mr. as he has for her. He is very deceitful because he hides the letters that Nettie writes to Celie. By the end of the book, the reader sees a great transformation in Mr. _. When Celie leaves Mr. to go live with Shug Avery, the reader does not hear about him. One day, Celie visits with Mr. and Mr. _ seems to be a completely different person. He sits and actually has a conversation with Celie. He does not talk to her as if she deserves no respect. Surprisingly, Mr. even asks for Celie's hand in marriage, hoping that he will be able to treat her more respectfully this time, but Celie rejects his offer.
- Shug: Shug plays an important role in both Mr. _'s life, as well as Celie's. Shug is short for sugar because she is so sweet. Soon after Celie goes to live with Mr. _, the reader realizes that Mr. _ has been with several women in his life, but he has only loved one woman, Shug. Like, Mr. , Shug has been with many men in her life. Shug comes to town and Mr. _ goes to pick her up to take care of her because he has heard that she had become very ill. Celie had seen pictures of Shug in Mr. 's home and she loved the way Shug looked. One reason she loved Shug's looks is because she reminded her of here mama. Upon her arrival, she also treats Celie as an animal. One of the first things Shug says to Celie is, "you sure is ugly." After a while, she develops a close friendship with Celie. Their relationship develops because Celie takes such good care of Shug. While Shug is still ill, Celie bathes her and cooks for her and caters to her every need. Once Celie has nursed Shug back to health, Shug is able to get back out and start her singing back up. Shug and Celie spend a lot of time together and Shug tells Celie of her past relations with Mr. _. After digging up the letters from Nettie that Mr. _ had hidden, Shug helps Celie to gain the strength to leave Mr. _'s home, so she can start a life of her own.