If they did, he say, I wouldn’t give ‘em to you. You two of a kind, he say. A man try to be nice to you, you fly in his face.
I curse you, I say. What that mean? He say.
I say, until you do right by me, I say, everything you even dream about will fail. I give it to him straight, just like it come to me. And it
seem to come to me from the trees Whoever heard of such a thing, say Mr.___. I probably didn’t
whup your ass enough. Every lick you hit me you will suffer twice, I say. Then I say, you
better stop talking becausea all I’m telling you ain’t comeing just from me. Look like when I open my mouth the air rush in and shape words.
Shit, he say. I should have lock you up. Just let you out to work. The jail you plan for me is the one in which you will rot, I say.”
Walker 1982 : 213 The character who leads Celie to act become independent, self
confidence, economically and socially empowered woman is Shug Avery.
4.3.2 Shug Avery
Shug Avery is well-known Bessie Smith Jazz singer. The first impression of Shug is negative. Cellie immediately sees something more in
Shug. Though Shug has sexy style, sharp tounge and many experiences in makin her jaded
“ I don’t want none of your damn food.”
Walker 1982 : 53
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Shug is actually warm and compassionate at heart. When Shug falls sick, Cellie not only appreciates, but also cares and gives her attention.
“Shug Avery sit up in bed a little today. I wash and comb out her hair. She got the nottiest, shortest, kinkiest hair I ever saw, and I loves every
strand of it.” Walker 1998 : 55
Shug Avery is the key influencing most in the transformation of Celie’s character. She is hero in the story and best friend of Celie. Celie can
show her anger to Mr.____, her husband in front of the others when they get dinner because she knows that Albert hides Netti’s letter. Conciously, Celie
feels that Shug is the one who makes her stronger and gets a braveness to
fight. “I’m pore, I’m black, I may ugly and can’t cook, a voice say to everything listening. But I’m here.” Walker 1982 : 214 This statement
seems that Celie feels so comfort by staying behind Shug. Shug teaches Celie how to be her own person and step upon her feet.
She teaches Celine how to speak for herself and to defend herself against Mr. __. Shug is the one who helps Celie escape by taking her on her tour
where Celie learns how to expertly sew pants, finally Celie creates a successful business by making pants. She can be regarded as an
independence woman who is inspired by Shug. Celie’s leaving her husband is the major of her transformation,
getting a braveness to leave him.
“as soon as dinner over, Shug push back her chair and light a cigarrete. Now is come the time to tell yall, she say.
Tell us what? Harpo ast.
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Us leaving. She say. Yeah? Say Harpo, looking around for the coffee, and then looking
over at Grady. Us leaving, Shug say again. Mr.___ look struck, like he always look
when Shug say going anywhere. He reach down and rub his stomach, look off side her head like nothing been said.
Grady say, such good peoples, that’s the truth. The salt of the earth. But__time to move on.
Squeak not saying nothing either, I’m waiting for the feathers to fly. Celie is coming with us, say Shug.
Mr.___’s head swivel back straight. Say what? He ast. Celie is coming to Memphis with me. Over my dead body, Mr.___ say.
You satisfied that what you want, Shug say, cool as clabber. Mr.____ start up from his seat, look at Shug, plop back down again. He look over at me.
I thought you was finally happy, he say. What wrong now? You a lowdown dog is what’s wrong, I say. It’s time to leave you and enter into
the creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need. Say what? He ast. Shock. All round the table folks mouths be dropping
open.” Walker 1982 : 206-207
Celie starts fighting Mr. ___, by saying such kind of words above. She has changed, her loneliness, alienation, silence, marginality, and lack
of confidence have disappeared by Shug’s helping.
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Arriving in Memphis, Shug does many things for Celie which makes Celie becomes economically and socially empowered woman. It is the time
Celie starts growing to be a powerful individu.
“ besides, she say. You not my maid. I didn’t bring you to Memphis to be
that. I brought you here to love you and help you get on you feet.” Walker
1982 : 218 seeing this quotation, Shug Avery helps Celie to be independent.
“dear Nettie, I’m so happy, I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time. And
you alive and be home soon. With our children.” Walker 1982 : 222
Here Celie feels that Shug avery is the one who loves her, besides Nettie. She never feels so special like this feeling. Moreover when Celie gets a
song dedicated for her by Shug Avery in Harpo’s cafe.
“my head droop so it near bout in my glass. Then I hear my name.
Shug saying Celie. Miss Celie. And I look up where she at. She say my name again. She say this song I’m bout to sing is call Miss
Celie’s song. Cause she scretched it out of my head when I was sick. First she hum it a little, like she do at home. Then she sing to the words.
It all about some no count man doing her wrong, again. But I don’t listen to that part. I look at her and I hum along a little with the tune.
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First time somebody made something and name it after me.“ Walker
1982 : 77
In Memphis, Shug teaches Celie to do business, to make her powerful, Shug is also the one who develop her ability to appreciate herself.
“ I sit in the dining room making pants after pants. I got pants now in
every color and size under the sun.” Walker 1982 : 218
“ one day when Shug home, I say, you know, I love doing this, but I got
to git out and make a living pretty soon. Look like this just holding me back. She laugh. Let’s us put a few advertisements in the paper, she say.
And let’s us raise your prices a hefty notch. And let’s us just go ahead
and give you this dining room for your factory and git you some more woman in here to cut and sew, while you sit back and design. You making
your living, Celie, she say. Girl you on your way.” Walker 1982 : 220 – 221
4.3.3 Nettie
