In light of Celie’s stubbornness, Mr. _______’s son Harpo asks his father about how to treat women. Celie soon realises that Harpo is in love, though the two have never spoken to each other and only ever saw each other in church. Meanwhile, Shug Avery is coming to perform at the Lucky Star jukejoint and both Celie and Mr. ________ are awaiting this.

Mr. _______ leaves and does not return for several days. When he does he seems depressed and downcast. By the time he comes to work in the fields the next morning, he is too lovesick even to say a word. While Celie wishes to ask questions Mr. _______ stares forlornly on the porch. He continues in this vein for many days, and forces Harpo and Celie to toil on the cotton fields.

Harpo is told that he is not good enough for his girlfriend, Sofia Butler because of the scandal surrounding his mother’s death. Harpo begins to have nightmares and Celie recalls the graphic way in which his mother died. Celie comforts Harpo over his grief but reveals that she feels no emotion for him, it is more like patting "another piece of wood." Harpo hopes that he will be taken more seriously as suitor once Sofia gives birth to his baby. Sofia visits Mr. _______ and Harpo and her audacity stun both.

Harpo marries Sofia and Harpo fixes up a little house for his wife and new family. Both are industrious, and although Mr. _______ believes that Sofia is ruling over him, Harpo is happy with the chores he chooses to do. The happiness does not last however, and Harpo becomes more and more conscious of Sofia’s physical and emotional strength. In the heat of the moment Celie tells him to "beat her" but the next time she sees him he is bruised and upset. Celie returns to their house in letter twenty only to find Harpo and Sofia fighting viciously, Sofia never ceasing to have the upper hand.