Click on the links below to read information on . . .
Celie is worried about her children’s incestuous conception. Nettie’s
next letter describes her arrival in Africa. Taken in their boats to the
shore by their guide Joseph the missionaries encounter some profit hungry
boatmen. Once in the village, the Olinka tribes-people are amazed to see
missionaries who are both black and female. While they are there the
Olinka asked the missionaries questions – was Nettie Samuel’s wife and
were the children Olivia and Adam Corrine’s or Nettie’s. Later that
night, the Olinka retell the story of the roofleaf while people feast. At
the end of the letter the missionaries are presented with their roof.
Although willing to educate children and adults, some of the Olinka men have very traditional views about the role of women. They believe that only boys and men should be taught, and Olivia makes the clever distinction that the black people in Africa who do not want females to be educated are like the white people in America who do not want black people to learn. Later on, Corrine, upset by some of the comments made by the tribe, asks Nettie if they can refer to each other as "sister."
As Tashi becomes increasingly pensive her father becomes angry and afraid. They are worried that she will challenge the system. Though Nettie affirms that the world is changing, Tashi’s father has harsh words to say to her. Five years on and there are now some road-builders in the village. Meanwhile, Corrine is acting increasingly suspicious. She has forbidden even Samuel now to come to Nettie’s hut, but though disheartened, she is happy in the company of the children. Unfortunately, Tashi father dies.
Still in Africa, the road-builders welcomed by villagers have now flattened the village, with orders to kill anyone who protested. The whole territory now belongs to a rubber manufacturer in England. Meanwhile Corrine is ill with African fever.
Another year passes and Corrine is still brooding on Nettie’s relationship with Samuel. Nettie soon gathers that Corrine thinks Nettie and Samuel had been having an affair before their move to Africa. Forced to swear on the Bible Nettie is humiliated and embarrassed. In the next epistle Nettie learns from Samuel his version of events concerning the children. That there was once a man, who after fairly stealing trade from other businessmen in the town was killed and mutilated along with his two accomplices. A stranger to the town then seduced the dead man’s wife, who was then expecting her second child. The two children Adam and Olivia were products of other pregnancies. Given this story, Alphonso must be Celie and Nettie’s stepfather.
Realising now that all her assumptions about her family are wrong, Celie and Shug set off to Alphonso’s. As they drive up the road the birds are singing and there is an air of sweetness. Alphonso meanwhile has another, even younger woman, Daisy. Even though she is only fifteen, she seems happy with him. Wishing to know whether her father or mother has a gravestone, Alphonso, who fails remember either the children or Celie, is little help and the two soon leave. Back in Africa, Nettie tries to make Corrine remember her episode with Celie, when the two met in the dry goods store.
Written by Matthew Kane [2001]
Click here to
return 