Click on the links below to read information on the key quotations for . . .
Below are the ten most important quotations from letters thirty-one to
forty-five in the novel. Learning, knowing and having the ability to
recall important quotations in an AS Level examination puts you in an
advantageous position, as it saves you the time of having to search
through the book in attempt to find a relevant reference.
"What he beat you for? She ast.
For being me and not you"
Letter 34, Celie begs Shug to stay after revealing her domestic
torture.
"Do his business. Why, Miss Celie. You make it sound as if he
going to the toilet on you."
Letter 35, Celie and Shug compare each other’s sexual experiences
with Albert.
"Why Miss Celie, she say, you still a virgin."
Letter 35, Shug informs Celie that to have sex is to enjoy it.
There is no other way.
"All your children so clean, she say, would you like to work for
me, be my maid?"
Letter 37, Miss Millie presumes the ‘black mammy’ stereotype to
be true.
"Every time they ast me to do something, Miss Celie, I act like I’m
you."
Letter 38, ‘Women’s work’ at the laundry forces Sofia in
slave-like submission.
"Good behaviour ain’t good enough for them, say Sofia. Nothing
less than sliding on your belly with your tongue on they boots can even
git they attention."
Letter 38, profound comments from the browbeaten Sofia, comments
that interestingly coincide with Letter 87’s reference to black people
being the "serpent."
"God all white too, looking like some stout white man work at the
bank."
Letter 39, Celie’s believes like Miss Millie, that only white
people can ‘save colored.’
"Harpo say, I love you, Squeak. He kneel down and try to put his
arms round her waist.
She stand up. My name Mary Agnes, she say."
Letter 41, After her rape Mary Agnes knows that men should see
women for who they are not what they look like. Calling one by their real
name emphasises this.
"They calls me yellow
like yellow be my name"
Letter 42, Mary Agnes’ song reflects the labelling that people
use to ‘box’ people.
"They have the nerve to try to make us think slavery fell through
because of us."
Letter 44, Sofia compares her time with Miss Millie with those of
her ancestors.
"Have you ever seen a white person and a colored sitting side by
side in a car?"
Letter 44, Miss Millie, unable to refer to Sofia as a ‘person,’
exemplifies racism.
Written by Matthew Kane [2001]
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