Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell
the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at
age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her
father and attempting to protect her sister from
the same fate, and continuing over the course of
her marriage to "Mister," a brutal man who
terrorizes her. Celie eventually learns that her
abusive husband has been keeping her sister's
letters from her and the rage she feels,
combined with an example of love and
independence provided by her close friend Shug,
pushes her finally toward an awakening of her
creative and loving self.