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Letter 44
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Color Purple, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
God and Spirituality
Race and Racism
Men, Women, and Gender Roles
Violence and Suffering
Self-Discovery
Summary
Analysis
One day Shug sends a letter to Mr. ____, saying she is returning to his home, and that she is bringing a present for Celie and Mr. ____. Shug had left at some point after Sofia was released into the mayor's family's custody, and now she wishes to come back to visit Celie and Mr. ____. Mr. ____ thinks Shug's present is going to be a car for him.
Shug has gone off, in the interim, to continue her singing career. It is not clear how much time has elapsed over the past ten or so letters, but it appears that it might be as much as a few years, since Shug left Mr. ____'s house.
Themes
Shug arrives at Mr. ____'s house with a man named Grady, whom she announces as her husband to Celie and Mr. ____. Celie feels at once that she does not like Grady, and Mr. ____ is disappointed that Shug has not brought a car for him, and that she has found a new lover.
Mr. ____, somewhat like a child, expects that Shug will return to him, and that all will be the same. Furthermore, he expects that Shug will have something to give him—as though Mr. ____ had done anything to deserve such a gift.
Themes
Shug shows Mr. ____ a car that she has purchased, which is hers and Grady's. Although Shug has not brought a car for Mr. ____, she does offer to show Mr. ____ how to drive her and Grady's car. Both Celie and Mr. ____, though they are outwardly polite to Shug and Grady, are frustrated that Shug has brought along a new love interest.
Grady is more or less "along for the ride." Note again how their mutual love of Shug brings Celie and Mr. _____ together, as they both have the same feelings of resentment toward Shug's new lover.
Themes
