The Color Purple Contents
- The Color Purple: Social and political context
- The Color Purple: Religious and philosophical context
- The Color Purple: Literary context
- Textual help
- Letter 1
- Letter 2
- Letter 3
- Letter 4
- Letter 5
- Letter 6
- Letter 7
- Letter 8
- Letter 9
- Letter 10
- Letter 11
- Letter 12
- Letter 13
- Letter 14
- Letter 15
- Letter 16
- Letter 17
- Letter 18
- Letter 19
- Letter 20
- Letter 21
- Letter 22
- Letter 23
- Letter 24
- Letter 25
- Letter 26
- Letter 27
- Letter 28
- Letter 29
- Letter 30
- Letter 31
- Letter 32
- Letter 33
- Letter 34
- Letter 35
- Letter 36
- Letter 37
- Letter 38
- Letter 39
- Letter 40
- Letter 41
- Letter 42
- Letter 43
- Letter 44
- Letter 45
- Letter 46
- Letter 47
- Letter 48
- Letter 49
- Letter 50
- Letter 51
- Letter 52
- Letter 53
- Letter 54
- Letter 55
- Letter 56
- Letter 57
- Letter 58
- Letter 59
- Letter 60
- Letter 61
- Letter 62
- Letter 63
- Letter 64
- Letter 65
- Letter 66
- Letter 67
- Letter 68
- Letter 69
- Letter 70
- Letter 71
- Letter 72
- Letter 73
- Letter 74
- Letter 75
- Letter 76
- Letter 77
- Letter 78
- Letter 79
- Letter 80
- Letter 81
- Letter 82
- Letter 83
- Letter 84
- Letter 85
- Letter 86
- Letter 87
- Letter 88
- Letter 89
- Letter 90
Letter 26
Synopsis of Letter 26
As Shug begins to recover, the relationship between the two women becomes more intimate. Celie looks after Shug as if she were her own mother or daughter, helping Shug to feel ‘mothered’ and relaxed. Shug composes a blues tune inspired by Celie combing her hair.
Commentary on Letter 26
The intimacy between the two women begins to have an effect on Celie’s values and her judgement of life. Initially Celie feels she should not listen to Shug’s tune because it is ‘dirty’, but as their relationship progresses it is Shug who teaches her that sexual love is not dirty but something joyful.
Both women are reminded of looking after close family members, like children, mothers and grandmothers, yet ironically neither Celie nor Shug have enjoyed close family relationships in the past.
Investigating Letter 26
- Why do you think Celie feels that Shug's tune is sinful?
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