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 33
Synopsis of Letter 33
Harpo opens his juke-joint and initially has few customers. When Celie, Albert and Shug visit, Harpo is fascinated by Shug’s confidence and books her to perform the following week.
After leaflet advertising, the joint is packed when Shug makes her first appearance on a Saturday night. Despite Albert’s reluctance to let Celie attend an ‘unsuitable’ venue, Shug ensures Celie comes.
Celie witnesses Shug’s performance with mixed feelings, admiring Shug’s appearance compared to her own, feeling excluded by Shug and Albert’s relationship, then overwhelmed when Shug dedicates ‘Miss Celie’s song’ to her, the one that Celie helped to compose while she was combing Shug’s hair.
Commentary on Letter 33
This episode marks an important stage in the developing relationship between Shug and Celie. By addressing her love song to ‘Miss’ Celie, Shug demonstrates respect as well as affection, symbolising the bond that is beginning to unite Shug and Celie.
The Bessie Smith song quoted was released in 1927, fixing the timespan of the novel and reminding readers of its cultural background.
Investigating Letter 33
- Add to your character notes on Celie and Shug.
- How does their relationship develop in this section of the novel?
- Why does Albert not want Celie to visit the juke-joint?
- What does this tell you about him?
- Add your comments to your character notes on Albert.
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