The Color Purple

THE COLOR PURPLE
ALICE WALKER

PUBLISHED BY POCKET BOOKS NEW YORK
i POCKET BOOKS, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. 1230
Avenue of the Americas, New York, N. Y. 10020
Copyright © 1982 by Alice Walker Cover art courtesy Warner Bros.
Published by arrangement with Harcourt Brace Jbvanovich Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 81-48242
Al rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. fatinformation address Harcourt Brace Jbvanovich Inc.,
1250 Sixth Avenue , San Diego , Cal. 92101
ISBN: 0-671-61702-8
First Pocket Books mass-market printing December, 1985

There's something in all of us that wants a
medal for what we have done. That wants to be appreciated.

I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that, you’ve found it.

Ain’t nothing wrong with Shug Avery. She just sick. Sicker than anybody I ever seen. She sicker than my mama was when she die. But she more evil than my mama and that keep her alive.

Nobody fight for Shug, he say. And a little water come to his eyes.

Nobody fight for Shug, he say. And a little water come to his eyes.

You ought to bash Mr. _____ head open, she say.

Think bout heaven later.

Six boys, six girls. All the girls big and strong like me. Boys big and strong too, but all the girls stick together. Two brothers stick with us too, sometime. Us git in a fight, it’s a sight to see.

She say, All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and my uncles. A girl child ain’t safe in a family of men. But I never thought I’d have to fight in my own house. She let out her breath. I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. But I’ll kill him dead before I let him beat me. Now if you want a dead son-in-law you just keep on advising him like you doing. She put her hand on her hip. I used to hunt game with a bow and arrow, she say.

His eyes be sad and thoughtful. His face begin to look like a woman face.