More characters have now been introduced and explained. Celie's husband, who's last name isn't mentioned, is named Albert. Albert, as described by Celie, isn't a very nice man. He beats her and also doesn't talk to her very often. He also gives up working as well. Albert does not seem to be motivated by much until he hears news of a woman named Shug Avery. Shug Avery is a famous singer that travels around the country performing for people. Once Albert hears news that she's ill he makes it his responsibility to care for her and bring her back to health. At first Shug isn't very nice to Celie. She bosses her around and tells her what to do, but later they form a special bond. When it's time for Avery to leave after she's been nursed back to health, Celie becomes very upset and doesn't want her to go: "Well Miss Celie, I believe it time for me to go. When? I ast. Early next month, she say. June. June a good dime to go off into the world. I don't say nothing. Fell like I felt when Nettie left. She come over and put her and on my shoulder. He beat me when you not here, I say. Who do, she say, Albert? Mr. , I say. … What he beat you for? She ast. For being me and not you… I won't leave, she say, until I know Albert won't even think about beating you" (74-75). It is clear that Celie and Shug have feelings for each other, and when Shug hears that Albert beats his wife because of her, she decides that she's going to put an end to it. This experience allows Celie to learn that it is possible to love someone, even if they're not you're family, and she now knows what it feels like to be in love.
Another character that becomes more enhanced in this section is Harpo, Albert's son. Harpo is married to a woman named Sofia who he loves very much, but Sofia has a mind of her own. He claims that she won't do anything that he asks of her and that she isn't loyal to him like everyone else's wife is to them. Soon Sofia gets into trouble with the mayor and his wife, winding her up in jail. While is wife is in jail, Harpo gets a girlfriend named Mary Agnes, but everyone calls her Squeak because of her high voice. Even though Harpo has someone to be with, he is unhappy, "Harpo mope, Wipe the counter, light a cigarette, look outdoors, walk up and down. Little Squeak run long all up under him trying to git his tension. Baby this, she say, Baby that. Harpo look through her head, blow smoke" (84). Harpo is ignoring his wife and his responsibilities because he misses Sofia even though she wasn't the perfect wife.
This section of the book reminds me of Black Boy in the way that all of the family members aren't getting along with each other. Some family members get along, but collectively as a group they're struggling.
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