Outside Reading Blog Numero Cinque (not trying to be mean or anything, but I'm really glad to be done with this)

In this section of the book, through Nettie's letters to Celie we are focused on the character of Corrine, who is the woman that Nettie serves for in Africa. Corrine seems to be disturbed by Nettie and seems to like her less and less as time goes on. Corrine is still very uptight about Nettie, thinking that she had met her husband Samuel at an earlier time than she had said. Nettie writes, "When did you first meet my husband? she wanted to know. And that was when I knew what she thought. She thinks Adam and Olivia are my children, and that Samuel is their father! Oh, Celie, this thing has been gnawing away at her all these years! I met Samuel the same day I met you, Corrine, I said" (172-173). This conversation that Nettie had with Corrine shows that Corrine does not trust Nettie or her husband for that matter. Nettie continues to write that Corrine made both her and Samuel swear on the bible that they had not met each other before Nettie had met Corrine. Corrine seems to be motivated to continue by her children. She obviously is continuing to be with Nettie for their sakes.
Corrine becomes very ill in this section of the book. She catches African fever and is very weak. At this point she still isn't convinced that Nettie told her the truth about her meeting her husband, but Nettie is still strong in saying that she met Samuel at the same time that she had met Corrine. Later Nettie decides to tell Corrine the truth about why she looks so similar to Corrine's adopted children. She explained how her sister was mistreated as a child and how she was raped and had children, which they had adopted. When she had finished Corrine broke down. Nettie writes, "She began to cry in earnest. Me and Samuel holding her hands. Don't cry. Don't cry, I said. My sister was glad to see Olivia with you. Glad to see her alive. She thought both her children were dead. Poor thing! said Samuel. And we sat there talking a little and holding on to each other until Corrine fell off to sleep. But, Celie, in the middle of the night she woke up, turned to Samuel and said: I believe. And died anyway" (187). It seems as though the thing keeping Corrine alive was not knowing the truth about her children. After she had found the truth her soul was at rest and she passed on.