Case Study Celie

CELIE
The Color Purple by Alice Walker: A Case

Study
Celie
African-American woman, sexual orientation:
lesbian, Married, Mother
Introduction of Celie:
In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Celie, who is the protagonist of the novel shares
her story through a series of letters that she writes to God then later her younger
sister Nettie towards the end of the book. She is introduced as a fourteen year old
African American girl who is faced with constant abuse and trauma. In response to
the abuse, Celie is obedient and quietly takes what is forced her way. After Celie
meets Shug Avery, who is confident and freely speaks her mind despite her
circumstances, she slowly begins to develop self worth and confidence
Celie's Medical
History Past Medical History
Although the book does not specifically
mention Celie having any medical
complications, being sexually abused at
young age could have caused Celie's
developing body harm, "When that hurt, I cry.
He start to choke me, saying you better shut
up and git used to it" (Walker 1).
Substance/Drug Use
The novel mentions Celie smoking marijuana,
"You smoke it much, Miss Celie? Harpo ast.
Do I look like a fool? I ast. I smoke when I
want to talk to God. I smoke when I want to
make love. Lately I feel like me and God make
love just fine anyhow. Whether I smoke reefer
or not" (Walker 220).
Demographic Data
Because Mr.____ needs a woman to care for his children, he
marries Celie after Pa does not accept is request to marry Nettie. Celie's Psychological
Although Celie is forced to be with Mr.____, she falls for a woman
named Shug Avery, "And I'm confuse. He love looking at Shug. I
love looking at Shug. But Shug don't love looking at but one of us.
History
Him But that the way it spose to be. I know that. But if that so, why
my heart hurt me so? (Walker 73)
Education
When Celie had her first child at the age of fourteen, her "father"
discontinued her education because he decided that she was too
dumb to go to school, "The first time I got big Pa took me out of
school. He never care that I love it... You too dumb to keep going
to school, Pa say. Nettie is the clever one in this bunch" (Walker9).
Family
Celies siblings mentioned in the novel are her younger sister Nettie,
and her little brother Lucious. Celie also has two children, Adam and
Olivia from her step-dad Alphanso. "These our children Olivia and
Adam and this Adam's wife Tashi, she say" (Walker 286). After years
and years of being separated, Nettie, Adam, and Olivia are reunited
with Celie.
Presenting Problem:
Chronic low self-esteem due to childhood trauma
The constant sexual, physical, and verbal abuse Celie faced as a child/young adult followed her
into adulthood and affected the way she viewed herself. According to the National Health
Service, "Low self-esteem often begins in childhood. Our teachers, friends, siblings, parents,
and even the media send us positive and negative messages about ourselves. For some
reason, the message that you are not good enough is the one that stays with you. Stress and
difficult life events, such as serious illness or a bereavement, can have a negative effect on self-
esteem" (NHS). Until Celie's relationship with Shug Avery blossomed, she had very low self-
esteem and did not see herself as a valuable person who deserved to be happy. In order to
survive in her circumstances, she never stood up for herself due to the abuse she faced as a
young person. I believe that the abuse Celie faced led her to believe she was not worthy of
respect. "Children learn their self-worth from the reactions of others, particularly those closest
to them. Abuse and neglect make a child feel worthless and despondent. A child who is abused
will often blame him- or herself. Shame, guilt, low self-esteem, and a poor self-image are
common among children with complex trauma histories" (NCTSN).
Diagnosis:
"Low self-esteem is characterized by a lack of confidence and feeling bad about

oneself. People with low self-esteem often feel unlovable, awkward, or
incompetent" (Firestone). In The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Celie often displays
low self-esteem and as readers, we know this was caused by the abuse she
faced from Alphonso or "Pa". "When that hurt, I cry. He starts to choke me,
saying You better git used to it. But I don't ever git used to it" (Walke 1). " I think
bout how every time I jump When Mr._____ call me, she look surprise. Beat her. I
say" (Walker 36). All Celie has ever known in her life is abuse and when Harpo
asks her for advice on Sofia's behavior, she tells him to beat her.
Work Cited:
Firestone, Lena. “Low Self-Esteem: What Does It Mean to Lack Self-Esteem?” PsychAlive, 22 Dec. 2020,
www.psychalive.org/low-self-esteem/.
“NHS Raising Low Self Esteem.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/raise-low-

self-esteem/#:~:text=Low%20self%2Desteem%20often%20begins,one%20that%20stays%20with%20you.
Peterson, Sarah. “Effects.” The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 11 June 2018, www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-
trauma/trauma-types/complex-
trauma/effects#:~:text=Abuse%20and%20neglect%20make%20a,children%20with%20complex%20trauma%20hist
ories.
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple: a Novel. Penguin Books, 2019.

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CELIE

The Color Purple by Alice Walker: A Case

"Low self-esteem is characterized by a lack of confidence and feeling bad about

“NHS Raising Low Self Esteem.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/raise-low-

Walker, Alice. The Color Purple: a Novel. Penguin Books, 2019.

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