What are the purposes of Nettie’s letters in ‘The Color Purple’?

Nettie begins to write to Celie, from the first letter you can see that she is writing close to Standard American English. Nettie is a key character in ‘The Color Purple’, Walker wants to show the parallels and contrasts between Celie and Nettie- there are remarkable similarities and significant differences.
Celie is the primary Narrator, but Nettie becomes the secondary narrator. Her first letter shows that she is able to voice other characters.
Nettie has been saved by Celie from a young age, and she is aware of this. The two sisters have a strong bond, Nettie has a more developed education than Celie. Nettie acknowledges the sacrifices that Celie has made for her-“I think about the time you laid yourself down for me”.
Alice Walker uses Nettie to explore to some extent the links between African American heritage and their relationship with Africa. Nettie learns that Africans were sold to the West because Africans “loved money more than their own brothers and sisters”.
Nettie is important to the novel, for the news that she gives Celie about Olivia and Adam help to keep the children alive in Celie’s heart. She explains that after leaving Celie she went to the Reverend’s place and discovered a girl who had the same facial features as Celie- “she had your eyes set in your face”.
Nettie’s letters convey that the two sisters had a very different upbringing. Nettie has had greater freedoms, she has had a more privileged upbringing. In contrast to the restricted code of Celie, Nettie uses the elaborate code- she has greater SAE. Nettie therefore has more freedom and entitlement.
Nettie’s letters act as a framing device for the entire novel,
Nettie has always patiently taught Celie, even from the great New York City- how it “is a beautiful city”. She is surprised to find out that “colored own a whole section of it, called Harlem”. She continuously uses the exclamatory mode, this represents her naïve wonder. She is bewildered that African- Americans can live with “such beauty and dignity”.
Walker uses Nettie to satirise the prejudices of the missionary. A different kind of racism exists amongst the missionaries lack of respect for African Cultures and religions. They believe that Christian, Western values and beliefs are superior. Nettie realises the importance of heritage. She reinforces the missionary prejudices; Africans “are riddled by disease and sunk in spiritual and physical confusion”. Nettie’s explanations of African life and philosophies also aid Celie’s intellectual growth.
Nettie is amazed that all “the people have indoor toilets” along with “gas or electric lights!”- the exclamatory mode reinforcing this. This highlights the backwardness of Southern America.
Nettie becomes to admire Samuel- “he has the most thoughtful and gentle brown eyes”. She is jealous of Corrine, she knows that she is a “lucky woman to have him as her husband”. Samuel is an example of how men can be, he’s decent. He doesn’t reinforce patriarchal ideals. Nettie’s admiration of Samuel is similar to Celie’s of Shug Avery.
The significance of Nettie’s letters in ‘The Color Purple’ is to contrast Celie’s narrative. Nettie gradually becomes emancipated from beliefs imposed on her like Celie she has to find her own identity, beliefs, voice and happiness. Nettie enjoys a much more privileged live than Celie, she has an education, greater freedoms and privileges. Nettie is a reliable narrator, she tells the reader important things.

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