Why is the book the colour purple called the colour purple?

Question

I know there's a bit in it where Shug says 'It would p**s God off it we walked past a field the color purple and didn't notice it'. I don't get why that's such a key phrase to name the entire book over...

Answer 1

Then you missed the whole point of the book. When I was 20 my copy used to fall open naturally at the spot where Shug tells Celie about her theory on God and spirituality. She says God is all around you. He is there in the feelings you have when you make love. He is there in the sunrise. It is God you see when you look at the simple beauty of the colour purple. To Shug God is real. He is not some old white man in a book. He is the universe and everything that is good in it. He is love and beauty and ecstacy.He is alive in all of us who know this.

Have you read this book?? Have you any soul at all???

Answer 2

it"s because of the content of the book is pure as pink

Answer 3

Yes, the title derives from a discussion between Celie and Shug about faith. Describing what God does to please people, Shug says, "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." After Celie asks what God does in response to this obliviousness, Shug replies that he creates something else people will see, because God just wants to be loved. The discussion leads to the rekindling of Celie's spirituality, despite years of abuse and neglect.