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The Color Purple,
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Elizabeth Young
In historical fiction this kind of censorship of names (including place names) is used to prevent the fictional characters being linked to real characters. 'The Colour Purple' is a relatively recent novel though, so in this case it may be used to add to the sense of realism - by blanking the name, it makes you feel as though the author is trying to protect a real person's identity.
Alternatively (or additionally), it may be an attempt to emphasise Celie's alienation from Mr. ____. Despite Celie's marriage to him, we don't know his last name. It is only towards the end of the book - when Celie's relationship with him improves - that we discover his name. Furthermore, Mr. ____'s surname would also be Celie's; by not revealing this, the author maintains a sense of intimacy and simplicity with the reader's connection to the narrator.
Alternatively (or additionally), it may be an attempt to emphasise Celie's alienation from Mr. ____. Despite Celie's marriage to him, we don't know his last name. It is only towards the end of the book - when Celie's relationship with him improves - that we discover his name. Furthermore, Mr. ____'s surname would also be Celie's; by not revealing this, the author maintains a sense of intimacy and simplicity with the reader's connection to the narrator.
Maria Belkadi
I believe it's how she sees him. He was more her master than a husband, so she called him in a more formal manner like a boss. Shug called him Albert always, because he was her lover.
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