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Andres asked this question about The Color Purple:
Why does the author refer to Albert as Mr. ______? I found that to be annoying.
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 charac…moreIn 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.(less)
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The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
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