Initially Celie writes her letters to God, but after she loses faith in her religion, she pens the majority of her letters to her sister Nettie.

She and Nettie are separated when Celie is forced to marry Mr.______, a man that used to be Nettie's boyfriend. After he and Nettie argue, she is forced to take shelter with Samuel and Corrine, missionaries who take Nettie with them to Africa.

Celie is unsure about whether or not Nettie is recieving the letters, but continues to write them anyway.