Studying Alice Walker's early life reveals her attitudes toward men, particularly abusive, insensitive men such as Albert.  Walker has said in interviews that Celie initially expresses her awe of her husband by referring to him as "Mr.-----."  As she grows spiritually and mentally, she uses "Mr. -----" as an expression of her disrespect and disgust for Albert.  At the end of the novel, when Celie has matured and become comfortable with herself, she finally uses her husband's given name as a symbol of her growth and self-confidence.