To start, she delves into the entire idea of personal identity. Celie's last name is never mentioned; Pa's true identity is only revealed later in the narrative; Albert remains the anonymous "Mr." until he transforms into a self-assured, compassionate person; and Celie's children, who grow up as virtual Africans, remain unaware of their adoption until adulthood. Walker's deliberate ambiguity underscores the vulnerability of personal identity in a society where young girls are compelled into marriages with unfamiliar men, men find their sense of masculinity through sexual abuse and violence, and work is an exhausting, futile effort necessary just for physical survival.

For Walker, a crucial step towards forming personal identity is the development and nurturing of one's creativity. In Alice Walker's own experience, her ancestors' quilts and her mother's gardens provided creative outlets, allowing them to leave their mark in an otherwise hostile environment. In The Color Purple, Celie finally discovers her identity as a successful designer and manufacturer of pants after receiving support from Shug to establish "Folkspants Unlimited." However, creativity alone is not the only source of personal identity: the previously ruthless Mr. becomes "Albert" when he fully embraces his love for sewing, an activity traditionally considered "womanish." Whether Albert's transformation is believable can be debated, but Walker's message is clear: challenging gender-role stereotypes is crucial in the pursuit of identity.