The Color Purple

The Color Purple

by

Alice Walker

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Color Purple makes teaching easy.

Eleanor Jane, Stanley Earl, and Reynolds Character Analysis

Eleanor Jane, the mayor's daughter, becomes close to Sofia, the woman who raised her. Sofia is civil to Eleanor's husband Stanley Earl, but Sofia refuses to gush and dote upon Reynolds, their son, explaining to Eleanor that she (Sofia) has already been made to care for a white family that is not hers, at the expense of caring for her own family.
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Eleanor Jane, Stanley Earl, and Reynolds Character Timeline in The Color Purple

The timeline below shows where the character Eleanor Jane, Stanley Earl, and Reynolds appears in The Color Purple. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Letter 43
God and Spirituality Theme Icon
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
...rusty nail and hurting his foot. Miss Millie, the mayor's wife, comes over and asks Eleanor Jane, the little girl Sofia is also watching over, if Sofia did this, but Eleanor... (full context)
Letter 74
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
Self-Discovery Theme Icon
...too, will be going with them to Memphis, in order to try to sing professionally. Eleanor Jane, the white girl Sofia cared for, comes over at this point and interrupts the... (full context)
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
Self-Discovery Theme Icon
After returning from talking to Eleanor Jane, Sofia says she will look after Suzie Q, Squeak's youngest child, and the other... (full context)
Letter 87
God and Spirituality Theme Icon
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
Violence and Suffering Theme Icon
Self-Discovery Theme Icon
Sofia tells Celie and Albert stories about Eleanor Jane, who is now married to a man named Stanley Earl, and who has a... (full context)
God and Spirituality Theme Icon
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
Violence and Suffering Theme Icon
Self-Discovery Theme Icon
This speech hurts Eleanor, but Sofia is glad to have spoken her mind, finally, to the family that once... (full context)
Letter 89
Race and Racism Theme Icon
Men, Women, and Gender Roles Theme Icon
Self-Discovery Theme Icon
...Sofia to work in her shop, as a clerk, and Sofia has made amends with Eleanor. Sofia tells Eleanor how she, Sofia, was initially made the family's servant. Eleanor is horrified... (full context)