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Adam is Celie’s biological son, but, like his sister, he is stolen at birth by Alphonso and given to Samuel and Corrine. As Nettie observes Adam growing from a child to a young adult, she describes him as an intelligent boy with a special aptitude for mathematics. Adam’s intellectual potential subtly points out that his mother, Celie, likely had the same potential. Additionally, Adam is a funny, social boy who is handsome, strong, and healthy. Like his father Samuel, he’s thoughtful and kind. His caring personality is particularly meaningful because it suggests that Celie’s children will break the cycle of misogyny and abuse that is rife within their family and has done so much damage to Celie’s life.
As Adam transitions into young adulthood, his friendship with Tashi, a native Olinka girl, grows into a romance. Despite living in a deeply traditional and sexist environment for much of his childhood, Adam remains committed to his family’s purpose of uplifting Black women and men. As such, he believes that Tashi’s intelligence and potential would be wasted should she choose to follow the typical path of marriage and motherhood in the Olinka tribe. Tashi and Adam’s passionate friendship is often filled with small, energetic arguments, suggesting that they feel comfortable enough with each other to bicker and debate like an old married couple. In many ways, their sparring is reminiscent of Harpo and Sofia’s. However, unlike Harpo, Adam is never concerned with controlling or winning against Tashi to assert his superiority and dominance. Rather, they both speak their minds to each other freely and enjoy their intellectual bond. Ultimately, Adam achieves his goal of marrying Tashi and bringing her to the United States. His true devotion is confirmed when he scars his own face so that his wife will not have to bear the scrutiny and judgment that will result from these tribal marks on her own. The Color Purple portrays the often-abusive nature of male-female relationships candidly, but through Tashi and Adam, Alice Walker depicts a hopeful image for the future of Black love.
