What does Shug teach Celie about being loved, and about finding one’s true self? What price does Sofia pay for being her true self?

Shug teaches Celie that she deserves to be loved and that the process of finding her true self should be honored instead of stifled.  When Shug writes a song and dedicates it to Celie, this is the first loving thing anyone has ever done for Celie (besides her sister, Nettie).  Further, when Shug tells Celie that she loves her, this is the first person (besides her sister) to ever say it to Celie.  Shug teaches...

Shug teaches Celie that she deserves to be loved and that the process of finding her true self should be honored instead of stifled.  When Shug writes a song and dedicates it to Celie, this is the first loving thing anyone has ever done for Celie (besides her sister, Nettie).  Further, when Shug tells Celie that she loves her, this is the first person (besides her sister) to ever say it to Celie.  Shug teaches Celie, little by little, that she deserves to be loved and that her true self is, in fact, easy to love.  Shug's acceptance and love of Celie empowers Celie to realize who that true self is.

Sofia pays a steep price for being her true self.  She is true to herself when she tells the mayor's wife that "'Hell, no,'" she would not like to come and work for her.  Though Miss Millie assesses Sofia's children like someone taking stock of slaves, commenting on their cleanliness, their teeth, and so forth, and though the mayor is the first to strike Sofia for speaking disrespectfully to Miss Millie, when Sofia hits him back -- true to herself -- she is condemned to twelve years in prison.  She ends up working for Miss Millie anyway, unable to see her children for years; some of the best years of her life are taken from her for being herself.