I haven't gotten very far into the book yet, but in just the first couple of lines, I think the theme for the entire piece may be established:
"In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patched from their roots to make room for the Medallion City Golf Course..." (Morrison 1).
Very good foreshadowing for a book that I think will predominantly be about stripping blacks (maybe within one community, maybe as a whole) of their god-given property, rights, etc.
I'll have to read past the first chapter to make sure, haha.
The book seems alright, but like Alesha I'm still near the beginning, and I don't really like the composition of books beacuse it just feels like filler to get out of the way. But I like the sudden leap into action when it starts to talk about national suicide day, and the quote on brain tissue running down the running soldiers back ha. Hopefully the rest of the story is like this, keeping the book exciting.
Is my name in Japanese? Probably Anyway, it's Chloe.
I haven't gotten very far in Sula either. But, uhh, that quote in the very beginning, right after the dedication, about glory was something I found to be a little interesting. How does it pertain to the story? It must be of great significance to the story's theme. Here's the whole quote: "Nobody knew my rose of the world but me and now they can lie because the rose ain't living. They want the marble urn broken; they want me to smash it. They want the rose ashes scattered because I had too much glory. They don't want glory like that in nobody's heart. They want -- mouse-squeaking! -- known facts. -- Who knows the known facts? You -- padres -- wear black because of the fact that the facts are known by nobody!" Interesting, ya? Hmm, I don't like the the name Sula. Lol, almost sounds Samoan. Anyway, I was interested in finding out why someone would name their child Sula so I browsed through baby name websites and one said Sula means "peace" then I laughed because then her name is like, Peace Peace. I didn't trust that definition so I searched some other baby name sites and found most of them in agreement that "Sula" is a name of Scandinavian (Icelandic to be more precise) origin meaning "sun". That being said, Sula's name is: Sun Peace! I bet you this is important to the story, you know, some kind of symbolism. But I'll have to read more to validate my claims, ya? Ooh, I don't enjoy reading the book because I HATE the font and page texture!! Ughh, so gross... The boldness of the font, the crappy pages that turn brownish-yellow and crumble between your fingers in a few years. Oh, the horror. Haha, but really, I can't stand that kine. But, hell, I've been so damn busy lately that I've had no time to read Sula, so I can finish it on Thanksgiving or black Friday or whatever. Hakuna Matata, haha :D! So, yep, that's all I have to say for now, hope it suffices. Byeee~
So far, Sula seems like it will be an interesting book. I think the whole class is pretty much still in the beginning of the story, especially since some people just bought it. Nevertheless, it’s relatively short so I think that we will be able to finish reading it in a timely manner.
As of today, I think I’ve only finished up to “1920” so I still have a lot more reading to do. I think that the most interesting thing that happened in the book so far was when Helene and her daughter, Nel, are on the train and there is an incident between Helene and the train conductor.
This situation and situations like it were probably common occurrences during this time. I predict that there will be other similar examples of this hierarchy found throughout the rest of the story.
Looking forward to seeing what will happen next and when we will be introduced to “Sula”!
OH! I already read the ending. Because...you know how Forst said he likes to read the end of the book before the rest of the book? So, yeah, I tried that. Bad idea, I think? Oh well!
Sula seemed like an interesting book just judging from the cover. I think that short novels being used as sources in AP exams, like Sula, have to hold a lot of meaning. So I was looking forward to a lot of meaning and insight. I like how the beginning of the novel introduced us to the setting and its purpose. I, along with mason, also liked the action of the war that Shadrack was a part of. I really could imagine the soldiers running beside me and then disappearing under my helmet. I found the idea of national suicide day to be so interesting. I like how it is a day to devote to death, and then the rest of the year you would have no worries. I thought that was so cool. haha -randolfo
right now, i'm in the year "1921", going on to "1922". it's interesting how this whole chapter is about Eva, Sula's grandmother. the end of the chapter startled me the most. it was very...eerie & gave me chills. i could never imagine someone doing that to their own child, especially a woman.
at first i thought eva was a delightful person. she beamed with confidence & never let her disability hinder her from living happily & normally. i found it amusing how she made up so many stories about how she lost her leg. she also raised her three children without the need of a man's help. i felt sympathy for her after boyboy's visit, but at the same time i was also glad because was finally set free in a way. because of all of these admirable qualities i saw in Eva, i grew interested in her character more & more.
but then, i began to see things in her that i didn't like. the first thing that was a big turn-off was when she said "what you need to tell them apart for? they's all deweys." (pg. 38) this reminded me of the way a white person in those times would see only color. if you had dark skin, you were a "n_____" & that's it; you didn't get called by your name because you were that insignificant.
another thing that i wasn't too fond of was Eva's foul attitude towards "tar baby". page 39 says "most people said he was half white, but Eva said he was all white. that she knew blood when she saw it, and he didn't have none." again, that reminded me of the way white people could be so horrible & racist to people of color in those days. in my eyes, Eva is on the same level as those discriminatory people, regardless of her seemingly charming personality.
the main thing, however, that bothered me about Eva was when she did what she did to Plum at the end of the chapter (i'll try not to spoil the story on here). when i read that, the weakening sympathy & admiration i had for Eva completely vanished. how could anyone do such a thing? how could anyone be so heartless & numb, especially to their own child?
egh, Eva d:
anyway............. one last thing i'd like to mention that i liked from the book were these lines on page 43/44: "when those places were not available, she would slip into the seldom-used parlor, or even up to her bedroom. she liked the last place the least, not because sula slept in the room with her but because her love mate's tendency was also to fall asleep afterward and hannah was fastidious about whom she slept with. she would f___ practically anything, but sleeping with someone implied for her a measure of trust and a definite commitment." this was interesting because it showed that hannah, despite her promiscuous ways, does have standards & morals in that area. it kind of reminded me of the saying about how "you know when you truly like someone when even if all day you flirt with other people, at night, they're the only one you can think about". it kind of matches with hannah's "love" life; how she's a "daylight lover" & saves the night for someone who truly matters. i wonder why it is that we have this relationship with night & day...
As like everyone else, I didn't read too much of Sula. I'm only starting the 1920's, so I still have much more to read. However, from what I've read so far, it's been kinda boring. I agree with Mason: the beginning feels like it's not thaaaaaat important, so I find it hard to stay focused on the reading. Oh well. I hope it gets more interesting as I delve deeper into the reading.
I'll probably finish by tomorrow or even today..."Sula" has been an interesting read so far, but I'd rather not share anything about the reading just yet (I don't like having books spoiled for me, so I don't want to spoil the book for anyone that reads this comment).
I suggest that there should be designated posts to comment on when discussing chapters or the questions in our handout. That way we would know how many comments we need to make about a certain topic. The designated post could also list the details about the assignment, for communication and organization. Just a thought to get the Blog running smoother!
I am almost done with Sula, and so far it has been low on my scale of good books i've read. Not my kind of read... but nevertheless, it was rather interesting. There were a few notable quotes that I collected as I read the book, and one in particular I would like to share with the class.
From page 58:
"Sula lifted her head and joined Nel in the grass play. In concert, without ever meeting each other’s eyes, they stroke the blades up and down, up and down. Nel found a thick twig and, with her thumbnail, pulled away its bark until it was stripped to a smooth, creamy innocence. Sula looked about and found one too. When both twigs were undressed Nel moved easily to the next stage and began tearing up rooted grass to make a bare spot of earth...But soon she grew impatient and poked her twig rythmically and intensly into the earth, making a small neat hole that grew deeper and wider with the least manipualtion of her twig... Nel began a more strenuous digging and, rising to her knee, was careful to scoop out the dirt as she made her hole deeper. Together they worked until the two holes were one and the same. When the depression was the size of a small dishpan, Nel's twig broke. With a gesture of disgust she threw the peices into the hole they had made. Sula threw hers in too. Nel saw a bottle cap and tossed it in as well. Each then looked around for more debris to throw into the hole: paper, bits of glass, butts of cigarettes, until all of the small defiling things they could find were collected in there. Carefully they replaced the soil and covered the entire grave with uprooted grass. Neither one had spoken a word."
Any thoughts/comments anyone would like to share here reagrding this passage, what it might be symbolizing? Or how it may relate to a central theme? I have a few ideas, but I would rather hear your unbiaseed thoughts before I pollute them with my own.
You have given me my Christmas present early. This blog is power-pacted with brilliant insights. Sula is a rich with symbolism. The layer upon layer insight shared by each of you shines the poignancy of this story. Chloe, interesting thing about Sula meaning peace. It seems there is no peace in that Peace family. Shads an interesting fellow...as a shell-shocked soldier, I'm not sure if he's looney tunes, or someone that has been so close to death that he has beome a "seer" in this world. Luke aksed about the the hole that the girls both were digging in silence. Then, they filled it with debris from whatever they found discarded in the world that day. What could that mean? National Suicide Day is a bizarre thing. Many people who have tried to commit suicide, yet ended up surviving it, state that it's the one thing that they had control of in their lives at the time. Sad to think someone would be so despondent that they would choose death to feel empowered in their lives. I hope you do not mind this open discussion. I like the idea that it's not teacher empowered here with me being the only reader to create questions about the reading. I think I'd like to start a day called, "National Things-to-Ponder Day."
I finished Sula this weekend, and though it's certainly not my favorite book (how could it be? Oprah recommended it -__-) i think it certainly has some merit.
While reading the book, there was one passage in particular that stood out to me above the rest. I thought it really captured the essence of the book in a nutshell. Morrison writes it when she informs the reader of the encounter between Shadrack and Sula all those years ago, after he hears of her death:
"He had said "always" to convince her, assure her, of permanency" (Sula 157).
And in the end, isn't that what this novel is about? Change? Permanency. The blacks in the Bottom are threatened by the change that is coming upon their home. Eva goes to the city, seeking change, and returns with a major change: one-legged. Sula follows in her mother's footsteps and goes away for ten years, returning a changed woman who has finished her journey of introspection.
The list goes on. When it comes down to it, I really do think Sula's major theme is about permanency which Morrison chooses to portray though the strife of the blacks, etc.
On a lighter note, I would also like to comment on the irony of Sula's name. According to Chloe Sula means Sun...so Sun Peace. Now, if you think about it, isn't Sula one big sun?:
When she returns to the Bottom, she runs wild. She sleeps with other women's husbands, primarily, and isn't exactly the most pleasant person to be around. However, all of Sula's actions were blessings in disguise. According to the novel, when the mother thought she saw Sula knock down Tea Pot (I think his name was), she started giving her son more attention and being a 'better' mother. As did the rest of the Bottom. And because Sula was sleeping with everyone's husbands, women began to value their husbands more and work harder to sustain the quality of their relationships. Sula was a blessing in disguise: just like the sun. On most days its too hot and irritating to be seen as useful, but without it, where would we be now?
Sula, meaning Sun, is very fitting to this story. And her last name of Peace only accentuates the name because it is peace through turmoil that Sula brings along with her.
I finished the book, and I think it was quite interesting.
At first i was really quite confused as to what was going on, and the different characters in the story. I did not understand the significance of National Suicide Day. However, as the story progressed, I began to see how it helped Shadrack deal with his own fears. I am surprised the people in the town had let him self-proclaim a holiday like that. I wonder how people in society today would respond.
I liked how the book began introducing different characters throughout different time periods. At first I was confused because Sula was never really mentioned in the beginning.
I do feel that it was quite deceiving of Eva to cut off her leg in order to collect insurance money, however. I'm not sure if I would have left my children with my neighbor for a year and a half in the meantime, but I suppose she did what she felt she had to do at the time.
I was a bit thrown off by Eva murdering Plum. At first, when she went to comfort him in his room, I thought that she was just being a good mother. I was a bit thrown off by her soaking him in the kerosene and setting him on fire; i had to reread the scene. I can understand how as a mother, Eva did not want to see him suffer anymore, however. I wonder how Eva felt by killing her son to rid him of his addiction. Had she been thinking about it for a while, or was it just something on impulse?
I can't help but notice that the men in this story have interesting names: Chicken Little, BoyBoy, Ajax, Tar Baby, and etc. I wonder if this was part of the social culture of this time? Was this relevant to their social hierarchy? Did these boys have more formal names, and these were just nicknames?
When Sula died, the community was happy. Yet, it only brought bad things to them. Perhaps without knowing, Sula was really good for the community. In addition, I liked how Nel and Sula were able to settle things about Jude. It made me feel that there really is hope in the world for resolution to every conflict. They loved each other as best friends, and that was enough for forgiveness. Sula was able to finally realized why she behaved the way she did--her emptiness. When Nel is able to grieve for Sula, and grieve for herself at the end brings closure to the book.
I hope I am never caught in a situation where I lose my best friend and my spouse. I feel that Nel was very courageous and brave to forgive Sula when she did. It takes a lot to patch over a wound, because although it may heal, it still leaves a scar. I think that Nel was able to be a stronger person as a result.
Hi Everyone, What did you think of the relationship between Nel and Sula? They had a friendship that is the epitome of platonic. Yet, I don't know if I could have kept a secret about the murder of a young child, Chicken Little. I also wondered why Nel never shed a tear over the boy's death. Sula cried her heart out and I don't think she ever was the same after that accident.
The other interesting detail is the way women can be "catty" about physical and spiritual beauty of another women. Is beauty a sense of power over others and therefore, threatening? Or, is it jealousy for the courage to live a life that one "should've" "could've" but, didn't?
Sula was the hardest novel I've ever read! I thought every graphical dictions Toni used were metaphors... But it wasn't. Now, I know the story more after the expert research. So I decided to read it once more. Some people said it was a great book... I don't want to miss it out.
I think that the relationship between Nel and Sula was aberrant friendship. Nel didn't freed herself as Sula did, thus she, in deep inside of her heart, had a jealousy over Sula. Nel didn't shed when the little boy died unlike Sula because she wanted to deny that she was involved in this "murder". She wanted to storngly admit that she did not kill him. Later she blames all on Sula even after her demise. Nel pays all her commited immoral crimes by raising her children without their Father and being lonely.
It seemed like all women including Nel and Eva were jealousy of Sula's independent life which they thought was unconventional and evil. In deep inside of their heart, they felt that they also wanted to live like her whose surrounded and beloved by men (their husband). Sula had all richlike clothings when she came back; outer beuty attracts men. Women automatically get envy and jealous over another's out beauty. On the other side, they feel threatended because they might lose their place by men iwithin their "domain".
Sula seems like very interesting book but I couldn't understand very well...
I've joined this blog quite late, sorry about that. But anyhoo, this is Jocelyn and here's what I have to say.
I've read Sula before but it was just for fun -I know, I know, who the heck reads this kind of book for fun right?- well it was either that or rereading Tatoo for the seventh time. Back to what I was saying, when I first read it, I guess I didn't look for any meaning behind the book, it was sort of more like passive rather than active reading. This second time around however, I found the book to be really enlightening.
Sula is seen as a not so great character by a lot of people, but I find her completely fascinating to be truthful. As Alesha said, she was a blessing in disguise. After her death, chaos was unleashed. I have another reason too however. It seemed to me that all the characters in this book had faults, all of them have done sinful things, and yet, some of them are admired, even adored by the minor characters of the book. Sula is only looked down upon because she wears her sins on her sleeves and doesn't care who sees them. I believe that she should be respected for that, because in a way, she is owning up to her mistakes, just in a way that most people are used to. She is the truth that we all don't want to hear,but it is worth it to like a character based on a lie?
However, the discussion today in class, it seemed like no one liked any character of this book. Lol. I agree with everyone, Sula isn't my firsthand choice of reccomendation, but it made me curious, and I think as long as a book has an impact on you, it's worth reading.
I should've double checked my grammar of the previous comment I posted ):
In response to your question Ms. Donnelly, I found Nel and Sula's relationship to be very balanced. Sula wanted to be well-known, and Nel wanted to be an individual, I believe both were envious of each other. Not the perfect friendship, but I believe they could understand each other in the circumstances where they didn't have to explain their actions to one another. I believe the issue with envy also justifies why Nel didn't shed a tear for Chicken Little. She had been envious of Sula: she was beautiful, proud, outgoing, and a very strong girl who always spoke her opinions, something Nel wanted to be.
Wouldn't it be understandable that when Sula was at her weak and most vulnerable point, Nel wished to be the one in control? I believe it was this point of the book that Nel first felt any type of strength in herself. To have the person that she was envious of to be dependent on her was a big step in her life, so big that she may not even care what came to have lead to it (Chicken Little's death)
23 comments:
Sula is coming along great. I like the novel so far..!
I haven't gotten very far into the book yet, but in just the first couple of lines, I think the theme for the entire piece may be established:
"In that place, where they tore the nightshade and blackberry patched from their roots to make room for the Medallion City Golf Course..." (Morrison 1).
Very good foreshadowing for a book that I think will predominantly be about stripping blacks (maybe within one community, maybe as a whole) of their god-given property, rights, etc.
I'll have to read past the first chapter to make sure, haha.
The book seems alright, but like Alesha I'm still near the beginning, and I don't really like the composition of books beacuse it just feels like filler to get out of the way. But I like the sudden leap into action when it starts to talk about national suicide day, and the quote on brain tissue running down the running soldiers back ha. Hopefully the rest of the story is like this, keeping the book exciting.
Is my name in Japanese?
Probably
Anyway, it's Chloe.
I haven't gotten very far in Sula either. But, uhh, that quote in the very beginning, right after the dedication, about glory was something I found to be a little interesting. How does it pertain to the story? It must be of great significance to the story's theme. Here's the whole quote: "Nobody knew my rose of the world but me and now they can lie because the rose ain't living. They want the marble urn broken; they want me to smash it. They want the rose ashes scattered because I had too much glory. They don't want glory like that in nobody's heart. They want -- mouse-squeaking! -- known facts. -- Who knows the known facts? You -- padres -- wear black because of the fact that the facts are known by nobody!"
Interesting, ya?
Hmm, I don't like the the name Sula. Lol, almost sounds Samoan. Anyway, I was interested in finding out why someone would name their child Sula so I browsed through baby name websites and one said Sula means "peace" then I laughed because then her name is like, Peace Peace. I didn't trust that definition so I searched some other baby name sites and found most of them in agreement that "Sula" is a name of Scandinavian (Icelandic to be more precise) origin meaning "sun". That being said, Sula's name is: Sun Peace! I bet you this is important to the story, you know, some kind of symbolism. But I'll have to read more to validate my claims, ya?
Ooh, I don't enjoy reading the book because I HATE the font and page texture!! Ughh, so gross...
The boldness of the font, the crappy pages that turn brownish-yellow and crumble between your fingers in a few years. Oh, the horror. Haha, but really, I can't stand that kine.
But, hell, I've been so damn busy lately that I've had no time to read Sula, so I can finish it on Thanksgiving or black Friday or whatever. Hakuna Matata, haha :D!
So, yep, that's all I have to say for now, hope it suffices.
Byeee~
So far, Sula seems like it will be an interesting book. I think the whole class is pretty much still in the beginning of the story, especially since some people just bought it. Nevertheless, it’s relatively short so I think that we will be able to finish reading it in a timely manner.
As of today, I think I’ve only finished up to “1920” so I still have a lot more reading to do. I think that the most interesting thing that happened in the book so far was when Helene and her daughter, Nel, are on the train and there is an incident between Helene and the train conductor.
This situation and situations like it were probably common occurrences during this time. I predict that there will be other similar examples of this hierarchy found throughout the rest of the story.
Looking forward to seeing what will happen next and when we will be introduced to “Sula”!
-Kris
OH!
I already read the ending.
Because...you know how Forst said he likes to read the end of the book before the rest of the book?
So, yeah, I tried that.
Bad idea, I think?
Oh well!
Lmao
Foster*
Sula seemed like an interesting book just judging from the cover. I think that short novels being used as sources in AP exams, like Sula, have to hold a lot of meaning. So I was looking forward to a lot of meaning and insight.
I like how the beginning of the novel introduced us to the setting and its purpose.
I, along with mason, also liked the action of the war that Shadrack was a part of. I really could imagine the soldiers running beside me and then disappearing under my helmet.
I found the idea of national suicide day to be so interesting. I like how it is a day to devote to death, and then the rest of the year you would have no worries. I thought that was so cool. haha
-randolfo
right now, i'm in the year "1921", going on to "1922".
it's interesting how this whole chapter is about Eva, Sula's grandmother. the end of the chapter startled me the most. it was very...eerie & gave me chills.
i could never imagine someone doing that to their own child, especially a woman.
at first i thought eva was a delightful person. she beamed with confidence & never let her disability hinder her from living happily & normally. i found it amusing how she made up so many stories about how she lost her leg. she also raised her three children without the need of a man's help. i felt sympathy for her after boyboy's visit, but at the same time i was also glad because was finally set free in a way.
because of all of these admirable qualities i saw in Eva, i grew interested in her character more & more.
but then, i began to see things in her that i didn't like.
the first thing that was a big turn-off was when she said "what you need to tell them apart for? they's all deweys." (pg. 38) this reminded me of the way a white person in those times would see only color. if you had dark skin, you were a "n_____" & that's it; you didn't get called by your name because you were that insignificant.
another thing that i wasn't too fond of was Eva's foul attitude towards "tar baby". page 39 says "most people said he was half white, but Eva said he was all white. that she knew blood when she saw it, and he didn't have none." again, that reminded me of the way white people could be so horrible & racist to people of color in those days. in my eyes, Eva is on the same level as those discriminatory people, regardless of her seemingly charming personality.
the main thing, however, that bothered me about Eva was when she did what she did to Plum at the end of the chapter (i'll try not to spoil the story on here). when i read that, the weakening sympathy & admiration i had for Eva completely vanished. how could anyone do such a thing? how could anyone be so heartless & numb, especially to their own child?
egh, Eva d:
anyway.............
one last thing i'd like to mention that i liked from the book were these lines on page 43/44: "when those places were not available, she would slip into the seldom-used parlor, or even up to her bedroom. she liked the last place the least, not because sula slept in the room with her but because her love mate's tendency was also to fall asleep afterward and hannah was fastidious about whom she slept with. she would f___ practically anything, but sleeping with someone implied for her a measure of trust and a definite commitment."
this was interesting because it showed that hannah, despite her promiscuous ways, does have standards & morals in that area. it kind of reminded me of the saying about how "you know when you truly like someone when even if all day you flirt with other people, at night, they're the only one you can think about". it kind of matches with hannah's "love" life; how she's a "daylight lover" & saves the night for someone who truly matters.
i wonder why it is that we have this relationship with night & day...
oh wait! i forgot to put my name!
i'm rachel!
:D
Hullo! This is Matt.
As like everyone else, I didn't read too much of Sula. I'm only starting the 1920's, so I still have much more to read. However, from what I've read so far, it's been kinda boring. I agree with Mason: the beginning feels like it's not thaaaaaat important, so I find it hard to stay focused on the reading. Oh well. I hope it gets more interesting as I delve deeper into the reading.
I'll probably finish by tomorrow or even today..."Sula" has been an interesting read so far, but I'd rather not share anything about the reading just yet (I don't like having books spoiled for me, so I don't want to spoil the book for anyone that reads this comment).
I suggest that there should be designated posts to comment on when discussing chapters or the questions in our handout. That way we would know how many comments we need to make about a certain topic. The designated post could also list the details about the assignment, for communication and organization. Just a thought to get the Blog running smoother!
-Nancy
I am almost done with Sula, and so far it has been low on my scale of good books i've read. Not my kind of read... but nevertheless, it was rather interesting. There were a few notable quotes that I collected as I read the book, and one in particular I would like to share with the class.
From page 58:
"Sula lifted her head and joined Nel in the grass play. In concert, without ever meeting each other’s eyes, they stroke the blades up and down, up and down. Nel found a thick twig and, with her thumbnail, pulled away its bark until it was stripped to a smooth, creamy innocence. Sula looked about and found one too. When both twigs were undressed Nel moved easily to the next stage and began tearing up rooted grass to make a bare spot of earth...But soon she grew impatient and poked her twig rythmically and intensly into the earth, making a small neat hole that grew deeper and wider with the least manipualtion of her twig... Nel began a more strenuous digging and, rising to her knee, was careful to scoop out the dirt as she made her hole deeper. Together they worked until the two holes were one and the same. When the depression was the size of a small dishpan, Nel's twig broke. With a gesture of disgust she threw the peices into the hole they had made. Sula threw hers in too. Nel saw a bottle cap and tossed it in as well. Each then looked around for more debris to throw into the hole: paper, bits of glass, butts of cigarettes, until all of the small defiling things they could find were collected in there. Carefully they replaced the soil and covered the entire grave with uprooted grass. Neither one had spoken a word."
Any thoughts/comments anyone would like to share here reagrding this passage, what it might be symbolizing? Or how it may relate to a central theme? I have a few ideas, but I would rather hear your unbiaseed thoughts before I pollute them with my own.
You have given me my Christmas present early. This blog is power-pacted with brilliant insights. Sula is a rich with symbolism. The layer upon layer insight shared by each of you shines the poignancy of this story.
Chloe, interesting thing about Sula meaning peace. It seems there is no peace in that Peace family.
Shads an interesting fellow...as a shell-shocked soldier, I'm not sure if he's looney tunes, or someone that has been so close to death that he has beome a "seer" in this world.
Luke aksed about the the hole that the girls both were digging in silence. Then, they filled it with debris from whatever they found discarded in the world that day. What could that mean?
National Suicide Day is a bizarre thing. Many people who have tried to commit suicide, yet ended up surviving it, state that it's the one thing that they had control of in their lives at the time. Sad to think someone would be so despondent that they would choose death to feel empowered in their lives.
I hope you do not mind this open discussion. I like the idea that it's not teacher empowered here with me being the only reader to create questions about the reading. I think I'd like to start a day called, "National Things-to-Ponder Day."
I finished Sula this weekend, and though it's certainly not my favorite book (how could it be? Oprah recommended it -__-) i think it certainly has some merit.
While reading the book, there was one passage in particular that stood out to me above the rest. I thought it really captured the essence of the book in a nutshell. Morrison writes it when she informs the reader of the encounter between Shadrack and Sula all those years ago, after he hears of her death:
"He had said "always" to convince her, assure her, of permanency" (Sula 157).
And in the end, isn't that what this novel is about? Change? Permanency. The blacks in the Bottom are threatened by the change that is coming upon their home. Eva goes to the city, seeking change, and returns with a major change: one-legged. Sula follows in her mother's footsteps and goes away for ten years, returning a changed woman who has finished her journey of introspection.
The list goes on. When it comes down to it, I really do think Sula's major theme is about permanency which Morrison chooses to portray though the strife of the blacks, etc.
On a lighter note, I would also like to comment on the irony of Sula's name. According to Chloe Sula means Sun...so Sun Peace. Now, if you think about it, isn't Sula one big sun?:
When she returns to the Bottom, she runs wild. She sleeps with other women's husbands, primarily, and isn't exactly the most pleasant person to be around. However, all of Sula's actions were blessings in disguise. According to the novel, when the mother thought she saw Sula knock down Tea Pot (I think his name was), she started giving her son more attention and being a 'better' mother. As did the rest of the Bottom. And because Sula was sleeping with everyone's husbands, women began to value their husbands more and work harder to sustain the quality of their relationships. Sula was a blessing in disguise: just like the sun. On most days its too hot and irritating to be seen as useful, but without it, where would we be now?
Sula, meaning Sun, is very fitting to this story. And her last name of Peace only accentuates the name because it is peace through turmoil that Sula brings along with her.
I finished the book, and I think it was quite interesting.
At first i was really quite confused as to what was going on, and the different characters in the story. I did not understand the significance of National Suicide Day. However, as the story progressed, I began to see how it helped Shadrack deal with his own fears. I am surprised the people in the town had let him self-proclaim a holiday like that. I wonder how people in society today would respond.
I liked how the book began introducing different characters throughout different time periods. At first I was confused because Sula was never really mentioned in the beginning.
I do feel that it was quite deceiving of Eva to cut off her leg in order to collect insurance money, however. I'm not sure if I would have left my children with my neighbor for a year and a half in the meantime, but I suppose she did what she felt she had to do at the time.
I was a bit thrown off by Eva murdering Plum. At first, when she went to comfort him in his room, I thought that she was just being a good mother. I was a bit thrown off by her soaking him in the kerosene and setting him on fire; i had to reread the scene. I can understand how as a mother, Eva did not want to see him suffer anymore, however. I wonder how Eva felt by killing her son to rid him of his addiction. Had she been thinking about it for a while, or was it just something on impulse?
I can't help but notice that the men in this story have interesting names: Chicken Little, BoyBoy, Ajax, Tar Baby, and etc. I wonder if this was part of the social culture of this time? Was this relevant to their social hierarchy? Did these boys have more formal names, and these were just nicknames?
When Sula died, the community was happy. Yet, it only brought bad things to them. Perhaps without knowing, Sula was really good for the community. In addition, I liked how Nel and Sula were able to settle things about Jude. It made me feel that there really is hope in the world for resolution to every conflict. They loved each other as best friends, and that was enough for forgiveness. Sula was able to finally realized why she behaved the way she did--her emptiness. When Nel is able to grieve for Sula, and grieve for herself at the end brings closure to the book.
I hope I am never caught in a situation where I lose my best friend and my spouse. I feel that Nel was very courageous and brave to forgive Sula when she did. It takes a lot to patch over a wound, because although it may heal, it still leaves a scar. I think that Nel was able to be a stronger person as a result.
So this was pretty random thoughts, sorry >.<
-Alyssa
Hi Everyone,
What did you think of the relationship between Nel and Sula? They had a friendship that is the epitome of platonic. Yet, I don't know if I could have kept a secret about the murder of a young child, Chicken Little. I also wondered why Nel never shed a tear over the boy's death. Sula cried her heart out and I don't think she ever was the same after that accident.
The other interesting detail is the way women can be "catty" about physical and spiritual beauty of another women. Is beauty a sense of power over others and therefore, threatening? Or, is it jealousy for the courage to live a life that one "should've" "could've" but, didn't?
Just pondering...
Ms. D.
Sula was the hardest novel I've ever read! I thought every graphical dictions Toni used were metaphors... But it wasn't. Now, I know the story more after the expert research. So I decided to read it once more. Some people said it was a great book... I don't want to miss it out.
I think that the relationship between Nel and Sula was aberrant friendship. Nel didn't freed herself as Sula did, thus she, in deep inside of her heart, had a jealousy over Sula. Nel didn't shed when the little boy died unlike Sula because she wanted to deny that she was involved in this "murder". She wanted to storngly admit that she did not kill him. Later she blames all on Sula even after her demise. Nel pays all her commited immoral crimes by raising her children without their Father and being lonely.
It seemed like all women including Nel and Eva were jealousy of Sula's independent life which they thought was unconventional and evil. In deep inside of their heart, they felt that they also wanted to live like her whose surrounded and beloved by men (their husband). Sula had all richlike clothings when she came back; outer beuty attracts men. Women automatically get envy and jealous over another's out beauty. On the other side, they feel threatended because they might lose their place by men iwithin their "domain".
Sula seems like very interesting book but I couldn't understand very well...
I've joined this blog quite late, sorry about that. But anyhoo, this is Jocelyn and here's what I have to say.
I've read Sula before but it was just for fun -I know, I know, who the heck reads this kind of book for fun right?- well it was either that or rereading Tatoo for the seventh time. Back to what I was saying, when I first read it, I guess I didn't look for any meaning behind the book, it was sort of more like passive rather than active reading. This second time around however, I found the book to be really enlightening.
Sula is seen as a not so great character by a lot of people, but I find her completely fascinating to be truthful. As Alesha said, she was a blessing in disguise. After her death, chaos was unleashed. I have another reason too however. It seemed to me that all the characters in this book had faults, all of them have done sinful things, and yet, some of them are admired, even adored by the minor characters of the book. Sula is only looked down upon because she wears her sins on her sleeves and doesn't care who sees them. I believe that she should be respected for that, because in a way, she is owning up to her mistakes, just in a way that most people are used to. She is the truth that we all don't want to hear,but it is worth it to like a character based on a lie?
However, the discussion today in class, it seemed like no one liked any character of this book. Lol. I agree with everyone, Sula isn't my firsthand choice of reccomendation, but it made me curious, and I think as long as a book has an impact on you, it's worth reading.
-Just Joce
I should've double checked my grammar of the previous comment I posted ):
In response to your question Ms. Donnelly, I found Nel and Sula's relationship to be very balanced. Sula wanted to be well-known, and Nel wanted to be an individual, I believe both were envious of each other. Not the perfect friendship, but I believe they could understand each other in the circumstances where they didn't have to explain their actions to one another. I believe the issue with envy also justifies why Nel didn't shed a tear for Chicken Little. She had been envious of Sula: she was beautiful, proud, outgoing, and a very strong girl who always spoke her opinions, something Nel wanted to be.
Wouldn't it be understandable that when Sula was at her weak and most vulnerable point, Nel wished to be the one in control? I believe it was this point of the book that Nel first felt any type of strength in herself. To have the person that she was envious of to be dependent on her was a big step in her life, so big that she may not even care what came to have lead to it (Chicken Little's death)
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