Sunday
Extended Journal
I made a collage of the characters in the book "Sula" that I will be presenting to the class.
Wednesday
The Selfless Acts of Eva Peace: Analysis Journal
“They found her on her stomach by the Forsythia bushes calling Hannah’s name and dragging her body though the sweet peas and clover…” (77). Toni Morison’s novel "Sula" is anything but straightforward. She has many parallels between love and motherhood. Morison creates characters in "Sula" for the reader to take a closer look at and decide what they really represent. Eva Peace is a character that Morison wants the reader to pay special attention to. From the surface Eva may seem like a horrible mother but she is a character that strongly represents a good mother and a selfless person.
Eva Peace is everything but selfish. She is constantly caring for many people other than herself, “…Who sat in a wagon on the third floor directing the lives of her children, friends, strays, and a constant stream of boarders” (30). Eva takes in many different people into her home from all ages. She embraces and feeds them like her own children. In that way Eva is the ultimate symbol of a good mother; she is a natural caregiver and one prime example of her generosity is when “She sent off for children she had seen from the balcony of her bedroom or whose circumstances she heard about from the gossipy old men…” (37). She takes in three boys and names them Dewey assuming the role of their mother. Eva’s generosity makes her house the lively spot in town and the center of attention in Morison’s novel.
Eva’s acts are selfless and she is willing to do anything for her children. When Eva ends Plum’s life it very difficult for the reader to understand. “She sat down and gathered Plum into her arms” (46). Eva seems to be comforting him in the beginning but a little later, “She rolled a bit of newspaper into a tight stick about six inches long, lit it and threw it onto the bed where the kerosene soaked Plum lay in snug delight” (47). Eva acted out of pure love for Plum and “saved” him. Plum was no happy man; he had many horrible problems of his own. After serving in WWI he came home a mess, obviously suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. “His hair had been neither cut nor combed in months, his clothes were pointless and he had no socks” (45). As we read more into the text we discover that Plum also had a serious addiction to drugs. What Eva did by killing Plum was to save him from a horrible life. She saved him from a life of suffering and turmoil due to a mental illness and drug addiction. Plum died in a quick and delirious state rather than a slow and painful life leading up to death. Eva’s courage and care for her son led her to make the ultimate decision of motherhood and end his pain.
Finally Eva shows how she is ultimately a good mother by sacrificing her own wants for the needs of her children. Eva was young and getting out of a tragic marriage, “The children needed her; she needed money, and needed to get on with her life” (32). Eva did everything she could to keep her children alive and fed, “Eva took a bucket over and Mrs. Jackson told her to come back and fill it up in the morning, because the evening milking had already been done” (32). Perhaps one of the most graphic portrayals of Eva’s selfless character is when baby Plum stops having bowl movements. Eva does what any good mother who has genuine love for her son would do, “deep in the darkness and freezing stench she squatted down, turned the baby over on her knees… she probed with her middle finger to loosen his bowels” (34). Eva is by far the best example of a loving mother in Sula.
Eva’s choices at times may seem irrational even cruel. It becomes hard for the reader to think of Eva as a good mother after she calmly ends Plum’s life but it is important to see through the incident and look at Eva’s reasons. She has a natural ability to nurture and take care of others. Morison wants us to see that she had nothing but concern for the lives of her children and others, “ …What you talkin’ ‘bout did I love you girl. I stayed alive for you…” (69) Eva exclaims to Hannah before she dies. The dedication and generosity that Eva shows in the book is a prime indication that she is a good mother.
Eva Peace is everything but selfish. She is constantly caring for many people other than herself, “…Who sat in a wagon on the third floor directing the lives of her children, friends, strays, and a constant stream of boarders” (30). Eva takes in many different people into her home from all ages. She embraces and feeds them like her own children. In that way Eva is the ultimate symbol of a good mother; she is a natural caregiver and one prime example of her generosity is when “She sent off for children she had seen from the balcony of her bedroom or whose circumstances she heard about from the gossipy old men…” (37). She takes in three boys and names them Dewey assuming the role of their mother. Eva’s generosity makes her house the lively spot in town and the center of attention in Morison’s novel.
Eva’s acts are selfless and she is willing to do anything for her children. When Eva ends Plum’s life it very difficult for the reader to understand. “She sat down and gathered Plum into her arms” (46). Eva seems to be comforting him in the beginning but a little later, “She rolled a bit of newspaper into a tight stick about six inches long, lit it and threw it onto the bed where the kerosene soaked Plum lay in snug delight” (47). Eva acted out of pure love for Plum and “saved” him. Plum was no happy man; he had many horrible problems of his own. After serving in WWI he came home a mess, obviously suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. “His hair had been neither cut nor combed in months, his clothes were pointless and he had no socks” (45). As we read more into the text we discover that Plum also had a serious addiction to drugs. What Eva did by killing Plum was to save him from a horrible life. She saved him from a life of suffering and turmoil due to a mental illness and drug addiction. Plum died in a quick and delirious state rather than a slow and painful life leading up to death. Eva’s courage and care for her son led her to make the ultimate decision of motherhood and end his pain.
Finally Eva shows how she is ultimately a good mother by sacrificing her own wants for the needs of her children. Eva was young and getting out of a tragic marriage, “The children needed her; she needed money, and needed to get on with her life” (32). Eva did everything she could to keep her children alive and fed, “Eva took a bucket over and Mrs. Jackson told her to come back and fill it up in the morning, because the evening milking had already been done” (32). Perhaps one of the most graphic portrayals of Eva’s selfless character is when baby Plum stops having bowl movements. Eva does what any good mother who has genuine love for her son would do, “deep in the darkness and freezing stench she squatted down, turned the baby over on her knees… she probed with her middle finger to loosen his bowels” (34). Eva is by far the best example of a loving mother in Sula.
Eva’s choices at times may seem irrational even cruel. It becomes hard for the reader to think of Eva as a good mother after she calmly ends Plum’s life but it is important to see through the incident and look at Eva’s reasons. She has a natural ability to nurture and take care of others. Morison wants us to see that she had nothing but concern for the lives of her children and others, “ …What you talkin’ ‘bout did I love you girl. I stayed alive for you…” (69) Eva exclaims to Hannah before she dies. The dedication and generosity that Eva shows in the book is a prime indication that she is a good mother.
Sunday
Reader Response: "Sula"
Discrimination, suppression, glory, and tradition are just a few words to describe the life high up in the Bottom. The characters and stories of the Bottom were truly intriguing to me. The book “Sula” written by Toni Morison has a great message to send.
I felt sympathy in the beginning for the character Shadrack that is unique throughout the story. The accounts of soldiers and their struggles always seem to strike a special place in my heart. After Shadrack returns home from the war he goes a bit crazy and develops something called National Suicide Day in the Bottom. Shadrack became the most difficult character to figure out as the book went on.
Besides a strange beginning, the middle of the book is even stranger. Nel and her mother are conservative and proper unlike Sula and her mother, which are liberal and passionate. I knew that the two little girls would naturally attract to each other because of their contrast in personalities. Nel and Sula are inseparable and it made me miss my own childhood. I don’t know how I feel about the Chicken Little scene in the book. It was a mix of sadness, anger, and shock. The way Nel and Sula reacted towards the event seemed as if they felt nothing had happened. Sula was crying but she was more afraid of Shadrack and didn’t seem to feel any sort of sadness. Nel didn’t show emotion about the event. It was barely spoken of between the two girls. I am hoping that in discussion we can talk more about this event and why it had such little impact on the girls.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Sula’s mother Hannah burned herself in the fire. The scene was so shocking to me I could hardly keep reading without letting out a gasp. I am wondering what urged Hannah to do it and why she would kill herself right in the front lawn for everyone to see including her daughter Sula. When Eva jumped out of the window I thought for a moment that she would die too but she was somehow saved throughout the story for a purpose that I am trying to figure out. The sight of seeing your mother burn to death had to have affected Sula greatly. The psychological affects might be the reason why she insists on only caring about herself.
I’m not sure if the author wants to put emphasis on the problems in society (white vs. black) or the importance of friendship. I feel that she intended to stress friendship but could not leave out the problems the black community faces. It could be argued either way.
One section I was unable to understand in the book was the significance of the robins. “The plague” (89) the Bottom called it. I felt that the robins could represent the white community moving in to their own. Taking away their land and so much more. It shows how the community gave up in a way, “But they let it run it’s course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways to either alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again” (90).
In the end of the book Sula ultimately betrays her best friend Nel. I felt confused when the incident happened. I couldn’t understand why Sula would make such a decision. Eva is even more intriguing in the end. She was the grandmother of the town and she knew everyone. The way she speaks to Nel at the nursing home represents something more about Nel’s character. I am eager to discuss the book in class because I have so many questions about the characters and their actions.
I felt sympathy in the beginning for the character Shadrack that is unique throughout the story. The accounts of soldiers and their struggles always seem to strike a special place in my heart. After Shadrack returns home from the war he goes a bit crazy and develops something called National Suicide Day in the Bottom. Shadrack became the most difficult character to figure out as the book went on.
Besides a strange beginning, the middle of the book is even stranger. Nel and her mother are conservative and proper unlike Sula and her mother, which are liberal and passionate. I knew that the two little girls would naturally attract to each other because of their contrast in personalities. Nel and Sula are inseparable and it made me miss my own childhood. I don’t know how I feel about the Chicken Little scene in the book. It was a mix of sadness, anger, and shock. The way Nel and Sula reacted towards the event seemed as if they felt nothing had happened. Sula was crying but she was more afraid of Shadrack and didn’t seem to feel any sort of sadness. Nel didn’t show emotion about the event. It was barely spoken of between the two girls. I am hoping that in discussion we can talk more about this event and why it had such little impact on the girls.
One of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Sula’s mother Hannah burned herself in the fire. The scene was so shocking to me I could hardly keep reading without letting out a gasp. I am wondering what urged Hannah to do it and why she would kill herself right in the front lawn for everyone to see including her daughter Sula. When Eva jumped out of the window I thought for a moment that she would die too but she was somehow saved throughout the story for a purpose that I am trying to figure out. The sight of seeing your mother burn to death had to have affected Sula greatly. The psychological affects might be the reason why she insists on only caring about herself.
I’m not sure if the author wants to put emphasis on the problems in society (white vs. black) or the importance of friendship. I feel that she intended to stress friendship but could not leave out the problems the black community faces. It could be argued either way.
One section I was unable to understand in the book was the significance of the robins. “The plague” (89) the Bottom called it. I felt that the robins could represent the white community moving in to their own. Taking away their land and so much more. It shows how the community gave up in a way, “But they let it run it’s course, fulfill itself, and never invented ways to either alter it, to annihilate it or to prevent its happening again” (90).
In the end of the book Sula ultimately betrays her best friend Nel. I felt confused when the incident happened. I couldn’t understand why Sula would make such a decision. Eva is even more intriguing in the end. She was the grandmother of the town and she knew everyone. The way she speaks to Nel at the nursing home represents something more about Nel’s character. I am eager to discuss the book in class because I have so many questions about the characters and their actions.
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