Sula--REader Response

Sula was not my favorite book of the four that we have read thus far, but I did enjoy it.

Shadrack was my favorite character in the novel. Obviously suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome Shadrack is one of the deepest characters in the book and I hope we can discuss him very in depth. I wonder if he has any symbolism. One thing that I thought was interesting was that Morrison never actually tells the reader what happens to Shadrack that puts him in the hospital for so long.

Helene seems like an incredibly anal lady. Is there actually a difference between the pronunciation of Helen and Helene? I felt bad for Nel because her mother “drove her imagination underground” (18). I had difficulty understanding how Nel and Sula could become such good friends so fast when they were so completely different. Morrison says they’re the same in many ways but he never really explains how. They do share the similarity that they both want to find themselves as individuals, but the do it in completely different ways at completely different times. Both of their mothers are extreme and attractive.

When Nel prays “Oh, Jesus, make me wonderful” I could really relate to it. I felt like she was going to be a very interesting character when I read that and I was disappointed by her actions later in the book. Why do the girls appreciate being called “Pig meat”? That doesn’t make sense to me at all.

I was very happy for Nel when she married a “handsome, well-liked man” (80). I was incredibly disappointed when he cheated on her.
I wonder why Sula decides to leave after Nel’s wedding. If she hadn’t left, probably things would be much better, she would have been able to find herself more easily I think.

When Nel is on the train and she thinks her mother turns to custard (28) I didn’t really understand.

I don’t like Sula at all. I wonder how she could not be upset that she accidently killed Chicken Little (the same goes for Nel). Also, I wonder how Sula could not have foreseen Nel’s anger when she slept with Jude. Reading “The Rose Tattoo” at the beginning of the novel, I am reminded of Sula’s birthmark which is described like a rose. What is the symbolism of the birthmark?

I thought it was interesting that the only child that Eva had that she doesn’t give a pet name to is the child one who stays with her. Why would Plum/Ralph keep a bottle of bloody water?

I have the strong impression that Morrison doesn’t like men very much. Shadrack is insane. Plum does drugs and his mother kills him. Boy-Boy abandons Eva. Jude sleeps with Sula. Ajax can’t handle commitment. Tar Baby does nothing but sing and drink. The Dewey’s are random. Teapot is spoiled. Are there any good males in the book?

The overwhelming theme of blacks’ oppression was written very interestingly. When the man of the boat asks “will those people [blacks] ever be anything but animals” it is ironic because the question is coming from the man who is prepared to leave people’s corpses in the water because it might inconvenience him not to.

When Hannah asks Eva about love I was surprised because Hannah had just said that she didn’t like her own child. Also, Eva’s answer gives great insight as to why she raised her children the way she did, but also why Hannah’s generation had so many problems. How could you be concerned with building your child’s mind when you were just trying to keep them alive.

It’s ironic that Hannah should die by fire when she killed plum by fire. Eva’s statement at the end of the novel that “It’s awful cold in water. Fire is warm” (168) provides interesting insight into Eva’s mindset when she killed her son and how she coped with her daughter’s death.