“He did not speak down to her or at her, nor content himself with puerile questions about her life or monologues of his own activities. Thinking she was possibly brilliant, like his mother, he seemed to except brilliance from her, and she delivered” (127-128).
-This passage stood out to me because this type of a relationship is a big chance for Sula. Finally there is a guy she feels respects her and wants to talk to her not just sleep with her. She is maturing and is now seeing what type of relationship she needs. I think a lot of girls can relate to this passage because we never know if a guy is being nice because he wants to sleep with us or he actually cares and wants to get to know us. I like how it says Sula found pleasure in the fact that he wanted to actually have a conversation with her. It is a good scene because we are seeing good change for Sula.
“Why? I can do it all, why can’t I have it all? You can’t do it all. You a woman and a colored woman at that. You can’t act like a man. You can’t be walking around all independent-like, doing whatever you like, taking what you want, leaving what you don’t” (142).
-I got angry when reading that Nel is telling Sula she can’t do it all or be independent. I feel like this book is all about independent women or young girls growing up and trying to find their identity. I think for a girl to tell another girl that she can’t do it all and can’t be “all independent-like” is very crippling to a girls self-esteem. Sula has always been really independent and she has grown up seeing that women (her mother and grandmother in particular) can’t depend on men.
I had the same reaction to that sectin passage you posted. The nerve of Nel to tell sula this just really struck me but it also made me think of times when people told me i couldn't do things and i proved them to be wrong!
ReplyDeleteThe first passage that you quoted does show a type of emotional shift in Sula. For the first time, she feels connected to a man in a way that is not just sexual in nature. My question then lies in what is the text trying to tell us when Ajax abandons Sula? She begins acting in the same way as other women, and he walks out the door without a backward glance. What does this say? If Sula conforms to society's standards and is turned away, what type of message does that provide us an audience?
ReplyDeleteI found it to be a little sad that Sula kind of freaked out when the chance of a relationship came along and lost who she was. She had a guy that liked her for her, and when she conformed, he was gone.
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