Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Blog Post #3-Up to page 111-Due Wednesday, 5/14

As mentioned in class, please use this blog post to:
1. Comment on Morrison's use of symbolism and what may be revealed about race/ racism, sexuality, female friendships, and/or any other developing theme.
2. Pose one question about something you would like to discuss as a class.  Were there parts that were confusing, well written, shocking, etc...?
3. Comment on a classmate's post.

69 comments:

  1. I really liked how Morrison used symbolism to describe Sula's return and her actions in the town. Before Sula returned to Medallion birds kept falling out of the sky, the people took this as something evil was coming and then Sula made her return. Another instance was when Sula was talking to Shadrack and Shadrack was being civil to Sula. A neighbor watched this exchange in awe and then when she went inside she had a stye in her eye. They explained this as she had saw something evil and thats why she got the stye. Also they saw the birthmark was Hannah's ashes marking Sula forever.

    Question: What is the symbolism behind the gray ball that Nel now sees?

    Jessica C P6

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  2. It seems like the african american people live to survive the evils around them. In fact, it appears as if they create a bit of a contradiction for themselves. They try to conquer evil and, at the same time, they seem to find evil in everything. Fear looks like a big part of this book as well; this is justified because they have so many obstacles to overcome. Both of these ideas are well represented on page 90, "They did not believe doctors could heal- for them, none ever had done so. They did not believe death was accidental- life might be, but death was deliberate. [...] Plague and drought were as 'natural' as springtime. [...] The purpose of evil was to survive it and they determined [...] to survive floods, white people, tuberculosis, famine and ignorance. They knew anger well but not despair [...] it was beneath them."

    Also, in 1937, I can't help but to notice the many references to "bird shit." Could this be symbolic? Or is this made to juxtapose Sula's poise and extravagance on her way to Bottom?

    -chelsea per 6

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  3. Chelsea,
    I totally agree with your thoughts on how the town sees the evil in everything. Every little thing that happens seems to be an act against them. It seems like they only believe bad things can happen to them. I feel that since one doctor didn't work or they get plague or drought against them it isn't necessarily evil but just the time period they were in. Doctors aren't as advanced as they are nowadays and this could contribute to plague and they could have just had a bad season and there wasn't enough rain. I think that signs and superstition were very big in this time period and when things couldn't be explained they just said that evil things were against them.

    Jessica C P6

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  4. Let’s see…as this lovely book continues, there seems to be a theme worth noting that has been developing from the first pages. This seems to be Morrison’s ability to speak against heterosexual marriages and pro lesbian relationships. Almost on every page Sula is having another affair with another man and the narration depicts and characterizes Sula to be like the devil for doing so. In Morrison’s writing, the general attitude about heterosexual marriages is often negative at times and it sets your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride to figure out the messages she is trying to get a across. This possible theme could be completely wrong, but the kiss and make up relationship Nel and Sula have seem to allow a reader to wonder if the author is trying to suggest something about love.

    One question I have is what is actually happening “now” or current time in the book’s storyline? With all the jumping back and view changes, it is often hard to know what is actually occurring at the same time.

    Ryan H. Period 5

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  5. I feel like Morrison's writing really shows a sexist attitude toward women in that time period. She makes it sound like women are just supposed cater to their kids/spouses and not get an education or do things for themselves (like they're just supposed to be house bound). {LOLZ women in the kitchen jokes.} When she talks about how Hannah would get around with men she said the effect it had on the women was almost "complimentary" toward them. The way she described it, she seems like she was saying that the women felt honored that they had the man that Hannah at the time desired... and they just didn't do a thing about it. The gals just let it slide by that their husbands were having one night stands with her. And as for Sula, the women's reaction to that were "Oh noes, must cater to my man and cherish him from now on/ be a better parent to my kids".
    In a way, this really bothers me that these women just say "Okay" and just continue to cater to the people that betray them. To me it's a very sexist, but understandable for such a time period.

    Question: What was the meaning behind that paragraph about Sula and women relationships? Was that meant to be talking about homosexuality?

    Olivia N. 6.

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  6. Whoa Chelsea,
    Awesome point. I completely agree with your thoughts. It's such irony the way they think about good and evil, especially that page when they discuss hell and God. I also think your idea about fear being a theme is also great. They all live in this little community and they never leave and they just conform to the way their parents lived... I bet they all fear leaving unlike Sula.

    -Olivia N 6.

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  7. I almost love Morrison's writing in this book, not only is is "hard to swallow", but it's the truth, to a point. I love the fur ball that Nell sees it symbolizes all of the things she is repressing and doesn't want to look at. Somehow she knows she will have to look at it but she wants to put it off for as long as possible. All the symbols for Sula seem pretty dead on, but there's something lingering there that Morrison isn't telling us yet but is alluding to.

    I don't necessarily understand what is wrong with Eva.

    Sarah p6

    Chels, I agree that the towns people seem to think that everything is evil in some way or another. I also know that that's how things went about back then. It is quite annoying at times.

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  8. I think all of the robins in Medallion forshadowed Sula's return. The people of Medallion thought that the birds represented evil, they had learned to live with evil and accepted it. When Sula returns, her evil is the destruction of Nel's marriage.

    Jess,
    Maybe the grey ball that Nel saw symbolizes all the pain she has suffered throughout her life. All of the bad things that had happened to Nel during her childhood, things that she tried to suppress, were right in front of her, in a tight grey ball, pressuring here to confront those things.

    Why was Sula so rude to Eva upon her return to Medallion?

    Madison B
    Per 5

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  9. The major symbol I saw was Sula's tatoo of a snake. I think snakes in literature represent evilness, mystery, and slyness. In a way, I think Sula's tattoo shows that she does have some inner evil, like for example when she put Eva into a home or when she had an affair with Nel's husband. To me, Sula is very sly in the way that she doesn't look mean but she has hidden inside her. I am really confused with Sula and Eva's relationship and why it is so messed up and think we should discuss it in class.

    Why do you think Sula and Eva's relationship is so complicated?

    Hey Ryan,
    I totally agree with you- Morrison's style of writing makes it hard to know what's going on. I think the main focus right now is Sula and her inner evil. At this part/time in the book, Sula put Eva in a home because she was "scared" of her. I don't really know where their relationship is going to go from here.

    Kelly L. P5

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  10. Dear Kelly,

    You bring up a great question regarding the relationship between Sula and Eva. I have one theory. First, I do not know if anyone else knows that Eva killed Plum but I have a feeling Eva knows that Sula killed Chicken Little. Sula knows and is scared of what she is capable of doing with this knowledge. She hides her in the home where her word can be over turned by claims of sickness or of old age...

    Ryan H. Period 5

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  11. I was curious to know what the name "Sula" means because I know that often writers give a specific name to their characters for a reason, so I googled it. I found out that it means "peace" in Hebrew. Her last name is Peace, so essentially her name is Peace Peace which is obviously very ironic since the girl's full of drama: the plague of robins that accompanied her arrival, her fight with Eva, and her dog mating(or whatever that was) with Nel's husband. I think it's interesting that Morrison chose the name "Sula" for a character who creates everything but peace. Maybe her name and the fact that the book is titled SULA is a kind of foreshadowing for what's to happen later on, she might do some significant act of peace later on, or maybe Morrison just liked the irony.
    I really loved the way Morrison described death and the way people react to it, and I also really liked the way she made the reader go into Nel's mind after she walked in on Sula and Jude. I think both passages were very well written.

    Hey Olivia, I see where your coming from regarding the fact that the women in this book cater to their husbands and children, but I don't think Morrison is really being sexist I think it's just how society was at that time, which was very sexist.

    Treasure p6

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  12. I find all the robins at medallion to be very significant. I believe that they foreshadow Sula's return. This is because robins represent new beginnings and growth. This means that she might be a different person in the future. Robins also represent new possibilities which could change her as a person.


    What is behind the grey ball?


    Austin C
    Period. 6

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  13. After what we talked about in class, I made sure to keep the theme of sexuality in the back of my mind while reading the next chapters in Sula. I soon realized the refrences the author makes to pro lesbian behavior. Morrison depicts Sula as this horrible person because she is with so many guys. It is possible that the author is a lesbian, or she may just feel strongly about the topic and women in general.

    Kelly, I really like how you noticed the tattoo of the snake. It's possible that the author may have included it in order to show the reader how Sula is depicted as a bad person, maybe because of her promiscuity.

    Does Sula know that Eva killed Plum? I am very confused on this whole situation.

    Amanda M Period 5

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  14. I think that the birthmark on her eye is very symbolic of many things. At times, it looks like a flower, which is love, and when it is a rose it may even represent lust. But when it represents other things, it may also show her darker side. As she gets older and the mark gets darker, it seems to show how her personality is intensifying.

    Amanda: I think Sula knows that Eva killed Plum, and that is why she has such a distaste for her.

    What is the symbolism of the gray ball?

    Carley W
    p5

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  15. The symbolism that was most obvious to me was the tattoo of the snake. Snakes have symbolized evil and temptation ever since Eve ate the apple from the tree of knowledge. Who told her to do it? A snake! I think Sula's snake tattoo represents, as always, evil and temptation (perhaps in her case for lust?).

    My main question was: What is going on?! Which has been answered by Kelly. It's hard to tell where they are in the story line. Or maybe I'm just taking too much time between readings. Perhaps this is a book that should be read in one sitting?

    ONar-I think it's less that Morrison is sexist and more that the times were sexist, ya dig?

    Katrice Kemble
    period 5

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  16. I'm kind of bummed that kelley blogged about the snake tattoo, because that seemed to jump out at me as i read. Sula's snake tattoo represents the evil in her as well as her sneekieness. Like a snake slivering through grassblades to reach food right in front of an oblivious group of poeople at a barbeque, Sula sneeks around and has an affair with Nel's husband, and on top of it, it seems that she sleeps around often. Sula does not come off as a good person to me. I don't feel that there is much to Sula, but the fact that she is an antagonist and I think that her and Eva's relationships with eachother were purposely made to highlight this antagonism in a way that both charachters are flawed. and that KELLY, is why i feel that their relationship is so complicated. Toni Morrison wanted those two charachters to compliment eachothers traits.

    What are some traits of Eva that compliment or contrast Sula's traits? (I feel that I understand more about Sula then Eva just because I don't understand Eva's mind set)

    JACKIE G6

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  17. I found it really interesting how everything bad that happens to the African Americans is used as the symbol of evil. African Americans believed that in order to survive, or continue to live life on earth, people needed to overcome the evil. For an example, they thought that death was something that wasn't accidental but rather deliberately done to someone because of their actions. In addition, floods and droughts were natural disasters used in order to test people's survival skills. If you became sick, you would need to fight off that evil in order to become a stronger person. Obstacles like floods, droughts, and sickness were “evil” things that needed to be conquered in order to survive.

    I wonder why they don't believe in bad timing, or even why they think everything bad that happens is for a reason. It's very interesting that they don't think anything bad happens on accident.

    I agree with Ryan. Morrison's writing style makes it hard to follow. I think the symbols are used to show what she thinks was really important, so pay close attention and it might help you better understand what she's trying to get at!

    Leah S
    Period 5

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  18. Sometimes when I'm reading I find Morrison's writing style uneasy. Olivia, I agree with you when you said that it's almost as if she's discriminating against the women of that time period. They're either used solely for sex or to take care of the kids and work around the house. Some things that I don't understand are why the mole keeps getting darker, maybe because as she gets older she is becoming more and more intense? And that grey fur ball-maybe thats supposed to symbolize Nel's worries and fears. Jackie, I liked what you said about the snake tattoo. Very observational! What do you think about the part where Nel was sitting on the bathroom floor waiting for something to happen inside of her?

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  19. Treasure, I am so glad you decided to look up Sula's name! :) As a writer, I often look up "baby names" in a book my mother used to name me. Every time I write a new story, I look up appropriate attributes and match it up with a name that I find suitable. Perhaps Morrison found purpose in her character's name as well... In fact, I was going to look up some of these names too... eventually. Thanks for sharing :)

    chelsea per 6

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  20. I certainly feel that in Morrison's writing she is suggestive towards the ideas of sexist beliefs and the struggles of the African American. I think that the way she portrays woman in the book is that they are always working to serve their spouses and households and that there really is no other place for them. Such as they shouldn't hold jobs or make get an education worth contributing to the world and that their only contribution is to their households. Morrison also suggest the struggles of African American people and how bad things are constantly happening to them. There are also many symbols in this story such as birds which represent flight because right before sula arrives so do a plague of robins arrives and the fact that Sula and Cecile both flee at some point invokes the idea of flight. Fire is also another symbol which represents cleansing even though it kills him, the fire cleans Plum of his misery filled drug addicted life. The fact that Hannah catches on fire is a symbol for Sula's indifference as a mother and the fact that she really didn't like Hannah. Leah I think that you bring up a very good point about African American's way of life which consists of overcoming evil, and that fact that these people have so much evil in their lives.

    Why is it odd that Eva criticizes Sula's unconventional life when Sula returns to the Bottom after a ten year absence? What are some possible reasons for her criticism?

    JAKE PERIOD6

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  21. Chealsea,
    I find it interesting also that there are so many references to that in the book. I feel that it represents that they are below everything is some way. But I really dont know.

    Austin C
    Per. 6

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  22. As I have read Sula, I have noticed some key details that may be symbolic. I'm not sure, but I think that the birds symbolize something important. Earlier in the book I remember Morrison using birds to describe Rochelle. In my opinion, birds symbolize flight and movement to different places. In addition, robins are also associated with the spring and new beginnings. When Eva killed Plum by setting him on fire I thought that the fire could have symbolized a sort of cleansing for Eva. This may sound horrible, but I don't really know how else to say it.

    What does the gray ball symbolize?

    Jackie,
    You bring up a good point about the snake tattoo. It is another small detail that could have big symbolism in the book. I think that the tattoo fits Sula's personality well.

    -Bob T period 6

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  23. I think Sula's darkening birthmark is symbolic of her maturing and becoming someone that the town views as 'evil.' When she was young, Sula's birthmark was compared to a rose, a symbol of live and purity. When she returned to Medallion as a woman, it was likened to a copperhead, a type of snake. Snakes ate considered evil and widely feared in many cultures.

    Question: Why were Sula and Eva so hostile towered each other upon Sula's return?

    Chelsea,
    I agree with you, it seems a bit ironic that the African Americans are strong and live to survive the evils around them, yet seem to go looking for more things to consider evil, like Sula.
    Jenny P6

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  24. I think it is safe to say that many of my classmates will agree with me when I say that Toni Morrison writes about strange and abnormal occurrences. Writing about killing one's children and having a secret relationship with one's husband in one book is very dramatic. It could be that Morrison thought these were topics that would keep the reader engaged in the novel, but it may be possible that she developed these ideas from life experiences. Also, I was curious to see what may have inspired her writing style so I looked up her biography. I found that her family was "intimate with the supernatural and frequently used visions and signs to predict the future." I found this to be really interesting because the book explores the inner demons/evil inside of the characters. For example, Eva's inner evil caused her to kill her son. Maybe her family's interest in the other side/supernatural inspired this theme.

    Alexis M P5

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  25. Why does the mole keep getting darker? Does this come with age or is there significance to this?

    Olivia,

    I also HATE how these women give in to the men in this novel and allow their husbands to treat them horribly. It makes me happy, as a girl, that women have come such a long way. I don't think Morrison was trying to be sexist - this is just how it was in the 1920's. Women felt inferior to men (partly due to financial reasons), so they did what was asked of them.


    ALEXIS M

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  26. I loved the way Morrison uses Sula's birthmark as a symbol of her mother's burning ashes. In the previous chapters, before Hannah burns, Morrison emphasized Sula's birthmark. It really made me think of Sula's character and how she is like her mother. She is a free bird, with no care in the world. She has no responsibilities (a man, child, family). Her mother, on the other hand, had responsibilities, but was still free in the sense of committing. I found the theme of death very interesting in this book. When a character dies, or is murdered, the surrounding characters act differently than I would expect. For example, Sula was captivated almost excited when she saw her mother burn. That is not a normal reaction. Or when Eva burns Plum, because she couldn't go through the pain of “birthing him again.”

    What does the gray ball of fur represent for Nel? What does it mean?

    Reema C.
    p 5

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  27. I like the symbolism that Morrison uses with the race of the african people. They come from so many different types of superstitions and views of the world that it makes sense that they would find evil in everything. It also shows to me, however, how far women have come. The birthmark I believe is not only a symbol of her growing as a person, but women in general.

    Question: Could the gray ball be symbolic as the green light was in Gatsby?

    Jenny,
    I agree with you about the birthmark. I thought it was very interesting that you made that connection from the beginning of the story to the birthmark.

    Taylor S, P5

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  28. Sula's tatoo of a snake was a symbol of her sneekiness and inner evil. She pute Eva in a home and she had an affair with Nel's husbans. Her birthmark is also linked to the snake, further making me feel that this snake represents Sula's evilness.

    What is the symbolism of the grey ball? That didn't seem to jump out at me as much as the snake did.

    Jenny, I think you are right on with Sula's birthmark. I think it may be a biblical referance as well; all humans being born pure, then Sula was kind of a ....slut- so she lost that purity and it tangled into an evil perseption or defiance.

    Jackie G5

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  29. In many cases, I feel that Sula is portrayed as the bad guy in the story, especially when she has an afair with Nel's husband. It seems that Sula is thought of as the worst whenever she is with another man. This leads me to believe that Toni Morrison may be supportive of homosexuality and against women with men. In addition to this, Sula has a snake tattoo. Because snakes represent evil, it shows how the author chose to portray the character Sula.

    Jenny, I totally agree with you about the symbolism of her birthmark; I never thought of it in that way! I think it's related to the snake tattoo as well.

    Is there any symbolism or hidden beliefs about Nel and Sula's strong friendship?

    Amanda M. Period 5

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  30. The most obvious symbolism that I saw was in Sula's snake tattoo. Snakes have symbolised temptation and evil ever since Eve took a bite from the apple from the tree of knowledge. (Who told her to do it? A SNAKE!) In this case, I think that the snake symbolises Sula's evilness and evilosity (and temptation...perhaps for lust?)

    Question: Why does Nel see a gray ball? What is the gray ball? Can someone just explain that to me?

    Chelsea, I saw the people being so afraid of evil yet looking for evil too. I think that they need somewhere to place the blame and something specific to call evil. That, in my opinion, is why they think Sula is basically the devil.

    Katrice K
    period 5

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  31. Alexis,
    I also felt like Sula's darkening mole had importance. When she was younger, it was very light and was compared to a rose. Now, people saw her mark a sign of being evil. I think the birthmark separated her from the people of Medallion, the common people, and made her stand out more, to show how different she was from the people of that time.

    Reema C.
    p 5

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  32. I think the dead robins symbolized Sula's return to Medallion. The people of Medallion thought that the robins represented evil and they also thought Sula was evil because she had slept with Nel's husband and ruined her marriage.

    Jess C,
    I think gray ball that Nel saw represented all the bad things that had happened to her which she had suppressed. The color gray sympolizes depression and unhappiness and the ball represents Nel's memories forming tightly together in order to repress them.

    Why was Sula so rude upon her return to Medallion?

    Madison B
    Per 5

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  33. I believe that Sula's birthmark becoming darker and darker is a symbol of her maturing and becoming a person that the community see's as 'evil.' When she was still a girl,the townspeople of saw Sula's birthmark as the shape of a rose, a symbol of life and innocence. When she returned to Medallion as a woman, it was looked at as a copperhead snake. Just like in the bible snakes are viewed as evil and manipulative, this was not a good sign for sula.

    question:
    What is going to happen if the townspeople actually start fearing sula?

    roz t period 5

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  34. African Americans are such a strong willed people. In their homeland, they struggle against disease, famine, and even each other thanks to borders drawn by European conquerors. They constantly strive to be better and to outmatch their problems. Their will and perserverence are well represented on page 90 in the quote: "They did not believe doctors could heal- for them, none ever had done so. They did not believe death was accidental- life might be, but death was deliberate. [...] Plague and drought were as 'natural' as springtime. [...] The purpose of evil was to survive it and they determined [...] to survive floods, white people, tuberculosis, famine and ignorance. They knew anger well but not despair [...] it was beneath them."


    I was wondering what are some symbols are in the chapter?


    Noah Perito p6

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  35. I find it interesting that Sula and Nel were never seperate until Nel met Jude. They were friends before thay knew each other, and when they finally met, they were immediately seen as one entity. Morrison said, "In those days a complement to one was a complement to the other, and cruelty to one was a challenge to the other."(pg 84) One would think that if one fell in love the other would too, but I guess that their hearts were different. If they were the same, thet would've fought over boys and they never did.

    One question I had was why did Sula not say goodbye when she left, whether she knew or not that she would come back ten years later?

    Gretchen per 5

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  36. Amanda,
    I think that she took the place of her mother, who was the town slut before her. her mother was never seen as evil though, as Sula's tattoo shows. Hannah also never ruined a marriage, though some of the other women despised her.

    Gretchen per 5

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  37. Jenny,
    I think Eva and Sula were so hostile towards each other when Sula returned because they behave the same way. Eva was mad at Sula for watching Hannah die and not doing anything about it, yet Sula can rebut that Eva is the same because she killed Plum. They have similar characteristics thus they butt heads.

    ~Jessica C P6

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  38. Maybe Sula's darkening birthmark is symbollic of her and Nels frienship-the darker it gets the more they seem to grow apart. Noah, I agree with you when you referenced the passage on page 90. The people in this book are very determined, and react to the bad things that may happen with a good attitude. They simply lay it off at everyone having "evil days," and they just accept it. That was one thing I liked about this book- the people seem to move on and still try to live fulfilling lives. Im my eyes, that's the way it's supposed to be. One part which I found well written was when Sula died. I liked how Toni Morrison portrayed her death almost peacefully, like Sula knew it was her time to go, and she didn't fight it. I also liked how after she died, she thought "It didn't even hurt. Wait'll I tell Nel." This quote shows Sula's love for her friend, up until the day she died.

    Julianne M P6

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  39. I think that the death of Chicken Little is symbollic of the way Sula is treated by the townspeople after she returns. I think Morrison named him "Chick Little" after the children's story about how the chick cried "the sky is falling" and how everyone believed him. The situation became too over-the-top and unnessesarily intense. In the same way, when Sula unintentionally killed Chicken Little, she in a way 'absorbed' his 'karma.' Then, when she returns to the town, everyone is quick to gang up against her and blame every little misfortune on her. They blindly fuel the situation and let it get completely out of hand.

    I was wondering if the scene where Sula and Nell are digging around in the ground with their sticks symbollizes anything (58).

    Jenny, I always assumed that that the birthmark on Sula's face was supposed to symbollize something, and what you said makes perfect sense!

    Sreedevi 6

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  40. I believe that there is great symbolism in Sula's birthmark that seems to be getting darker. This could act as a forshadowing to what is going to happen to her. But, it can symbolize race, and the darkening of the birthmark may relate to the darkness of one's skin. For example, African Americans have gone through such terrible times and hardships because of their dark colored skin. So, the birthmark could symbolize hard times that are about to come her way. Originally, her birthmark was thought to resemble a rose, but when it became darker, it no longer resembled something so innocent, yet it symbolized anger and hardships.

    Something I was confused about was, what was the significane of the "gray ball" that Nel saw?

    Madison, I like your interpretation of the dead robins. It directly relates because death is an evil thing, so these dead robins must symbolize something evil, like Sula.

    Allie B Period 6

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  41. I personally think Morrison's use of symbolism was great. I especially love the gray ball that Nell sees because I think it represents the things she doesn't want to face at the moment. She wants to forget about it and yet she can't.

    Chelsea, The birds falling from the sky, are I think a foreshadowing affect. Showing that someone was going to die or have a great misfortune.

    Sarah p6

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  42. Rewrite. GAH.

    Well, basically my earlier blog post was about the way Morrison describes women and their role in this time period. It disturbs me that when ever their man cheats on them they seem to be like "Oh, that's fine, dear. Let me make you a sandwich". She says that the women feel the need to "cherish" their husbands after they cheat and just love them like nothing ever happened.
    Also, she says that with Hannah, when she slept with your man, you felt honored that she wanted him and you had him first. And then she says that with Sula, it made the women want to relish in their husbands being and become better parents/spouses. WHAT WHAT WHAT. That's ridiculous to not even be mad at your husband for sleeping with someone else.

    Question:
    Does Sula have lesbian thoughts? I'm confused on that.

    Rant over.
    Olivia N. Period 6.

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  43. Chelsea,
    I completely agree with your thoughts on the book. It seems like the people are very focused on being Godly and being good people and yet in doing so they are being bad. Example: when Sula died no one really felt bad. Everyone was like AMEN and didn't formally come to her funeral. They only came to make sure she was dead. Sounds like godly people to me :3 (sarcasm). Anyways, great points!

    Olivia N. Period 6.

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  44. i believe that Sula's birthmark has a great significance in this part of the book. When she was young people described it as a rose colored,and a rose is symbolic for purity and divinity. However upon her return to town, her birthmark has morphed into a different color. Now it has become like a copperhead. This is obviously directed towards the type of snake, the copperhead. The snake has been symbolized from the begining of time as evil, from the bible, to the simple fear of its venim. Therefore, the changing or darkening of her birthmark shows the reader how she has changed over the years and what she has become.
    i personally don't understand the grey ball. That whole section didn't make much sense to me.
    Lea, to answer your question, no it is not right to take anyone's life no matter what. We as a people can say or think whatever we like about a person, but nothing gives us the right to take someones life away from them. It is never justified to do so.
    Stacy per 6

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  45. I was wondering what the name Sula means, because I know that often writers give their characters a specific name for a reason, so I googled it. I found that "Sula" means "peace" in Hebrew. Her last name is Peace so essentially her name is "Peace Peace" which is obviously ironic because this gir's full of nothing but drama:the plague of robins accompanying her arrival, her argument with Eva, her mysterious birthmark, and her affair with Jude. Perhaps Morrison chose this name for such a problematic charcter because she liked the irony of it.
    I really liked the passage when Morrison was describing death and how people react to it and I also loved how she put the reader into Nel's head after she had walked in on Sula and Jude. I think that both were very well written. Despite all the craziness that's in this book, I think that Morrison is a very talented writer and I can see how she won a Nobel Peace Prize in literature.

    Alexis- I like how you researched Morrison's background. The fact that her family life was like that makes me understand some elements of this book, like the townpeople's superstitions. I think that doing some research is beneficial because it makes the book easier to understand the book better, especially one as complicated as Sula.
    I don't get the symbolism behind the grey ball.
    Treasure p6

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  46. Let’s see…as this lovely book continues, there seems to be a theme worth noting that has been developing from the first pages. This seems to be Morrison’s ability to speak against heterosexual marriages and pro lesbian relationships. Almost on every page Sula is having another affair with another man and the narration depicts and characterizes Sula to be like the devil for doing so. In Morrison’s writing, the general attitude about heterosexual marriages is often negative at times and it sets your mind on a rollercoaster of a ride to figure out the messages she is trying to get a across. This possible theme could be completely wrong, but the kiss and make up relationship Nel and Sula have seem to allow a reader to wonder if the author is trying to suggest something about love.
    One question I have is what is actually happening “now” or current time in the book’s storyline? With all the jumping back and view changes, it is often hard to know what is actually occurring at the same time.

    Ryan H. Period 5

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  47. Morrison uses a lot of small details in the book that can be symbolic or forshadow events later in the book. For example, I believe that the birds in Sula symbolize many different things. They symbolize, movement, change, and growth. I remember earlier in the novel when Morrison compared Rochelle to a canary. The “plague of robins” is also interesting to consider. Fire is also another key symbol in the novel. In my opinion, the fire symbolizes a cleansing when Eva sets Plum on fire. It may be a horrible thing to say, but Eva is trying to cleanse the world of Plum’s bad influence.
    Jenny,
    You bring up some interesting points. I never thought of her birthmark in that way. I agree with you that Sula is evil and that she changes throughout the book.
    -Bob T period 6

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  48. i forgot my question...
    What is the meaning behind the grey ball?
    -Bob T

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  49. The general theme that I have seen develop throughout the novel has been the overwhelming presence of evil in the common person. None of the characters in the book have many exception qualities and what I mean by this is that there's nothing that extraordinary about any of them. To me, it seems that Toni Morrison was trying to get across the point that this evil can live and thrive in common people. Theres not one person who is immune to evil power, and although this book may seem confusing or disturbing at points, I believe that's Morrison's goal. She wants to scare the reader into seeing her point of view. She tells these stories about terrible things from this dark and almost scary perspective, but if thats how she feels she needs to write in order to get her point across, then so be it.

    Question: What is the significance of the gray ball?

    Sam B. Per. 5

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  50. The major symbol I saw was Sula's tatoo of a snake. I think snakes in literature represent evilness, mystery, and slyness. In a way, I think Sula's tattoo shows that she does have some inner evil, like for example when she put Eva into a home or when she had an affair with Nel's husband. To me, Sula is very sly in the way that she doesn't look mean but she has hidden inside her. I am really confused with Sula and Eva's relationship and why it is so messed up and think we should discuss it in class.

    Why do you think Sula and Eva's relationship is so complicated?

    Hey Ryan,
    I totally agree with you- Morrison's style of writing makes it hard to know what's going on. I think the main focus right now is Sula and her inner evil. At this part/time in the book, Sula put Eva in a home because she was "scared" of her. I don't really know where their relationship is going to go from here.

    Kelly L. P5

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  51. Throughout this book i just see a lot of evils. Every character in this book has an evil side, none are really described as wonderful fully good people. i feel that Morrison believes that deep down every human being is evil deep down and that if they are going to be good they have to force it upon themselves because everyone everyday is exposed to evils in every way. There are so many symbols of different evils in this book, all the fire references, Sulas' dark birth mark, and all the deaths that happen throughout the book.
    I am especially confused on what exactly the grey ball means? whats its significance?

    Jarrett p5

    I mean as for commenting on a classmates post basically everyone here mentions the evil showed in this book and how strong it is really shown. so i agree with all of you! :D

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  52. This is definitely when the evil parts start to come out. Obviously, as stated about a million times, the snake tattoo on Sula, snakes representing evil and such and such. I think its interesting that Toni chose Sula to become the scapegoat and even be the symbol for evil since, as she was growing up, Sula was so innocent and fun loving. She really fed off of Nel, and Nel was a good example. She didn't go climbing trees or getting into danger. She had the authority over Sula, so I expected Sula to not be so "evil."
    I'm kind of curious why Sula left in the first place, but i may just be stupid and have read right over that.
    and as for everyone, I definitely agree with jarrett on this one. The book has a good handful of themes that are promiment in different parts of the book, but in this one, the evil in all of us theme is ever present.

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  53. I really like the symbolism of fire because every time someone is lit on fire or the word is mentioned,I refer back to this mesmerizing mental image of beautiful flames dancing upwards. although fire hurts, burns, and can kill, I have learned that it is also a beneficial and beautiful thing. In APES, we learned that some forest fires are actually good because they recycle nutrients by burning brush and old or dry trees, allowing for new growth and life. I think in Sula the fire has a similar meaning...in a twisted way. I also think that the idea of love and the devil that seem to follow Sula around and make her look evil to the rest of the people of Bottom is the author's way of telling readers that there are gray areas in sexual encounters. Not everyone is either pure or a sinner, virgin or "whore" as was once explained to me, and Sula takes much criticism for embracing this. I think we should talk more about this in class because it seems to be a reoccurring theme, which means the author must think it is important and worthy of our time.

    Hey Ry! I agree with you. There is definitely a theme that continually illustrates the problems and "evils" of marriage and love.

    Steph P5 :)

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  54. The symbolism of Sula's birthmark changing could have been how she was also changing. It shows how she slowly turned into something that people considered "evil".
    Jarrett- I feel that the gray ball has something to do with all of the hatred feelings that Eva had towards Sula and how they were bad and maybe uncertain (hence the gray) and on the last page in the book it kind of symbolizes how she is letting go of these feelings.
    I don't really understand that well, what is the significance of the scene where Sula and Eva are digging the holes and putting the debris in them?

    -Jess B. p.5

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  55. I think fire symbolizes immorality and smoke symbolizes guilt. Every time Morrison mentions fire she mentions smoke afterwards. I think Morrison is trying to show that there’ll always be consequences to wrongdoings. For example, after Eva set fire to Plum it says in the text that the smoke was left in her hair for a long time.

    Is Sula a bad influence to the people living in Bottom? How come things look more peaceful when she is around?

    Jenny, I thought the same thing about Sula’s birthmark. I thought Sula was loosing her innocence, as the birthmark was getting darker. And I thought the rose represented the beauty of innocence.

    Ashley Y p6

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  56. In the book there are a lot of references to birds. I feel that they foreshadow the return of Sula and what she might act like when she comes back. In the book they reference the robins which will foreshadow the return of bad things. The plague of robins foreshadows the plague of deaths. This is a very large concept in the book that is commonly missed. 

    Austin
    Per 6

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  57. I think the Bottom symbolizes the black lifestyle in the early 20th century, especially in contrast with the social status of white people in that time. In the social ladder, unfortunately, black people were on the bottom rung. Like in the parable of the master and the slave, the black community was lied to about it's status.

    What, if anything, did the people of the Bottom do to escape their socioeconomic situation?

    Jenny, I agree with your interpretation if fire and smoke in the book.

    Luke
    Period 6

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  58. No wait, I meant Ashley.

    Luke
    Period 6

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  59. There are many symbols throughout the novel. For one thing, I think that Morrison included birds as an importsnt symbol because both Sula and her sister flee theier homes at one point and the birds are the symbol of migration. Morrison also uses birds to signal Sula's arrival which symbolizes change as well as migration. Another symbol in this book is water because chicken little drowns so this symbolizes cleansing. Morrison also uses fire as a symbol of cleansing because PLum lived a life of despair and trouble. Eva sets him on fire as a way of freeing him from his troubles, which is sybolic of cleansing his soul. Morrison incorportaes the themes of sexist ideas and racism. She depicts women as simply staying home and caring for their families and that they really serve no other purpose. Love is also an important theme, for example, Eva loves her son so much that she wishes to set him free from his horrible life, while in our minds she is awful for killing her son, from her perspective it was a loving act.

    Jake Period 6

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  60. I noticed that when Sula is younger her birthmark is compared to a rose. As a woman her birthmark is said to look like a snake. In many cultures snakes are evil. For example, in the story of Adam and Eve it was a snake that convinced Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.

    What does everyone else think of the difference in the appearance of Sula's birthmark?

    Jake, I agree with what you said about the birds and how both Sula and her sister leave home. The fact that Sula comes home also parallels how birds fly south in the winter and return home on the summer. It makes a lot of sense.

    Caitlyn L Period 5

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  61. i would definately have to say that i liked how morrison used fire as a symbol. i think that in the text i think that fire represents cleansing and purifying something. evidence of this is when Eva's son was burned and he was a druggy and by lighting him on fire and killign it him it kind of cleased him. Also i think that fire is significant to hell. i think it represents hell int he sence that when people do bad things they will burn like in hell and ide.
    a question i have is alot of the things that Sula was doing are considered bad and alot of people think that Sula is ''evil'' so how come Sula died a normal death?
    Sam i totally see what you mean and i was thining the same thing for the common theme and the book does seem to concentrate on the evils of the common man.

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  62. This part of the book confused me. I understand how the birds falling out of the sky foreshadows a much bigger and evil event. But I really feel that in a way it was making a big deal out of Sula's return to Bottom. She really didn't do anything, she was harmless but people had a prejudice against her. Probably because of the death of the birds. Sula did exactly what Hannah did, she just slept around with everyone, but can the town actually blame her? She grew up in a house where both of the signifigant figures had multiple partners throughout life. And I don't understand why the town would be mad at Sula, she doesn't rape the men. They go to her. So the women in the town should only be mad at their husbands. I agree with Olivia's rant that it's ridiculous to be mad at Sula and not be mad at Hannah or the husbands that go cheating. A theme I'm seeing in this book is the screwed up perspective of family and unity. Maybe that's a bit out of hand, but these families are so dysfunctional it's scary, Sula watched her own mother burn, and Eva burned Plum to death, and Teapot's Mama beats him up.
    One question I have is: Is Sula a lesbian because the passage with her and her relationships and looking back at how she acted with Nel might suggest homosexuality.
    Shama P6

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  63. Shama,
    I don't think Sula and Nel have a thing for each other. They're just really really really good friends. Toni Morrison is trying to emphasize the intensity of a true friendship. The reason that Sula and Nel feel like they are each other's other half is that they are very individualistic people, unlike the rest of the community. Nobody understands them completely, but them themselves.
    I bet there are a lot of symbolisms in the text I've missed but the gray ball is the symbol of anger that is only harmful to Nel. Nel crumples her anger into a ball instead of dealing with her problem. This will always make her unhappy.
    The robins could symbolize different things to different people. For Sula, it's a symbol of freedom. For the people of the town, it's s symbol of misfortune. Sula's birthmark is very confusing. I don't know why Toni Morrison made her main character have a eye with a birthmark. I'm guessing to Morrison, it's a good symbol, and not anything bad.

    Anjita p.6

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