In Part One, I felt an air of mystery surrounding Sula because I felt like she was only portrayed through the eyes of her family and Nel but there was no personal insight from Sula herself. I was at unease reading about Sula accidentally swinging Chicken Little into the river, dismember her finger, and watching her mother burn to death with interest. Jackie mentioned that it demonstrates her more or less her apathetic demeanor and seemingly indifference to pain.
As the novel transitions to Part Two, the content becomes more abstract along with dialogue conversations. Birds all of a sudden pollute the sky and defecate the ground, signifying the unwanted return of Sula. What remains the same is the attention she receives from people, both men and women alike, but mostly with disapproval. I interpreted the community's cautious attitudes because Morrison shapes her as the "outlaw woman" who everyone dislikes simply because she doesn't succumb to gender expectations in order to appease social norms. Women dislike her because she doesn't permanently settle for marriage and children but instead takes her own course by running away and attending college. Just the mere existence of Sula reminds women of how they're chained to conventional norms and lack the freedom she owns. However men feel threatened by her independence and how she doesn't desire approval from men.
These two quotes from Jude's viewpoint clearly illustrate how he's alarmed at her confidence when speaking about men because she did not speak to them to please them but actually chooses to express her unfiltered thoughts.
Nel was an exception to those who were horrified by her return, but in the end Sula's intimate encounter with Jude eventually made her think twice. Nel only saw the good parts of Sula and although she noticed the darkening of her rose birthmark, she viewed it as a strong selfless identity. In a way, Nel seemed to to be the only one who knew Sula best even though through rose-colored glasses.
"she looked like a woman roaming the country trying to find some man to burden down" (103)
"she stirred a man's mind maybe, but not his body" (104)
Nel was an exception to those who were horrified by her return, but in the end Sula's intimate encounter with Jude eventually made her think twice. Nel only saw the good parts of Sula and although she noticed the darkening of her rose birthmark, she viewed it as a strong selfless identity. In a way, Nel seemed to to be the only one who knew Sula best even though through rose-colored glasses.
"The rose mark over Sula's eye gave her glace a suggestion of startled pleasure. It was darker than Nel remembered" (96)
"Sula never competed; she simply helped others to define themselves". (95)
On the topic of Sula's birthmark, Meghan brought about the epigraph of the novel which I think is an accurate description of Sula. Her stemmed rose birthmark grows darker which symbolizes the strengthening of identity as she grows up and learns of certain dark truths. Despite her apathy and lack of judgment, Sula contains this inner glory and confidence that threaten others around her ....except Nel (until she was found naked with Jude).
On the topic of Sula's birthmark, Meghan brought about the epigraph of the novel which I think is an accurate description of Sula. Her stemmed rose birthmark grows darker which symbolizes the strengthening of identity as she grows up and learns of certain dark truths. Despite her apathy and lack of judgment, Sula contains this inner glory and confidence that threaten others around her ....except Nel (until she was found naked with Jude).
"Nobody knew my rose of the world but me....I had too much glory. They don't want glory like that in nobody's heart."
-The Rose Tattoo
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