T H E M E S & M O T I F S I N S U L A Family/parenthood
1. What is Morrison saying about the topic? -effect parents have on children -how children react to their parents’ upbringing -parents shape their children’s personalities/futures -family life between 1920 - 1965 is not functioning in the Bottom
angry parent = sad child loving parent = happy child
a lonely child = a sad child
Throughout Morrison’s novel, we do not come across a stereotypical family (father, mother, daughter and son). The Suggs family is an exception, but they are only a small background part of the novel, so we could ignore them. ‘After 5 years of a sad and disgruntled marriage Boyboy took off’ Page 32
MALE FIGURES -sole provider of the family -Morrison inverses the role of the male -males are reliant of female figures in Sula -functioning male characters are barely present
examples of missing male figures -When Sula accidently murders Chicken Little and goes to Shadrack for comfort. ‘He [Shadrack] nodded his head as though answering a question, and said, in a pleasant conversational tone, a tone of cooled butter, “Always.”’ (pg 62). Shadrack is doing his best to comfort her, but obviously this is not enough for Sula as she fled ‘…down the steps and … collapsed in tears.’ (pg 62)
FEMALE FIGURES -female characters are the glue that hold the family together -female characters are not as they appear (do not always succeed in keeping their children safe) For example when Eva burns her son alive because he is permanently damaged by war, she feels that this is the right thing to do as she doesn’t want to go back to taking care of him.
Development of the theme The theme of family does not develop throughout the novel as the overall family situations in the novel do not get worse nor better. There is the exception of the Suggs family, but not taking them in account overall the treatment of the theme stays constant.
Effect of the parents -As we said earlier, in this novel males aren’t present in the upbringing of their children. -For example, Sula is hurt because she barely receives any attention. While Nell feels smothered by her mother. ‘You love her like, like I love Sula. I just don’t like her.’ Page 56
“The novel explores the importance of the presence or absence of family and friends. Sula hurts greatly from the lack of attention she receives from her mother; in contrast, Nel feels somewhat smothered by Helene and determines she will not become like her. In truth, both girls turn out just like their mothers.” http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Sula_Toni_Morrison/Sula_Study_Guide05.html http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Sula_Toni_Morrison/Sula_Study_Guide05.html
With this idea of non-functioning families Morrison is portraying that society in the village the novel is set - the Bottom, isn’t functioning as the father figure always leaves.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!
The winner will receive …
*DRUMROLL*
An all new chewed up second hand kid couleur purple big france C. E An all new chewed up second hand kid couleur purple big france C.E. felt tip!
Question 1 What is the theme we just presented?
Question 2 What is Morrison trying to evoke using this theme?
Question 3 On page 142, who is not sick?
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Sula_Toni_Morrison/Sula_Study_Guide05.html http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5419360/the_portrayal_of_men_in_toni_morrisons.html?cat=38