There are two particular quotes that I found in the first half of the book that really caught my eye.
The first one is found in section 1920 on page 24. “She looked around for the other women and her four children, three boys and a girl, Helene and her daughter squatted there in the four o’ clock Meridian sun. They did it again in Ellisvile, again in Hattiesburg and by the time they reached Slidell, not to far from Lake Pontchartrain, Helene could not only fold leaves as well as the fat woman, she never felt a stir as she passed the muddy eyes of the men who stood like wrecked Dorics under the station roofs of those towns.”
The reason this quote affected me so much is because it seems so real, and at the time. It was. There was so much racism going on in our world at this time. It just really made me think about how far we have really come as a country. Although I can’t think of one right now, but I only believe that I can compare this to other books I have read focused on racism. It would be impossible to compare this to something that happened in my life because this kind of thing doesn’t happen anymore. There are now black doctors and nurses, black executives, etc. I am so glad that I will never know how African Americans truly were treated. It’s cruel and not human. You would never hear of something like that going on this time and while reading this, I honestly found myself thanking God for letting me live in a time where all this is past, where people are created equally. There will always be some racist people in our world, but these people are immature and need to grow up. This is definitely something I feel very strongly about and it interests me a lot.
The second quote that caught my eye right away was in section 1922, on page 53. “Their friendship was as intense as it was sudden. They found relief in each other’s personality. Although both were unshaped, formless things, Nel seemed stronger and more consistent than Sula, who could hardly be counted on to sustain any emotion for more than three minutes.”
This quote is obviously about friendship- a very strong friendship. It kind of reminds me of the friendship that I have with my best friend, Kathleen. Kathleen and I luckily don’t have to cope with the problems that these girls did. But if we ever had to, I feel confident that Kat and I would be about to get through it together. Besides my family, no one in the world compares to that girl. And to me, this quote exemplifies that kind of friendship. This book has definitely made me appreciate the things I have more than I have been. I guess what I am trying to say is that when it comes down to it, a true friend will be there for you no matter what, through good and bad. They will help you work out your problems and be there for you no matter what- whether it is something as big as racism in the early 1900’s or something petty like make up, hair, nails, etc.. And when you’re acting petty, they’ll be there to give you a kick in the butt and say “What the heck are you thinking!”
I’ve said it above, but I feel the need to say it again. In just one day of reading this book, it has made me appreciate the things I have to much more- even the little things. These things are leisures that we might not have forever. So appreciate them. Cherish them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I really agree with your post. We are so lucky to live in a time when people (for the most part) are treated as equals. Your first passage is a very powerful one. I was humiliated for them just reading it. I tried to think of my most embarassing moment ever, and it doesn't even began to compare to what they had to face.
Post a Comment