As we continue to read Sula, by Toni Morrison, we are able to get a deeper understanding of the characters and the way in which they choose to live their lives. We are given great, in depth, descriptions as to the actions and emotions, and I believe it is up to us to interpret those for better or worse. In other words, we are left to our own opinions as each character moves about the story, and our minds form these thoughts which deepen exactly how we perceive certain events and traits.
I would like to focus in on Eva Peace, more specifically, how her character is described throughout many different instances. In earlier pages, we learn that Eva has done many different things for her children, things that she believes is out of the good of her heart. The first being when Plum had bowel troubles. She used the last bit of food in the house to help the child relieve himself. But now the children are left without a meal to depend on for the time being. Next, she leaves her children for eighteen months, and although it seems like she ditched them, she eventually comes home with more wealth than ever before. The only thing is, she only had one leg left, which leaves us open to many different assumptions. Further along in the story, Plum returns home for war, a shell of his former self. Eva eventually succumbs to his pain and ignites him up into flames, walking away calmly, as if she did nothing of the sort. Overall, we are able to see two sides to Eva, one that helps to keep her children alive, and another that comes out of a dark place. But are these all acts of love or not?
As we move forward onto pages 67 through 85 of Sula, in 1923 we are led to believe that Eva’s children, specifically Hannah, question her love. “‘Mamma, did you ever love us?’…’I mean did you? You know. When we was little.’” (67). At first the question poses as Hannah realizes her mother no longer loves them but was curious as to if there ever was love. However, Eva follows up with a response of, “‘No. I don’t reckon I did. Not in the way you thinkin’.” (67). In this instance, we begin to wonder exactly what Eva means by that. Did she love them because they were her children? Was it a forced love? Eva seems to get slightly defensive, or even offended by the question at hand. Later that week, when Hannah catches on fire, Eva throws herself out of the window in an attempt to save her daughter. However, we are led to infer that her death was an accident, so perhaps Eva aided in the process as she had with Plum. Although we are not told for certain that this was the case, I believe it is hinted to us in that way due to Eva’s prior actions with a different child of hers. Also, when at the hospital, Eva was pushed to the side and forgotten about until Old Willy Fields saved her by bringing attention to the nurses. “From then on Willy boasted that he had saved Eva’s life- an indisputable fact which she herself admitted and for which she cursed him every day…” (77). This led me to believe that maybe Eva did not want to be saved, as she had to continue to live with what she did to her own children.
After we learn and understand the story thus far of Eva Peace, we can analyze her story, character traits, and morals. Since we are led to believe she does whatever she can for her children, this leads us to thinks that she does this out of love. But by doing everything she can, it may be morally wrong especially when death is involved at her hands. Everyone has their own ways of showing and expressing love, but I do not believe that the end results of Eva’s doings are particularly out of love for her children. I believe she does these horrific things out of selfishness, as she cannot stand to see her children endure such things. This may fall into a grey area, as we discussed last week, that it can be placed in between what may be right and wrong. From the perspective we learn about, we are led to infer that Eva loves her children too much to allow them to continue in life while in pain. But she acts as if they are almost a bother of her, especially looking at Plum and everything he went through up until his death. Overall, Eva peace is an interesting character to look at, as the way she goes about life can ultimately be questioned by the greater good.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you believe Eva Peace truly loved her children? Why or why not? How does your belief back up Eva’s actions?
- If you were in her Eva Peace’s shoes, do you believe you would do the same thing? Why or why not?
Citations
Morrison, Toni. Sula. First Vintage International Edition, June 2004
