Because source of the private misfortune is actually identified, they had log off to guard and you can like each other
Carry out I enjoy anybody to your absolute singularity off whom it try?
Their belief away from Sula’s worst changed them within the bad yet , mystical implies. They began to cherish the husbands and you may wives, include kids, repair their houses plus general ring with her up against the demon inside their center. In their world, aberrations was basically as often an integral part of character because the elegance. It wasn’t to allow them to expel or annihilate they. They will don’t work on Sula out of town than just it would eliminate the robins you to definitely put their back…
While some critics translate the newest birthmark over Sula’s attention as biblical draw out-of Cain, the divergent and you will quotidian indication of birthmark on book alone (almost every other letters view it because a flower, a snake, ashes, good tadpole) suggest not only spiritual symbolism, and also worldly, deeply peoples ambiguity. Different people sees the worst in her own that they you need so you’re able to. The community cannot shed Sula aside or attempted to give up her; everyone knows deep-down that their good, maleficent visibility is exactly what unites them. Sula isn’t actually a scapegoat but a complement, the fresh new presumably “unnatural” extraneous portion you to definitely actually is shed on the center. (Jacques Derrida produces for the Speech and Phenomena: “We are able to chat … away from a importante ‘supplement’: their addition comes to make up for a lack, considering compensate for an excellent importante nonself-presence.”)
Whenever Sula’s moved, everybody misses the lady; they miss disliking the woman and you will measuring themselves against her. When Sula’s gone, everything collapses.
Who, and what, she’s hence isn’t merely a matter of personality. It’s a question of philosophy: “Which is exactly how thinking come … Among the first concerns one can angle … ‘s the question of the difference between the brand new whom while the what … I enjoy you because you are your. … The real history regarding like, the center away from love, was divided amongst the who and you can what.” (Derrida, when you look at the Derrida, by the Kirby Manhood
In the event the just what Sula is to us are a keen emblem, an echo, a questionnaire, an enhance of your own community-and you can this woman is all of these something-we should instead always remember you to definitely who Sula are belongs, eventually, so you can her pal. “We was girls together,” Nel cries also it affects myself within my bust for instance the part regarding a pin striking an excellent gong.
Otherwise do I enjoy the properties?
Sula are Nel. Sula was Rochelle, Nel’s granny, exactly who and wears reddish and you may will bring wild birds. Sula is actually her mother, Hannah, just who together with bangs every boys at the end. Sula was the woman grandma, Eva, just who including kills a kid. Sula is Shadrack, other outcast whoever hellfire teems within corners of one’s society, sealing they whole. And you can Sula are herself, Sula Mae Peace, along with the possible unraveling of the multiple rippling identity, hence merely on this latest rereading did In my opinion to appear to your.
Like with nearly all Morrison’s names, Sula Mae is biblical. Sula Mae try Shulamit or Shulamite, the name regarding Solomon’s dear in the Track out-of Songs, their whoever “lips drop sweetness just like the honeycomb.” Sula Mae may be Salome-sometimes the new temptress who danced getting King Herod and you may necessary new head of John the fresh Baptist in the behest of the woman fiery mom, otherwise a lady disciple whom observed Christ’s crucifixion. The brands Shulamit and you will Salome come from the root term shalom, or tranquility. Very, Sula Mae Tranquility is actually Serenity Comfort, an excellent increasing you to generally seems to jar their sagging regarding herself, and you will causes us to be ponder if she’s among the many peaces in that graveyard, otherwise all of them. And Sula spelled backwards-can it be “the united states” otherwise “alas” or “a great lass” or “a loss?”