How does Claudia describe her mother's reaction to the storm in Lorain, Ohio in 1929 and what does this say about how she views her mother?
Claudia describes her mother as this calm figure standing in the midst of a storm. She talks about how she was swooped up by the tornado but is still calm and smiling. This shows that Claudia looks up to her mother and thinks that she is a strong woman and that she stays calm during storms, whether they be an actual storm or a metaphorical storm. She looks up to her mother.
Read the section of dialogue on pages 187-190. What was your reaction to reading this?
In the section these two woman are talking about how Pecola is pregnant by her father and her baby. I felt as though they were extremely judgmental because when the one woman states that "she carry some of the blame"(Morrison pg. 189) she assumed that since her father has a bad reputation that she probably liked it or wanted it. I felt as though that was very unfair and it bothered me since I know that she did not want it and she was raped. This poor little girl was taken advantage of and then made out to look like some type of "fast" girl. When they were talking about how they hope that Pecola's baby would die because he/she was going to be ugly, it made me furious. How dare they be so superficial and put such emphasis on beauty that they wish for a pure innocent child's breath to be taken away. It just seems absolutely ridiculous. They do not feel bad for her or show any type of sympathy at all they are just out right rude about it and unconcerned about Pecola's well being. Especially since "the way her mama beat her she's lucky to be alive"(Morrison pg, 189). This also bothered me because her mother beat her for being raped and did not believe her when she said that Cholly had raped her, instead she punished her. I would expect a mother to comfort her daughter and take care of her but instead she beats her. What reason is there behind it? Is she upset that Cholly took a liking in their child and not in her? Jealousy? Misplace anger? I just do not understand why she would not believe her unless she just does not want to.
What sacrificial offering did Freida and Claudia render to procure the miracle, and what was the reason behind it?
Claudia and Frieda offered their bike money and the rest of their strawberry seed. They hoped that the by praying and singing they would produce a miracle for Pecola's baby to live. They imagined her baby beautiful in her womb and their fondness of Pecola made them want to help her. The seeds could represent the fruitfulness of Pecola. They pitied her because none of the grown ups showed any compassion for Pecola and they did.
Read pages 193-204. Who is the speaker and who is he/she speaking to? What has happened to the speaker and why does he/she think people will not look at he/she? And what is the speaker's fear?
The speaker is Pecola and she is talking to her imaginary friend. She has gone mad. She speaks to this voice in her head who tells her about her blue eyes and how pretty they are. Pecola thinks that people will not look at her because her blue eyes are so pretty and they are all jealous of her. In reality people will not look at her because she is pregnant by her father and no one dares to and because she has gone mad. She is also afraid that her eyes may not be blue enough to make her pretty. She fears that there is someone out there who has bluer eyes than her and then she will not be special anymore.
On pages 204-206 who is talking? What has happened to Pecola's baby? What does the speaker realize everyone was using Pecola for?
Claudia is speaking on these few pages. Pecola's baby has died and Pecola has turned completely mad. Claudia speaks of how Pecola runs wild in the streets flapping her wings trying to fly, and she feels as though she has failed her. She realizes that everyone was using Pecola to feel better about themselves. That they felt prettier in her presence, better educated, they felt as though they were above her and used her as a stepping stool. She was their scapegoat they used to throw all of their ugliness on and she absorbed it all damaging her.
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