rah-che and hen-dayr

            Race and gender both play a big part in Sula.  The characters live in a mostly black town, and the women seem to control it.  When Nel is visiting Sula on her deathbed, after their giant fight about Jude, Nel tells Sula that she just can’t do some of the things that other people do.  This is shown by this quote:

"Why? I can do it all, why cant i have it all?"

"You cant do it all. You a woman and a colored woman at that. You cant act like a man. You cant be walking around all independant-like, doing whatever you like, taking what you want, leaving what you dont."

"You repeting yourself."

"how repeating myself?"

"You say Im a woman and colored. Aint that the same as being a man?"

"I dont think so and you wouldnt either if you had children."

What Sula means by this is that she doesnt have any cares about stereotypes, social norms or anything like that.  She is going to do what she wants to do no matter her gender or the color of her skin. 

VOH CAB UH LURRY

Solicitous – 160 – adj

-Characterized by or showing interest or concern.
-“The same hope that kept them picking beans for other farmers…kept them solicitous of white peoples children.”

-Ben was solicitous in his attempts to try and get Eli to read in his funny voice again, but Eli told him that he wouldn’t do it.

Malevolence – 161 – adj

-Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
“…the slurred remarks and the staggering childish malevolence of their employers.”

-Ben gave Eli a death glare that showed malevolence, which was right after he told Eli that he is lazy.

Fastidious – 167 – adj

-Very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.
“She had neither iron nor clothes but did not stop her fastidious lining up of pleats…”

-Eli is fastidious about his homework.  He will not do anything that is not impeccable, no matter what other people say.

Dirge – 155 – noun

-A lament for the dead, esp. one forming part of a funeral rite.
“On January third the sun came out—and so did Shadrack with his childish dirge.”

-Ben would be very sad if he had to sing a dirge for Eli.

Unassailable – 148 – adj

-Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
“The sealed window soothed her with its sturdy termination, its unassailable finality.”

-Eli wasn’t affected by Ben’s attacks, in fact, he considered himself unassailable.

Timbre – 139 – noun

-The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
“It gave her voice the timbre she wanted it to have…”

-Ben will probably start insulting Eli’s timbre when he does the woman’s voice again.

Ornate – 134 – adj

-Made in an intricate shape or decorated with complex patterns.  It is very fancy.
"An absence so decorative, so ornate, it was difficult for her to understand how she had ever endured…”

-If the relationship between Ben and Eli were a tangible thing, it would be very intricate and ornate.

Mercurial – 12 – adj

-Subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
“…she admires him, as though his mercurial nature, his temper, his massive dreams and little cruelties, served only as sharp reminders of the turbulent longings with him…”

-Even though he is not, Eli might seem mercurial while in Ben’s class.

Trepidation – 12 – noun

-A feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen.
“…she calls with some trepidation: Willy!”

-Eli was filled with trepidation when Ben accused him of not reading, even though he did, like he always does.

Imbue – 52 – verb

-Inspire or permeate with a feeling or quality.
“That’s just the spirit I want to imbue them with!”
-Eli asking about Ben's day imbues Ben to be happy for the rest of the day.