Chapter 9
This chapter offers quite a lot and seems to raise just as
many questions as it answers. We haven’t seen much of either of Milkman’s sisters
until this chapter, but man, they do take over this chapter in a powerful
way. We also learn more about Pilate,
and her ability to both play into stereotypical gender roles and transcend
them.
Please take notes on your assigned character/questions. List at least 2 quotations (short, proper citation format) with
analysis in full sentences. You MAY NOT REPEAT.
Read what everyone else assigned to your group wrote first, then try to
add to what they wrote (with new evidence) or respond to a different question
(with new evidence) for your character. DO NOT try to answer all of the questions.
Females:
Corinthians
Males: Lena
Anyone (guys or
girls) who fits any of the following criteria: Pilate
Is left-handed
Is double-jointed
Listens to Country on a regular basis (at least 3 or more x
a week)
1) Corinthians:
What were her/her parents’ expectations for her life? Why aren’t they working out? Why isn’t she married? What are black, moving-into-middle-class men looking
for in a wife? Any of this remind you of
Death of a Salesman?
How does Corinthians change, first, by working for
Michael-Mary, and second, by taking up with Porter?
Who is Henry Porter (what do we know about him from previous
chapters)?
How did you react to the scene of Corinthians throwing
herself across Porter’s car? Is this the
act of a “doll-baby” or “grown up woman”?
Explain.
Significance /symbolism of the rose petals for
Corinthians?
What are Morrison’s overall messages in Corinthians’ story
about love, about the life of women, about individuality?
2) Pilate:
How does Pilate transform herself in order to get Milkman
and Guitar out of jail? Be specific.
What story does she tell? How
does this act demonstrate her understanding of her society? Is she being weak or strong here? Why?
Milkman says that this whole incident makes him feel
“shame…stuck to his skin” (209-210).
Why? Is this “shame” a step
forward or a step back in his character development? (To what extent is he
ashamed of himself, to what extent is he ashamed of his aunt?)
3) Magdalene called
Lena:
How does Milkman dismiss/disrespect Lena in earlier chapters
and/or leading into their conversation at the end of chapter 9?
Why is Lena angry with Milkman (one specific action, and
then more generally)? What does she mean by “there are all kinds of ways to pee
on people?” (214)
How has sexism and stereotypical gender roles played out in
this family, according to Lena? How does
Milkman’s statement that “I don’t carry no stick; I live and let live” (214)
reveal his fundamental misunderstanding of how these gender roles function?
How is Lena’s attitude toward the roses significant?
What are Morrison’s overall messages about the life of women
and the life of men that she is communicating through Lena’s story?
Pilate transforms herself into someone who doesn't pose a threat to authority(white people). She told the cops a story that the bones belonged to her deceased husband and that she wasn't able to afford a proper burial. This character she became made her come off as "short and pitiful"(pg. 205). Milkman and Guitar discussed the was she acted. They believed she showed her weak side, just to get what she wanted. Macon and Milkman both were ashamed and angry at Pilate. Macon said "..roaming around with a white man's bones. I'll never understand that woman. " they both came to the realization that she most likely left the gold, if she took the bones. She didn't care too much for money. This would set back Milkman from leaving his family and starting another life of his own. This also prevented Macon from gaining the wealth of his he always wanted, to be his own man and posses his true power.
ReplyDeleteLike Sheridan said Pilate doesn't pose a threat to the police. She, in a sense, plays dumb to get out of her situation. "Her hands were shaking" (pg. 340 -online) This aggravates the boys, especially Guitar, because she got what she wanted by lying, "anger was heat shimmering out his skin" (pg.341-online)
ReplyDeleteThe boys also hated the idea of Pilate leaving the gold, which is all they long for. However, Pilate sees hold as she sees a used paper towel. She doesn't care for it at all. She thinks it's a great evil.
Why is this important thematically and what does it say about her as a person?
ReplyDeleteTry to consider what Morrison is trying to tell us about the lives of Women through Pilate and this experience.
ReplyDeleteMagdelene called Lena
ReplyDeleteLena is angry with Milkman because she believes that he is telling them what to do. All he tried to da was warn her and tell them that Porter is not a good man (shady). However, they believe that he is crossing his lane of authority.
“You’ve been laughing at us all your life. Corinthians, Mama, Me. Using us, ordering us, and judging us.” – Lena
Lena is angry at Milkman and her father because of their abuse and low consideration. She is tired of being a woman and doesn’t want to be told what to do by a man who acts like a child.
“I don’t make rose anymore, and you have pissed your last in this house” – Lena
Lena is tired of Milkman always having his way and pushing them around. Now Lena is letting him know that there is going to be change because they’re adults not kids. Opposite of what she believes Milkman is.
Manuel Carrera
ReplyDeleteCorinthians
Corinthians parents believed that due to the fact that she received and education she would move onto bigger and better things for herself. "Hopes for Corinthians were especially high since she'd gone to college." (pg. 310-311 pdf)The expectations set out for her are not working out because she is unable to find work for herself and results to becoming a maid.
Men want a woman who appreciated the work that they did for their status, not one who is "accustomed to middle class life and too elegant." ( Pg. 311 pdf)They believed she had no sense of the struggles to maintain and work for a middle class status.
Henry Porter is a man who we first encounter in chapter one, and is portrayed as the drunk tenant at Macon's building with a shotgun who threatens to kill himself if someone doesn't send him a girl to have intercourse with. He says "Send me up somebody, I tell ya, or I'ma blow my brains out!" and that scene didn't leave a good impression on Macon. Though who would of thought that that guy on the roof would become his daughter Corinthians first love. She met him on the bus one day and they started talking and seeing each other in secret leading them to grow strong feelings for one another. However, when Milkman found out about Corinthians and Henry's relationship he told Macon and he immediately disproved and prohibited her from seeing him anymore.
ReplyDelete