This question is not related to Lahiri's work, but I want you to start thinking comparatively in preparation for the next writing assignment.
What connections and points of departure do you identify between Sula and Lila? What connections and points of departure can you trace between Ferrante's and Morrison's representation of female friendships? Between each author's representation of place, and of community?
Comparing Ferrante’s Lila to Morrison’s Sula, there are some major differences between them from their characteristic, personality and even background, but they also possess some similarities as well. Starting off with Lila, she is a girl coming from a working class family, yet she make herself into a distinctive character who isn’t afraid to stand out. We know from Elena’s narration that Lila was struggling to create a future by her own will, which inspires Elena to do the same. Something that can also be attributed to Sula as well, but her erratic behavior and lack of concern for those around her differs from Lila’s nonsensical, yet ambitious outlook. A key factor that plays in establishing who they are as characters is the environment that they were raised in as well as their family and friends. Compare to Sula, Lila had a chance to receiving an education, but her parents won’t allow her to progress any further. Being bound by the social conventions, Lila realizes that she cannot obtain her freedom without facing the consequences or sacrificing herself in difficult situations. For Sula, the opposite came be said about her as she wasn’t under the strict control of society and care little about what they thought about her, only that she knows that she could do anything that she wants. Because of her nonconforming upbringing, she was allow to make her own decisions, even after being absent for ten years from Nel’s life. The relationship between Sula and Nel is somewhat enigmatic and problematic, as seen after Sula betrays Nel. However, both Lila and Sula were judged by their community from their appearance and attitudes, making them out to be an abnormality in their community.
ReplyDeleteSula and Lila are similar in that they are both relatively "free" (for Lila, moreso in her early youth) characters-- although they go about it in drastically different ways. Sula's strong friendship with Nel allows her to believe that she's able to transcend her friendship bond with Nel by carelessly sleeping with her husband. Lila's strength allows her to perform brilliantly in school as a child. When her freedom to go to school is stripped of her, Lila redefines her strength by trying to excel in whatever she does. So Sula and Lila are similar in strength-- although they appear to have vastly different outlook on life. Sula's "freedom" is almost sociopathic in nature, showing little remorse for her actions that most would agree are blatantly morally wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe friendships between SUla and Nel and Elena and Lila can compare and contrast in a few ways. One way they are similar is how Lila and Sula bring out the best in Elena and Nel. Morrision notes that Nel's parents have rubbed out any sparkle and any sense of originality she has. When Nel is with Sula, she can shine. Nel can be herself around Sula but, when she's home she conforms to what her parents want her to be. Lila challenges Elena academically even when she can no longer attend school herself. Lila reads and learns what Elena reads and learns in school to compete with her. This competition drives Elena academically.
ReplyDeleteA difference between the two friendships is the betrayal within Nel and Sula's relationship. Sula treats Nel no different from the other wives in the Bottom when she sleeps with Jude. Even when it is obvious that Nel is upset by Sula's actions, Sula remains unapologetic as she has no regrets for living her life the she chooses to live. In contrast Lila holds Elena above the community. When Elena asks Lila why she keeps certain things from her Lila responds that she doesn't care what anyone thinks she only cares what Elena thinks. Even though Lila can be distant at times she reassures us how much Elena means to her.
There are some major differences in both novels, one written by Elena Ferrante and the other by Toni Morrison; however, both writers being contemporary women writers, they display the unbreakable bond of female friendship between both their 2 main character: Sula, Nel and Lila, Elena. Both main characters in both novels are very much invested in each others lives. They are very assertive determined in about their decisions. Sula and Nel represent the “bottom” an epic tale representing the black community from the early 1900’s to 1960’s. where as Lila and Elena are represented at the time of the varying landscape of the politics of Italy where the Camorra controlled the society in the local form of the Solara Brothers post world war 2. Sula and Lila are very much alike in a sense that both characters help Nel and Elena escape their worlds of corruption and uncertainty. Lila helps elena become a writer and an author by encouragement in which she succeeds and sula try’s to helps Nel to break the social norms of confiding a typical housewife but eventually fails. Both characters are raised in a close-minded society which is frowned upon progression of women hood. Morrison and Ferrente have developed protagonist characters that breaks these social standards. Their departure is very similar/different as well. Nel ends up marrying Jude and sula returns to the bottom after 10 years only to find out that nel would betray her by the way of her thinking and passes away at the end leaving nel regretful and with sorrow. Sula even towards the end remain unapologetic for her actions. Lila on the other hand marries and settles down in conventional role that she always despised and elena continues her education.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most obvious points of departure between the representation of female friendships in My Brilliant Friend and Sula is that the friendships affect the girls within them differently. Lena and Lila find their friendship enabling. Lila and Lena are competitive in school and their competition drives them to be better students. They propel each other in their lives. Through Lila, Lena finds her voice in her authorship. Lila also helps Lena with her schooling, learning Greek with her side by side. Lila finds a friend in Sula who inspires her and challenges her. Whereas other girls in their neighborhood do not push back on Lila when she speaks or gives advice, Lena is not afraid to question her.
ReplyDeleteWhile Nel and Sula help each other navigate their lives in the Bottom during their adolescence, their friendship has a hard time reaching their adulthood. They are unable to appreciate their differences. The racism and sexism that affect the black women of The Bottom stunt Helene and Hannah, barring Nel and Sula from seeing themselves and each other as full subjects.
We see both authors describe in wide detail their settings. Both books' settings are important to the formation of the girls. Both settings are portrayed as dead ends, where the girls struggle to get out of their miserable circumstances - be it lack of education, poverty, racism, and classism.