Parents display loyalty to their children by doing whatever is necessary for their survival –

Eva Peace: “Eighteen months later she swept down from a

wagon with two crutches, a new black pocket box, and one leg.” – 1921 p.34

“ Mamma did you ever love us?” – 1923 p.66

“…She threw herself out of the window… Eva dragged herself toward her firstborn.” 1923

Jude’s beliefs about marriage.

“The more he thought about marriage, the more attractive it became… a someone sweet, industrious & loyal to shore him up. And in return he would shelter her, love her, grow old with her.” 1927 p.83 

Sula and Nel’s friendship.

“Her aim was determined but inaccurate. She slashed off only the tip of her finger.” 1922 p.54

“The following day Nel walked to the burying & found herself the only black person there, steeling her mind to the roses & pulleys.” 1965 p.173

“ “All that time, all that time, I thought… I thought I was

missing Jude” And the loss pressed down on her chest and

came up into her throat “We was girls together” she said as though explaining something,

“Oh Lord, Sula” She cried. “Girl, girl, girl girl girl.” ”

•Propels action•Characterises relationships•Results from differences of opinion about life’s issues. •Not necessarily deliberate •Creates conflict •Causes pain

In most of the relationships, along with loyalty there is also betrayal.

“Then he leaned forward and whispered something into the ear of the woman in the green dress. She was still for a moment and then threw back her head and laughed.”

Even after Boy Boy betraying Eva, he returns to “mock” her.

Bringing back all the bad memories.

“Hannah simply refused to live without the attentions of a man, and after Rekus’ death had a steady sequence of lovers, mostly of the husbands of her friends and neighbours.”

Hannah lives recklessly. Betrays the relationships with her friends and

neighbours. The husbands are also being disloyal to their

wives. Hannah is purely focusing on her own desires, not

thinking about the consequences.

“Sure you do. You love her, like I love Sula. I just don’t like her. That’s the difference.”

Hannah betrays her own daughter. Sula over hearing this conversation makes things

even worse,. Hannah is not considering how her words can

affect others.

“The Sheriff said whyn’t he throw it on back into the water. The bargeman said he never shoulda taken it out in the first place.”

Different type of betrayal → humanity betraying itself.

Referring to Chicken Little as “it”. ‘Blinded by racism’.

“But it was men who gave her the final label, who fingerprinted her for all time. They were the ones who said she was guilty of the unforgivable thing-the thing for which there was no understanding, no excuse, no compassion. The route from which there was no way back, the dirt could not ever be washed away. They said that Sula slept with white men.”

These men are suggesting that she is betraying her race.

They are betraying her by judging her quickly without evidence.

They now reject her.

This theme is shown throughout the novel. Particularly through affairs. This is Morrison expressing the “wrong” of human nature and our egocentric ways.

The affect racism (‘enclosing’ the black people in an area) has on the individuals’ lives. (E.g. Jude)

Even though betrayal can cause a lot of pain and ruin relationships, Nel realises that her friendship with Sula was more important then the betrayal.