Critical Lens: Feminist
"After situating herself on a huge flat-sided rock, Baby Suggs bowed her head and prayed silently. The company watched her from the trees. They knew she was ready when she put her stick down. Then she shouted, "Let the children come!" and they ran from the trees toward her."
"Let your mothers hear you laugh," she told them, and the woods rang. The adults looked on and could not help smiling.
Then "Let the grown men come," she shouted. They stepped out one by one from among the ringing trees.
"Let your wives and your children see you dance," she told them, and groundlife shuddered under their feet.
Finally she called the women to her. "Cry." she told them. "For the living and the dead. Just cry." And without covering their eyes the women let loose."
While missing Baby Suggs, Sethe takes a moment to remember a more spiritual time of her life and recalls how involved her mother in law was in the community. She vividly describes how Baby would go to an open field, which she refers to as The Clearing, and preach to the community's men, women, and children alike. The way she would do so, however, was very unique. She would not preach to them about how blessed they were, or instruct them to avoid sin and devote themselves to Jesus Christ - she would tell them to love themselves and love hard. Love their bodies. Love their flesh. Love their hands. Love their hearts.
The significance of what she is preaching is extremely powerful. After generations of slavery, these people are now free. When Baby Suggs is standing with them in the clearing and telling them to acknowledge their value, they have likely never been told that they are worthy and important. They have never learned how to own themselves, for they have always been treated as property. Most importantly, they have never learned to love themselves. Baby Suggs wants them to know and be able to exercise self-love.
While what she is saying is so incredibly striking, Suggs's commanding presence is what really calls people's attention. The quote above is describing he way Baby would call the people's attention before sharing her heart with them via her powerful words. Following a short, silent prayer to herself, she would begin with the children. She would ask them to express themselves via laughter. Next the men would follow, with their dances, and then the women with their tears.
The way Morrison portrays Baby Suggs as such a strong female figure is apparent in many instances of the story, but here in particular. Her commanding nature in this scene is what allows her to really capture the entirety of the peoples attention. She is able to completely compel children, women, and men alike, to join her in the clearing and express incredibly personal emotions of theirs as they laugh, cry, and dance together. In a society where women, especially black women, are often treated dismissively especially by men, Baby Suggs's powerful and captivating nature is spectacular. Her words draw in every type of person, and with ease. She does not have to ask twice for the children to laugh, for the men to dance, or for the women to cry - even the men quickly comply. With her unthinkable power, she is able to create a moment of complete vulnerability for each and every person in the community. Morrison uses Suggs in this scene to represent the power within a women, that we have unfortunately seen suppressed time and time again, but at other times can see shine through and enchant peers and superiors alike.
"Let your mothers hear you laugh," she told them, and the woods rang. The adults looked on and could not help smiling.
Then "Let the grown men come," she shouted. They stepped out one by one from among the ringing trees.
"Let your wives and your children see you dance," she told them, and groundlife shuddered under their feet.
Finally she called the women to her. "Cry." she told them. "For the living and the dead. Just cry." And without covering their eyes the women let loose."
While missing Baby Suggs, Sethe takes a moment to remember a more spiritual time of her life and recalls how involved her mother in law was in the community. She vividly describes how Baby would go to an open field, which she refers to as The Clearing, and preach to the community's men, women, and children alike. The way she would do so, however, was very unique. She would not preach to them about how blessed they were, or instruct them to avoid sin and devote themselves to Jesus Christ - she would tell them to love themselves and love hard. Love their bodies. Love their flesh. Love their hands. Love their hearts.
The significance of what she is preaching is extremely powerful. After generations of slavery, these people are now free. When Baby Suggs is standing with them in the clearing and telling them to acknowledge their value, they have likely never been told that they are worthy and important. They have never learned how to own themselves, for they have always been treated as property. Most importantly, they have never learned to love themselves. Baby Suggs wants them to know and be able to exercise self-love.
While what she is saying is so incredibly striking, Suggs's commanding presence is what really calls people's attention. The quote above is describing he way Baby would call the people's attention before sharing her heart with them via her powerful words. Following a short, silent prayer to herself, she would begin with the children. She would ask them to express themselves via laughter. Next the men would follow, with their dances, and then the women with their tears.
interesting blog post madi. your depiction of baby suggs was very inciteful and helped me think about the presence of a superiority complex that she has.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your illustration of the spiritual and emotional strength women project in order to protect and sustain their families. How does Baby Sugg's preaching impact and shape the beliefs in personhood through the characters and society?
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