Essay Database

(1) Setting: 99% of the action takes place in the Bottom, which is actually up in the hills. I liked how they came up with the name of “The Bottom” because it’s the bottom of Heaven. I don’t think I can really relate to the town, basically because it was mainly an African-American populated, poorer income family neighborhood, and I’ve grown up in Ames and other places I’ve generally deemed as safe. The …

…knew that as she lay on the ground trying to drag herself through the sweet peas and clover to get to Hannah, she had seen Sula standing on the back porch just looking.... Sula was probably struck dumb, as anybody would be who saw her own momma burn up. Eva said yes, but inside she disagreed and remained convinced that Sula had watched Hannah burn not because she was paralyzed but because she was interested.”