Or they thought of their son newly killed and remembered his legs in short pants and wondered where the bullet went in. The one who lodged deep in their fat, thin, old, young skin, and was the one the world had hurt. They acknowledged the innocent child hiding in the corner of their hearts, holding a sugar-and-butter sandwich. And they saw the Lamb's eye and the truly innocent victim: themselves.

They did not hear all of what he said they heard the one word, or phrase, or inflection that was for them the connection between the event and themselves. “As Reverend Deal moved into his sermon, the hands of the women unfolded like pairs of raven's wings and flew high above their hats in the air. For that reason she felt no compulsion to verify herself – be consistent with herself” She was completely free of ambition, with no affection for money, property or things, no greed, no desire to command attention or compliments – no ego. She had no center, no speck around which to grow. The first experience taught her there was no other that you could count on the second that there was no self to count on either. As willing to feel pain as to give pain, to feel pleasure as to give pleasure, hers was an experimental life – ever since her mother’s remarks sent her flying up those stairs, ever since her one major feeling of responsibility had been exorcised on the bank of a river with a closed place in the middle.

Eva’s arrogance and Hannah’s self-indulgence merged in her and, with a twist that was all her own imagination, she lived out her days exploring her own thoughts and emotions, giving them full reign, feeling no obligation to please anybody unless their pleasure pleased her.

Sula by Toni Morrison