I really enjoyed both readings that were assigned for this week, "The Task of Negro Womanhood" and "Mary Elizabeth". It was nice to take a break from the poetry after Toomer. I especially enjoyed "Mary Elizabeth". Roger has a major attitude problem when the short story started. I would never let a man talk to me the way he talked to her. It shocked me when he said "Really, Sally, I don't believe there's another woman in the world who would send her husband out on a morning like this on an empty stomach. I don't see how you can be so unfeeling." At this point I think I would have told Roger to get up and make his own breakfast and coffee if he was so hungry. But I guess that was described like that because of the time period. In a way it kind of reminded me of my grandparents. I don't think I ever remember my grandfather doing anything for himself. But I also don't remember him ever talking to my grandmother the way Roger talked to Sally. I think my grandmother enjoyed doing everything for him. I see his a little with my parents also but not as much as my grandparents.
When I was reading I first thought Mary Elizabeth was a slave, but as I kept reading I figured out that she was just working for this family. Plus if she was a slave and showed up late, she would have been in a lot more trouble. I liked the story Mary Elizabeth told about her parents and how they were separated because of slavery and slaves being sold, but then found each other and got back together. I thought it was very sweet.
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Oh I completely agree with what you say about Roger. I would not let anyone speak to me that way! I think I would have told him to get up and make it himself as well! haha. I do believe it was the time period as well even though I do see it occurring among family members and other people, without the attitude like Roger but because they enjoy doing these things.
I thought Mary Elizabeth was a slave at first too! I liked the story she told about her parents too...I wrote about that in my blog as well.
Yeah he was a pretty lousy guy that Roger. Mary Elizabeth was a cool character though and the influence her parents had on her was quite evident through her storytelling.
I agree with you about roger he was very demanding of her and i wouldnt let no man talk to me like that either. I guess that was the role back then of teh women and man but not know that is probably why none of us would put up wwiht him. I also thought at first that mary was a slave. I liked the reading because it says that mary elizabeth wasnt just a worker she was a part of the family.
I agree with both you and Michelle about Roger and how we would not allow a guy to talk to us that way. Then again it was those times when the man was the breadwinner for the family and the women stayed home to tend to the children and the house. So even though I totally disagree with the way he was speaking to her I just take it as it was that time period they were in and that is why he was doing it.
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