Mother Hunger

In this novel, Toni Morrison focuses a lot on the relationships between women and the importance and worth that women add to society, as well as the longings of some women.  I think these sections of the book definitely played into the focus on women and where they find their worth.  Lina and Florens share a relationship that is very much mother to daughter.  Lina is worries about Florens the way a caring mother would worry about her daughter.  She gives Florens advice that constantly runs through Florens mind when she is going to find the blacksmith.  Lina also understands and admires Florens. She knows the thoughts that run through Florens mind when she meets the blacksmith.  She understands the threat that he brings to what she considers to be Florens’ innocence.  She wants to protect Florens from the life that she sees Sorrow leading. 

Florens and Lina remind me of the habits of cattle.  When a cow loses her baby calf both need something.  The cow mourns her young and wants somebody to take care of, while the calf needs milk to drink.  However the cow will not accept the baby calf unless her dead offspring’s skin is on the calf.  Lina could not accept someone like Sorrow.  Instead she needed a child figure like Florens who she saw as capable and willing to do work.  She wanted someone moreso like her.  Therefore, Lina is able to bond with Florens over their needs (one to be a mother and the other to have a mother) with times such as Lina telling the story of the eagle.