Beginning of Essay
Violet thought it would disappoint them; that it would be less lovely than Baltimore. Joe believed it would be perfect. When they arrived, carrying all of their belongings in one valise, they both knew right away that perfect was not the word. It was better than t ....

Middle of Essay
.... a child across her knees. Violet, lost in the woman's hand-patting and her knee-rocking the little boy, forgot her own hand holding the curling iron. The customer flinched and the skin discolored right away. Violet moaned her apologies and the woman was satisfied until she discovered that the whole curl was singed clean off. Skin healed, but an empty spot in her hairline… Violet had to forgo payment to shut her up. These two hundred fifty words or so are a small percentage of the book as a whole, but contain many of the themes and stylistic devices Morrison uses throughout her novel. We learn much of our two main characters - Joe and Violet - ....