Self-Reliance was imposed upon Pecola in The Bluest Eye. She had no choice but to be self-reliant. Pecola was abandoned, a victim of racism, and raped by her father. She had nobody to turn to. Even total strangers treat her like garbage. "She be lucky if it don't live. Bound to be the ugliest thing walking. Can't help but be. Ought to be a law: two ugly people doubling up like that to make more ugly. Be better off in the ground." (Morrison, Page 148) Since no one is willing to provide for her, she must somehow provide for herself. It is like she has been thrown in

"I knew what she was waiting for, what she required to hear. If I said I had been wrong to deft her, that I was sorry for the grief I had caused, if I shamed myself in front of Rayona, if I spent my last dime and ate shit, Aunt Ida would pay anything..."

Self-Reliance was chosen by Christine in A Yellow Raft in Blue Water. She decided to be independent to escape the oppression her surroundings were slapping on her. It was her own choice. She wanted a better way of living; she wanted to be unconstrained.

In all three book it is clearly evident that the characters must be self-reliant. Be it their circumstances, choices, or traditions, it is their hardship that provokes their self-reliance. Their independence is forged by their curses, disasters, and burdens. No matter what, hardships are what make one self reliant and able to stand on one's own two feet, no matter what the consequences are.

Sure it is. Can you imagine? Something like that happening to a person, and nobody but nobody saying anything about it? They

Some common words found in the essay are:
Morrison Page, All-American Christ's, Aunt Ida, , Bluest Eye, Blue Water, Age California, Yes Self-Reliance, one's own, isn't funny, self reliant,
Approximate Word count = 690
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)