Child and Adult Behavior

Continuing on the topic of the children being more of an adult than the actual adults, a particular scene demonstrated this aspect to me. The relationship between Frieda and Pecola is interesting to me because it is as if she is her mother-figure or mentor. For example, when Pecola reaches her time going into womanhood, Frieda immediately responds. Although she refers to the cycle as "ministratin'," she knows what to do to help. Pecola asks if she is going to die and Frieda says, "Noooo. You won't die. It just means you can have a baby!" (Morrison 28). With this answer, it is evident that Frieda reacted as an adult in trying to help Pecola. It is ironic, however, how Mama reacted. An observer, Rosemary, told Mama that the girls were playing nasty and Mama quickly beats Frieda. It is child-like how Mama immediately blames her daughter and does not even fully examine the scene before she whips her. It is as if Frieda is being punished by her intelligence and maturity. It will be interesting to see if Pecola continues to look to Frieda for guidance, knowing that she is advisable.