The Expectations Of Life Exposed In Lulu's Lulu

Lulu accepts herself and is self-assured in making her decisions, remaining confident among the community’s criticism of her many romances. While Lulu does have some concerns in her reflections on her life, such as not being able to “…get love right even after trying it as many times as I have,” she presents herself to others as a strong-willed leader (278). When Lyman meets with Lulu to discuss the employees of the factory, he describes her as having “…no fear, and that’s what’s wrong with her. She lives hard and devil-may-care…” (302). Lulu’s self-acceptance and presentation of herself to the community both stay consistent while being criticized. In fact, she often contradicts their expectations directly, without changing herself. For example, during …show more content…
While she does have problems, Lulu is a forceful female character who uses her passionate love to enable her choices and inspire her actions. Lulu describes her perspective as trying “…to greet the world without a grudge…I never worry half as much as other people. Things pass by” (281). This philosophy enables her to challenge the expectations created for her as a Native American and as a woman, freeing her to make decisions based on what she personally feels is best. Also, Lulu’s understanding of her heritage strengthens her resolve by connecting with her ancestry, such as in her example that “the Chippewas had started off way on the other side of the five great lakes…let’s just say that I refused to move one foot farther west” (282). This view of her life as part of the Chippewa tradition keeps her motivated to pursue justice and stand firm, even among the gossip. Instead of extinguishing her internal strength, the community’s judgment of Lulu does not change her. Rather, she accepts herself and bravely defies their