Shalise Edwards
November 30, 2014
Dr. J. Jones
ENG 348
Analysis of Sula by Toni Morrison Sula by Toni Morrison was a very interesting and enlightening literary work. Morrison has relayed a message of good versus evil in the novel involving the main characters, Sula and Nel. Nel was portrayed as the good character, while Sula was depicted as the evil character. In the life of Sula, there was good in her situation because she seemed to shed some light on the readers. She was instructive to the readers because of the destruction that took place in her life. Personally speaking, a reader would side with Nel because of all the good she seems to portray, but she was not always perfect. Nel found herself in mirrors looking at her nose in disgust because her mother, who was so upright and orderly, did not like her nose. Her nose reminded her mother, Helene, of the broadened nose her husband genetically passed down to his daughter. In her childhood, she convinced herself that she liked herself just as she was. For example, Nel stated “I’m me,” several times until she drifted off to sleep. She made this statement to help herself realize at an early age that she can be no one but herself. Throughout the novel, Nel convinces herself she is fine, or good just as she is; no one had the ability to tell her otherwise. When Nel and Sula became best friends, they were “one.” Secretly, Nel desired to be a part of Sula’s household because of the disorder and numerous families that lived within that one building. Nel wanted to escape from all of the good she has lived in. Simultaneously, Sula admired the organization of Nel’s home. For once, Sula could sit still and be at peace. Nel lived in such a perfect and well-kept home that a reader would assume she would also grow up to be a wholesome and good individual. On the exterior, she came off as a good person, but inside, she had her own vices. She knew how to make people feel as if they were crazy, in an orderly fashion. Within the novel, Eva and Sula pointed the finger at Nel for some situations she should have been held accountable for. Instead, Nel lived her life convincing herself that she was good and others were evil or crazy. Sula was a very observant child. She witnessed much negativity in her household and attempted to imitate some acts taking place there. One would predict that by the nature of her childhood, she would have an evil life ahead of her. Sula’s grandmother, Eva, had her three children who lived with her, Eva, Hannah, and Plum. In addition to her children, Eva rented her house out to newly-married couples and a drunk, Tar Baby. Morrison described him as “…a mountain boy who stayed to himself, bothering no one, intent solely on drinking himself to death,” (Morrison, 1974). Hannah, Sula’s mother, kept men running in and out of her mother’s house for sexual acts with no regard for daughter’s innocent eyes. These people who lived with Eva were not ideal for a child to grow up in. No one the people within this home were a positive role model for Sula, which is the reason as to why she lived the wild life she lived and died in that same manner. The chaotic, disorderly home Sula lived in was the reason why she loved going to Nel’s structured house. In the novel, Sula and Nel were bullied by white kids after school. In order to avoid confrontation, the girls would plan to take a longer route. One day, Sula did not want to take the long route and was prepared to face the boys. Once the girls were confronted, Sula removed a knife from her pocket and proceeded cut off the tip of her finger. Sula justified this action by letting them know she was crazy enough to do this to herself. Nel, on the other hand, was puzzled by her reaction to this situation. Morrison revealed to the audience how in times of danger, Nel had more self-control and logic while Sula was more unpredictable and had no sense of logic. A young character, Chicken Little drowned to death at a very young age. His death was the reason as to why Nel and Sula grew up to be the way they were. In the novel, Chicken Little was learning to climb a tree with Sula instructing him. Prior to them climbing the tree, Chicken was known for picking boogers. It was Nel, the good child who was picking at him before Sula told her best friend twice to leave him alone. After they climbed the tree successfully, Sula grabbed the boy by his hands and began to spin him around in the air. Moments later, his hands slipped from hers, which resulted in him being tossed in a nearby body of water, drowning in a watery grave. The girls, Nel and Sula, watched the water engulf the young boy. Only to confirm that no one had seen the accidental death, Sula ran to the house that belonged to Shadrack, who was mentally impaired, to find out if he saw. Of course, Shadrack misunderstood Sula’s questioning if he witnessed the murder. Sula, then, assumed that he knew and was devastated by his answer, he provided- “Always,” (Morrison, 1974). During the course of Chicken Little’s funeral, the girls remained quiet, not admitting how the boy died. Throughout their lives, they vowed not to tell anyone what happened. Although Sula was the one who grabbed Chicken and slung him into the water, Nel was just as guilty by watching the water engulf the boy’s body and having not mentioned to anyone what happened. Years later, it took Eva being in a group home to convince Nel that she was just as wrong in that situation. Sula felt bad for the little boy and blamed herself for it on her deathbed. But while Sula was in remorse of the death she caused, Nel did not stop to tell her it was not her fault. She allowed Sula to completely take the blame while she, too, was guilty, for standing, watching, and vowing not to reveal the truth. In conclusion, towards the end of the novel, despite all of negativity associated with Sula, she helped the audience as readers to see that Nel was not exactly perfect. Morrison even provided an account of how Sula watched her mother burn alive. The reason as to why she watched her mother burn alive was evident, it somewhat fascinated her. This truth about Sula was evident; every evil she did, she provided an explanation, whether it was logical or not. Nel, on the other hand, who was associated as the supposed “good character,” did not realize she was evil at times until she was told by others. Sula’s actions shed light on Nel by helping readers understand that just because she may not commit the crimes firsthand, she was still around, witnessing many events. Nel was, in other words, an accomplice, which in a court of law, would deem her just as guilty as Sula.

Literature Cited
Morrison, Toni. Sula. New York: Knopf;, 1974. Print.