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Critical Essay on Toni Morrison's SULA
Critical Essay on Toni Morrison's SULA
Critical Essay on Toni Morrison's SULA
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In the novel “Sula”, Toni Morrison presents a very different view on gender in the black community between 1919 and 1965. Written in 1973 after the Civil Rights movement and during the feminist movement, Morison breaks down the traditional gender barriers from as early as 1919, proving that black females were “women” much sooner than their white “lady” counterparts. Morrison depicts matriarchal homes where the women are the dominant figures who even go as far as to emasculate their male opposites. All the women are presented as being independent due to being either abandoned by their husbands or refusing to conform to the convention of marriage. The relationship between Nel and Sula goes far beyond the bounds of a normal relationship. They are doubles or ‘doppelgangers’ whose bonds are severed when Nel conforms to the expectations of the community and marries Jude. Both are able to express the desires or dreams of the other and Sula escapes from Medallion, just as Nel wished when she was a child.
In “Sula” Toni Morrison attempts to break the traditional stereotype of women as mothers and caregivers as she portrays strong, independent women who are able to survive without a male partner. Women in black communities not only had to endure being women in a male dominated society but were black women in society dominated by white males. Yet, despite this, Morrison’s women are very much independent either by choice such as Sula and Hannah, or are forced into it by the betrayal of their partners; Nel and Eva. Nel’s mother, Helene is a single mother to a certain extent; her husband works away from home and Helene is depicted as being very independent. Eva expresses her matriarchal dominance throughout the story yet is only able to use h...
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...s World of Fiction. The Whitson Publishing
Company, Troy, New York, 1993.
McKay, Nellie. Critical Essays on Toni Morrison. G.K Hall and Co., Boston, Massachusetts, 1988.
Morrison, Toni. Sula. London: Random House. 1973.
Otten, Terry. The Crime of Innocence in the Fiction of Toni Morrison. University
of Missouri Press. Columbia and London, 1989.
Peach, Linda. Toni Morrison. Macmillan, 1995.
Bibliography
Carmean, Karen. Toni Morrison’s World of Fiction. The Whitson Publishing
Company, Troy, New York, 1993.
McKay, Nellie. Critical Essays on Toni Morrison. G.K Hall and Co., Boston, Massachusetts, 1988.
Morrison, Toni. Sula. London: Random House. 1973.
Otten, Terry. The Crime of Innocence in the Fiction of Toni Morrison. University
of Missouri Press. Columbia and London, 1989.
Peach, Linda. Toni Morrison. Macmillan, 1995.
Toni Morrison’s novel Sula is rich with paradox and contradiction from the name of a community on top of a hill called "Bottom" to a family full of discord named "Peace." There are no clear distinctions in the novel, and this is most apparent in the meaning of the relationship between the two main characters, Sula and Nel. Although they are characterized differently, they also have many similarities. Literary critics have interpreted the girls in several different ways: as lesbians (Smith 8), as the two halves of a single person (Coleman 145), and as representations of the dichotomy between good and evil (Bergenholtz 4 of 9). The ambiguity of these two characters allows for infinite speculation, but regardless of how the reader interprets the relationship their bond is undeniable. The most striking example of their connection occurs right before the accidental death of Chicken Little. In the passage preceding his death, Nel and Sula conduct an almost ceremonial commitment to one another that is sealed permanently when "the water darkened and closed quickly over the place where Chicken Little sank" (Morrison 61):
For, in relinquishing, a mother feels strong and liberal; and in guild she finds the motivation to right wrong. Women throughout time have been compelled to cope with the remonstrances of motherhood along with society’s anticipations Morrison’s authorship elucidates the conditions of motherhood showing how black women’s existence is warped by severing conditions of slavery. In this novel, it becomes apparent how in a patriarchal society a woman can feel guilty when choosing interests, career and self-development before motherhood. The sacrifice that has to be made by a mother is evident and natural, but equality in a relationship means shared responsibility and with that, the sacrifices are less on both part. Although motherhood can be a wonderful experience many women fear it in view of the tamming of the other and the obligation that eventually lies on the mother.
In the short story “Recitatif”, Toni Morrison introduces her readers to the societal evolution of the United States through the experiences of two characters, Twyla and Roberta. The relationship between both characters changes through five encounters, each encounter corresponding to a different time period. As Twyla and Roberta are from different races, these time periods are significant as they relate to the Civil Rights Movement in America. The juxtaposition of Twyla and Roberta, the comparison of Mary and Maggie, and the intertextuality between “Recitatif” and “The Wizard of Oz”, all contribute to the author’s stance against racism. Toni Morrison wants people to disregard their racial barriers and acknowledge each other as human beings, as all humans go through the same struggles and pain in life.
The lack of support and affection protagonists, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, causes them to construct their lives on their own without a motherly figure. Toni Morrison’s novel, Sula, displays the development of Sula and Nel through childhood into adulthood. Before Sula and Nel enter the story, Morrison describes the history of the Peace and Wright family. The Peace family live abnormally to their town of Medallion, Ohio. Whereas the Wrights have a conventional life style, living up to society’s expectations.The importance of a healthy mother-daughter relationship is shown through the interactions of Eva and Hannah Peace, Hannah and Sula, and between Helene Wright and Nel. When Sula and Nel become friends they realize the improper parenting they
Conformity and defying social norms were a common theme this week. In Toni Morrison’s book Sula, Sula Peace actively opposes gender roles. She does this by doing what she would like to do without the burden of her town’s expectations. Sula enjoyed sex and disregarded all of the opinions of the townspeople around committing adultery. Eli commented that it was even more unacceptable in that time period, but Sula’s main priority is being authentic. Even though she urged men to cheat she was still a risk taker and lived spontaneously, which was even more forbidden for a black woman and like Lauren said, the men were also to blame, not just Sula. Not many people in the Bottom share that trait because they are afraid of social isolation. For example, Nel didn’t stray far from the status quo due to her upbringing. Nel’s mother taught her to be proper and follow the set of rules given to her. Her mother often reminded her to “pull her nose” (28) so Nel could have a more appealing nose. On the other hand, Sula lived in an unconventional household with a constant flow of different people coming and going out of the house. Since she was not exposed to a father figure, she was not tainted by patriarchal expectations of the genders. She didn’t witness
Nel confronts Sula with this same structure in their final conversation: "You a woman and a colored woman at that. You can't act like a man" (142). Through the characters of Janie and Sula, Hurston and Morrison challenge these hierarchies and the sharp dichotomies they draw. These two women interact with the community and its values in such a way as to redefine the conversation. Their communities both foil and support their self-assertion. In the two novels, communities function as both contextual elements and as partners in the dialogue by which the protagonists become themselves.
The sewing circle is a matrifocal space of political and social engagement that serves as Hopkins’ fictionalization of the black women’s club movement (Patterson 72). Here, the women of Contending Forces gather together to raise money, discuss political concerns, and forge social coalitions. A blackboard occupies a central space in the parlor of Ma Smith’s boardinghouse, and upon it each woman has contributed some news or raised a concern pertaining to the community. The gathering and discussion of these women makes the circle fertile ground for Hopkins’ linking of race, class, and gender concerns through the figure of the New Negro Woman. This space, filled with female voices and domestic tasks, features several versions of womanhood. And like other communal spaces, Hopkins argues for the collaboration of each woman figure and the value of all expressions of womanhood when united under the collective goal of racial uplift. Mrs. Willis and Mrs. Smith represent alternative approaches to motherhood—Ma Smith offers space but cedes the intellectual energy to the younger women, while Mrs. Willis figures more as a race mother that influences and directs the path of racial progress. Mrs. Willis is also a foil to Sappho in this scene as a
Toni Morrison depicts the hard ship and intersectionality strongly within Pecola, Mrs. Breedlove, and “The whores,” by expressing the cultural and economic tumors of being a Black woman during the 1940s. Though the 1940s, after the Great Depression, it was hard for Black women to prosper in what was a white world. This cause many black people to migrate. During the Great Migration, African Americans began to build a new place for themselves in public life, actively confronting economic, political and social challenges and creating a new black urban culture that would exert enormous influences in the decades to come (History.com.). Blacks moved from the south to the north in hopes of finding better living conditions and to start a family. Morrison shows readers this by placing Pecola, Mrs. Breedlove, and “The whores” as adversities in the Black community. Racially biases was still a prevalent issues and this played a role in each character. The Bluest Eye also provides an extended depiction of the ways in which internalized white beauty standards alter the lives of black girls and women.
Beloved is one of Toni Morrison's most famous novels that was published in 1987 and earned her the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction the following year. In it the author vividly displays the horrors and devastating consequences of slavery and honors all the victims by giving them a voice to tell their unembellished side of the history. Although a person’s name plays an important role in the development of one’s identity and self, the names given to the African-American slaves by their masters were only one of the instruments of oppression and dehumanization they were subjected to that lead to the eventual loss of identity, both individual and collective.
In the story, “Recitatif,” Toni Morrison uses vague signs and traits to create Roberta and Twyla’s racial identity to show how the characters relationship is shaped by their racial difference. Morrison wants the reader’s to face their racial preconceptions and stereotypical assumptions. Racial identity in “Recitatif,” is most clear through the author’s use of traits that are linked to vague stereotypes, views on racial tension, intelligence, or ones physical appearance. Toni Morrison provides specific social and historical descriptions of the two girls to make readers question the way that stereotypes affect our understanding of a character. The uncertainties about racial identity of the characters causes the reader to become pre-occupied with assigning a race to a specific character based merely upon the associations and stereotypes that the reader creates based on the clues given by Morrison throughout the story. Morrison accomplishes this through the relationship between Twyla and Roberta, the role of Maggie, and questioning race and racial stereotypes of the characters. Throughout the story, Roberta and Twyla meet throughout five distinct moments that shapes their friendship by racial differences.
There are many aspects of story that come together to create a complete narrative. A lot of the tools used by writers are intentional and serve the purpose of driving home certain aspects of the story or creating and engaging, and entertaining narrative. Toni Morrison—the author of Sula—is no different. Morrison employs many writing techniques and tools in her narrative Sula. It is important for the reader to be aware of and understand some of these narrative tools that the author uses because it allows the reader to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the narrative. In Sula a few narrative techniques that allow for the argument of women experiences to shine through are the use of a third person narrator, and gaps; throughout the story these tools allow the reader to become interested in and focus in on women experiences.
Racism and sexism are both themes that are developed throughout the novel Sula, by Toni Morrison. The book is based around the black community of "The Bottom," which itself was established on a racist act. Later the characters in this town become racist as well. This internalized racism that develops may well be a survival tactic developed by the people over years, which still exists even at the end of the novel. The two main characters of this novel are Nel Wright and Sula Peace. They are both female characters and are often disadvantaged due to their gender. Nel and Sula are depicted as complete opposites that come together to almost complete one another through their once balanced friendship. Nel is shown to be a good character because she plays a socially acceptable role as a woman, submissive wife and mother, while Sula conforms to no social stereotypes and lets almost nothing hold her back, thus she is viewed as evil by the people in her community. Both women are judged by how well they fit into the preconceived social conventions and stereotypes that exist in "the Bottom."
n this essay, Murray's main argument is simply that black or nonwhite women are the most discriminated group of people in America (most likely the entire world) and they're still searching for their liberation. Murray begins to talk about the trials and tribulations that black women have faced in America since being enslaved. Not only do Black women face racism but also sexism, which gives them the burden of being the least desired and least acknowledged group in America. These dual barriers are known as "Jim Crow and Jane Crow". In the text, Murray says "Traditionally, racism and sexism in the United States have shared some common origins, displayed similar manifestations, reinforced one another, and are so deeply intertwined in the country's
Given the title of the novel, Sula Peace is a complex and thought provoking character in Toni Morrison’s, Sula. Her thoughts and actions often contradict, leaving the reader unable to decipher whether Sula should be praised or demonized. As a child, Sula grows up in a chaotic household that is run by strong-willed women. Because of this constant commotion, Sula loves quiet and neat settings, which is shown through her behavior at Nel’s home. In the novel it says, “She had no center, no speck around which to grow” (Morrison 119). This quote points out how much her home life as a child affects her behavior as an adult. Her mother, Hannah, has almost no sense of right and wrong. Her promiscuous behavior is observed by Sula and sets the foundation
In Toni Morrison’s novel Sula, the theme of the story is good versus evil. It’s embodied into the story in various forms to question what defines right and wrong. Good versus evil is presented in forms that are understood on the surface and beneath the surface which gives it multiple meanings. The relationship between Sula and Nel is the main expression of this theme, however, there are also many other contributors such as color schemes, gender and race differences, and life and death. This theme sheds light on the significance and interpretation of issues of everyday reality which includes controversies related to identity struggles, super natural forces, the impact and relevance of upbringing on development, family structure, and racism. Morrison demonstrates the importance of good versus evil with her writing in the way that she overlaps them and interprets them as products of one another. The friendship of Sula and Nel creates a presence of good and evil within their relationship to each other and their community.