The Breakfast Club Compare And Contrast

Some of the most common terms related to similarity among friends include “opposites attract” and “simplicity and complexity need each other”. This concept is often proven true. One of the greatest examples of this is seen in The Breakfast Club. Bender, the poster boy for a typical high school “bad boy”, and Claire, the epitome of a stuck up and rich student, find love amongst their differences. With that said, these characters had striking similarities that were not highlighted in the movie- they both had to deal with the social pressures of being high school students and they both grew up in the same town with the same students. Similar to Bender and Claire, Nel and Sula have stark differences but underlying similarities. Eva, one of the wisest and toughest characters in Sula says to Nel, “Just

alike. Both of you. Never was no difference between you. Want some oranges?” (Morrison 169). This quote is true to an extent despite Nel’s conventional way of living and Sula’s rebellious way of living. While Toni Morrison paints Nel and Sula like complete opposites in the beginning of the novel, by the end of the novel they transform into similar characters. In order for any two different people to get along, they must have some similarities, even if they are minor.
One of the most basic differences that Sula and Nel have is the way that they grew up and how their families contributed to who they became. Both Nel and Sula have opposite views regarding sex versus love. Morrison establishes right away that Sula’s family does not view sex as something that is related to love. In the novel it says, “With the exception of BoyBoy, those Peace women loved all men. It was manlove that Eva bequeathed to her daughters” (Morrison 41). Then, Morrison also writes, “Hannah seemed too unlike them, having no passion attached to her relationships and being wholly incapable of jealousy” (Morrison __). Eva, Sula’s grandmother likely passed her view on sex down to Hannah, Sula’s mother. Consequently, Hannah passes this view down to Sula as well. The saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” is demonstrated when Sula does not see the trouble she is causing by sleeping with Jude. The reader realizes that she is so unaware due to the values and ideals that were instilled in her from her grandmother and mother. While Sula has a “casual” view regarding sex, Nel views sex in a very “traditional” way. Once Nel and Jude tie the knot, Morrison writes, “They began to dance, pressed in among the others, and each one turned his thoughts to the night that was coming fast” (Morrison __). This quote implies that Nel and Jude waited until marriage to sleep together because they view it as meaningful (unlike Sula). Given that Nel grew up with a very strict and proper family, she is attracted to Sula’s rebellion and out of the ordinary way of life. Likewise, Sula is attracted to Nel’s “normal” life.
The next difference between Sula and Nel is how the community views them.

To begin, Nel was always a well respected and simple character. However, Sula began to rebel at a young age and the community did not respect her. In fact, when Sula passes away, the community begins to thrive. In the novel it says, ““Now that Sula was dead and done with, they returned to a steeping resentment of the burdens of old people. Wives uncoddled their husbands; there seemed to be no further need to reinforce their vanity. And even those Negroes who had moved down from Canada to Medallion... felt a loosening of the reactionary compassion for Southern-born blacks Sula had inspired in them. They returned to their original claims of superiority” (Morrison 153-154). The people in the Bottom had an enormous fear of Sula. However, this fear translated into a prospering community (people began loving their spouses, caring for their elders- the typical things that a strong community does). Yet, when Sula dies, this all goes away. She indirectly did a lot for the community in very unconventional ways. On the other hand, people felt bad for Nel and viewed her as the girl who was a victim of an

affair.
Toni Morrison has been recognized for her simple and “straight to the point” writing style in Sula. However, Morrison did not make the similarities between the two women simple. In fact, the reader is unable to realize that the girls truly are similar until Eva says, “Just alike. Both of you. Never was no difference between you” (Morrison 169). Just like Nel, the reader begins to ponder this idea. The first quote that stood out after Eva said this was, “Their friendship was so close; that they themselves had difficulty distinguishing one’s thoughts from the others” (Morrison __). Immediately the reader is able to realize that both Nel and Sula experienced a life changing event together- Chicken Little’s death. Once Chicken Little drowned, Sula was hysterical and Nel showed little to no emotion. Later in the novel it is revealed that Nel felt satisfaction when Sula let go of Chicken Little. Through this event, the girls shared a secret, and even more important, shared intense emotions.