Eternal Themes in Sula by Toni Morrison - Book Report/Review Example

Sula by Toni Morrison The book Sula written by Toni Morrison is a story about the deep friendship between Nel and Sula from the Bottom. The book starts with the introduction of the character named Shadrack who returned from World War I. Then the story introduces the character of Nel’s mother, Helene Sabat, and her grandmother, Cecile. The story progresses and develops how Nel and Sula are different in terms of family background and personal characteristics. Nel herself belongs to a respectable family; however, Sula’s mother is known for having casual relationships with a number of different men, and Sula does not like it. Overall, the story revolves around Nel and Sula and how their friendship transforms over years. The main arguments presented include those regarding friendship, faithfulness, disloyalty, and forgiveness. Over time, the forms of friendship are shown to change. Initially, the book presents Nel and Sula to be very good friends. Nel is brought up by her mother so that she is well mannered and an obedient daughter. Nel does not like the way her mother treats her. It is mentioned in the book that Nel likes Sula’s house better as her mother is not scolding or screaming at her (Morrison 29). On the other hand, Sula does not like her mother as she sleeps with other men, and doubts her mother even likes her. One day Sula finds out her mother does not like her either. She feels sad and channels her grievance to Nel whom she feels really close to. In an attempt to be someone different than her mother – who sleeps around with many different married men – Sula eventually becomes more like her mother later on. Sula did not like her mother’s attitude and talks to Nel about it. After Nel gets married to Jude, Sula leaves the Bottom and returns after years. Initially, it seems as if Sula is very happy to meet her again and they are good friends until Nel finds Sula and her husband cheating on her. Nel who already has three children from Jude is extremely sad at seeing her very good friend with her husband. Jude decides to leave Nel after being caught with Sula (Morrison 105). Nel feels devastated and feels like crying, but the way she had been brought up does not allow her to show her emotions openly. The way Nel and Sula’s friendship slides as a result of the sudden change in Sula’s personality after years seems hurtful and illustrates the impermanence of friendship. Another argument made is that regarding betrayal and disloyalty not only in the conventional sense but also inadvertently happening and resulting in the characters getting hurt. Betrayal is obvious at various places. After Sula hears her mother saying that she does not like her, she feels said and betrayed. Her communication with Nel is good and she is able to share her thoughts with Nel. Nel and Sula had always been really good friends and after Sula returns 20 years later to the Bottom, Nel seems to be betrayed by Sula for being selfish and taking her husband away from her. Later, when Sula dies, Nel feels guilty of not having been a good friend and not having understood Sula. The story ends with a grieving Nel who finally forgives Sula. In another part of the book, Nel and Sula experience the death of a little boy named Chicken Little. Both Nel and Sula were swinging Chicken Little by the river when his hand slipped and he went underwater (Morrison 170). In a desperate need for help, Sula runs to Shadrack, but all he has to say is “always.” She gets afraid and both girls decide not to tell anyone about what happened. Sula feels guilty, but Nel reassures her that it was not her fault but was merely an accident. However, Sula seems to have taken the blame, and this causes her to change for good. Years after Sula’s death, Nel goes to visit her grandmother who says that she saw Nel letting Chicken Little drown. Sula’s grandmother blames both of them for his death. Later Nel does realize that it was really her fault as she enjoyed watching him drown rather than trying to save him. The whole incident demonstrated selfishness on the part of Nel as she obtained pleasure watching Chicken Little drown. Also, most importantly, it demonstrates her betraying herself with the morally righteous outward personality she portrayed. A very important argument is related to forgiveness before it is too late. When Nel gets married to Jude, Sula actively participates in the wedding and leaves before the celebration ends. She returns with a completely different personality 10 years later. Her friendship with Nel gets strained after she is caught with Jude. The event leaves Nel shattered after which she does not forgive Sula for the event. The entire Bottom community also turns against Sula, thinking she is some extraordinary human being who does not age, and rumors about her start spreading. Nel wants to meet Sula after she is ill and dying. The visit, however, turns into a fight and Nel, who was already hurt upon finding out that her husband cheated, blames Sula. Years after her death, Nel realizes that maybe Nel did not understand Sula and that her outward moral personality was something superficial, and maybe Sula was right that Nel was mean. Nel cries after she goes to Sula’s grave and forgives her, but it is too late and the book ends in Nel’s regret and sadness. The central theme of the book was loyalty and most of the arguments are based on friendship, loyalty, and betrayal. For a very long time, one sees the loyalty that exists between Sula and Nel, and slowly it starts fading away. Other incidents of self-betrayal and betraying each other illustrate disloyalty later on. In the end, the story concludes with Nel regretting not forgiving Sula and being a bad friend. Works Cited Morrison, Toni. Sula. St. Louis, MO: Turtleback, 2004. Print. Read More