Synopsis & Basic Details

What is Sula about?

• Complex female friendship: The novel explores the intense, complex, and ultimately tragic friendship between two black women, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, from their childhood to adulthood in the Bottom, a black community in Ohio.
• Societal constraints and rebellion: It examines how societal expectations, particularly those placed on black women, shape their lives and choices, and how Sula rebels against these norms while Nel conforms.
• Community and otherness: The story delves into the dynamics of a close-knit community, its reactions to those who deviate from its norms, and the consequences of being labeled an outsider.

Why should I read Sula?

• Profound character study: Morrison crafts deeply complex and flawed characters, particularly Sula, whose motivations and actions challenge conventional morality and invite readers to question their own judgments.
• Exploration of female relationships: The novel offers a nuanced and unflinching portrayal of female friendship, exploring its intensity, fragility, and the ways in which it can both nurture and destroy.
• Rich literary style: Morrison's lyrical prose, use of symbolism, and nonlinear narrative create a powerful and immersive reading experience that lingers long after the final page.

What is the background of Sula?

• Post-WWI America: The novel is set in the aftermath of World War I, a period of social and economic change, particularly for African Americans, and the war's trauma is a recurring theme, especially through the character of Shadrack.
• Segregated society: The story takes place in the Bottom, a black community in Ohio, highlighting the racial segregation and limited opportunities faced by African Americans in the early to mid-20th century.
• Cultural context: The novel explores the cultural norms and values of a close-knit black community, including its traditions, beliefs, and the ways in which it both supports and constrains its members.

What are the most memorable quotes in Sula?

• "Like a street pup that wags its tail at the very doorjamb of the butcher shop he has been kicked away from only moments before, Helene smiled.": This quote captures Helene's complex reaction to racism, highlighting her resilience and the internalized need to please, even in the face of humiliation.
• "She didn't want to make somebody else. She wanted to make herself.": This quote encapsulates Sula's fierce individualism and her rejection of traditional roles for women, emphasizing her desire for self-discovery and autonomy.
• "We was girls together," she said as though explaining something. "O Lord, Sula," she cried, "girl, girl, girlgirlgirl.": This quote reveals Nel's profound grief and the depth of her connection with Sula, highlighting the enduring impact of their friendship despite their differences and betrayals.

What writing style, narrative choices, and literary techniques does Toni Morrison use?

• Nonlinear narrative: Morrison employs a fragmented, non-chronological structure, shifting between past and present to reveal the complexities of memory and the interconnectedness of events, enhancing the emotional impact of the story.
• Lyrical and evocative prose: Her writing is characterized by rich, poetic language, vivid imagery, and a keen attention to sensory detail, creating a powerful and immersive reading experience.
• Symbolism and motifs: Morrison uses recurring symbols and motifs, such as the robins, the color red, and the boarded-up window, to convey deeper meanings and themes, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

Hidden Details & Subtle Connections

What are some minor details that add significant meaning?

• The description of the Bottom: The initial description of the Bottom as "high up in the hills" despite being called "the Bottom" is a subtle commentary on the deceptive nature of power and the way marginalized communities are often defined by those in power.
• The names of the Deweys: The fact that Eva names all three adopted boys "Dewey" highlights her unconventional nature and her disregard for societal norms, while also suggesting a blurring of individual identities within the community.
• The recurring image of the closed place in the water: This image, associated with Chicken Little's death, symbolizes the unresolved trauma and the hidden depths of the characters' emotional lives, resurfacing at key moments in the narrative.

What are some subtle foreshadowing and callbacks?

• The description of the train ride: Helene's humiliating train ride south foreshadows the racial prejudice and vulnerability she and Nel will face throughout their lives, and the custard-like image of her skin hints at her fragility.
• Hannah's question to Eva: Hannah's question, "Mamma, did you ever love us?" foreshadows the complex and often painful dynamics within the Peace family, and the lack of traditional maternal affection.
• Shadrack's "Always": Shadrack's response to Sula, "Always," after she visits his house, foreshadows the enduring impact of their encounter and the cyclical nature of their lives, as well as the inevitability of death.

What are some unexpected character connections?

• Eva and BoyBoy: Despite their tumultuous relationship, Eva's hatred for BoyBoy is a source of strength and identity for her, highlighting the complex ways in which negative emotions can shape a person's life.
• Sula and Shadrack: The connection between Sula and Shadrack, both outcasts in the community, reveals a shared understanding of the world's chaos and the limitations of societal norms, despite their different forms of rebellion.
• Nel and Eva: Nel's visit to Eva in the nursing home reveals a hidden connection between them, as Eva's accusations force Nel to confront her own complicity in Chicken Little's death and her own capacity for cruelty.

Who are the most significant supporting characters?

• Shadrack: His character serves as a constant reminder of the trauma of war and the fragility of the human psyche, and his annual National Suicide Day becomes a strange, yet integral part of the community's fabric.
• Eva Peace: As the matriarch of the Peace family, she embodies resilience and unconventional strength, and her actions and decisions have a profound impact on the lives of her children and grandchildren.
• Ajax: His brief but intense relationship with Sula highlights her longing for connection and her inability to conform to societal expectations, and his departure leaves her to confront her own vulnerability.

Psychological, Emotional, & Relational Analysis

What are some unspoken motivations of the characters?

• Nel's need for stability: Beneath her conventional exterior, Nel craves stability and security, which is why she is so devastated by Sula's betrayal and Jude's departure, as they shatter her carefully constructed world.
• Sula's search for self: Sula's seemingly reckless behavior is driven by a deep-seated desire to understand herself and her place in the world, and her relationships are often experiments in self-discovery rather than genuine connections.
• Eva's desire for control: Eva's actions, including the burning of Plum, are motivated by a need to control her own life and the lives of those around her, stemming from her experiences of loss and powerlessness.

What psychological complexities do the characters exhibit?

• Sula's detachment: Sula's detachment from societal norms and her own emotions is a defense mechanism against the pain and limitations she experiences, but it also leads to her isolation and inability to form lasting connections.
• Nel's internalized oppression: Nel's adherence to societal expectations and her judgment of Sula reveal her internalized oppression and her struggle to reconcile her own desires with the constraints placed upon her as a black woman.
• Shadrack's trauma and coping mechanisms: Shadrack's mental instability and his creation of National Suicide Day are a manifestation of his deep-seated trauma and his desperate attempts to control his fear of death.

What are the major emotional turning points?

• Chicken Little's death: This event marks a turning point in Nel and Sula's friendship, as it introduces a shared secret and foreshadows the complexities and eventual unraveling of their bond.
• Hannah's death: Hannah's tragic death in a fire solidifies Sula's detachment and her estrangement from the community, and it also reveals the community's capacity for both compassion and judgment.
• Jude's departure: Jude's departure shatters Nel's carefully constructed world and forces her to confront her own identity and the limitations of her conventional life, and it also highlights the fragility of relationships.

How do relationship dynamics evolve?

• Nel and Sula's friendship: Their friendship evolves from an intense, almost symbiotic bond in childhood to a complex and ultimately tragic relationship marked by betrayal and loss, highlighting the challenges of maintaining intimacy and individuality.
• Sula and Ajax's relationship: Their relationship offers Sula a glimpse of genuine connection, but it is short-lived, revealing her inability to conform to societal expectations and her longing for a love that is both passionate and liberating.
• Nel and Jude's marriage: Their marriage, initially based on mutual need and a desire for stability, is ultimately destroyed by Jude's affair with Sula, highlighting the fragility of relationships and the impact of betrayal.

Interpretation & Debate

Which parts of the story remain ambiguous or open-ended?

• Sula's true nature: Whether Sula is truly evil or simply a product of her environment and her own unique perspective remains open to interpretation, inviting readers to question their own judgments and biases.
• The meaning of the robins: The significance of the robins that accompany Sula's return is never fully explained, leaving readers to speculate about their symbolic meaning and their connection to Sula's character.
• The ending: The novel's ending, with Nel's cry for Sula, leaves the reader to ponder the true nature of their friendship and the possibility of reconciliation, even in the face of death and betrayal.

What are some debatable, controversial scenes or moments in Sula?

• Sula's affair with Jude: This act of betrayal is a central point of contention, raising questions about the nature of friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of human desire.
• Eva's burning of Plum: This act of infanticide is deeply disturbing and invites debate about the limits of maternal love and the impact of trauma on the human psyche.
• The community's reaction to Sula: The community's harsh judgment and ostracism of Sula raise questions about the nature of morality, the power of social norms, and the consequences of being labeled an outsider.

Sula Ending Explained: How It Ends & What It Means

• Nel's realization of loss: The ending reveals that Nel's grief is not solely for Jude, but for the loss of her deep connection with Sula, suggesting that their friendship was the most significant relationship in her life.
• The cyclical nature of grief: Nel's final cry, "O Lord, Sula," echoes the cries of the women at Chicken Little's funeral, highlighting the cyclical nature of grief and the enduring impact of loss on the human psyche.
• Ambiguity of reconciliation: The ending leaves open the possibility of a reconciliation between Nel and Sula, even in death, suggesting that the bonds of friendship can transcend time and betrayal, but also that some losses are irreparable.