Review of 'Sula' by Toni Morrison (PDF)

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 100, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, course: African American Literary Theory, language: English, abstract: Toni Morrison's Sula is an extremely complex work of fiction that some argue functions as parable, satire, or Black-feminist writing. However, the complexity of the tale of Sula and Nel's lives requires analysis including all of these elements. Morrison skillfully blends together gender roles with the binary opposition as she includes Biblical allusions to give clues to the characters' personalities and future actions as they struggle against their community. It becomes clear to the reader through the characters' actions and thoughts, that the world, which the Bottom created for itself, is inherently contradictory as the citizens of the community struggle to maintain binary thinking.
Sula and Shadrack represent the evil (or at least unacceptable) in the traditional good/evil binary that the Bottom's community upholds. Both Sula and Shadrack face ostracization because of the negativity that is attached to them. Shadrack, however, chooses to live within the acceptable boundaries of the community with his celebration of Suicide Day. The community sees his celebration as bizarre, but in no way a threat to their existence as the years pass (Morrison 15).