Sula And Nel Friendship

In toni Morrison's novel Sula, friendship is the driving force of the theme. This book shows how friendship helps characters Sula and Nel bare the rough times in their life and find a sense of belonging. Sula and Nel had a friendship that helped sustain them. Both characters Sula and Nel were complete opposites, the epitome of the saying that opposites attract, which essentially drew them closer together. With this also came complicated relationship that proved to be very trying at times during the novel. By doing this Morrison challenges the traditional views of friendships and sheds light on the reality of how difficult friendships can be. It also emphasizes on how friendships sometimes can cause more grief than happiness.
Nel Wright was
brought up in an orderly household. Her mother was strict and oppressed Nel by holding her to a high standard, never letting her fully be herself out of fear. Because of this Nel builds a strong attraction to Sula Peace who is carefree and lives life on her own terms, Likewise, Sula finds comfort in Nel’s stability which is something she has always longed for as well. It relates to the saying that “each friend represents a world in us, a world that is not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born”. As the friendship between the two grow they become inseparable “Their friendships was so close; they themselves had difficulty distinguishing one's thoughts from the other” (Morrison 83). The friendship between Sula and Nel becomes so strong that it is hard to tell them apart from each other. This becomes clear when another character from the novel says to Nel “You. Sula. What’s the difference?”. Their personalities began to merge making them both the perfect mix of good and bad.