Reading Toni Morrison’s Sula in Sula:

• Main Authors: Jan I-jen, 詹怡真
• Other Authors: Chiou Yuan-guey
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/74288728549101230517

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 外國語文學系 === 88 === Sula stands out as a unique writing of Morrison’s because in this novel the author attempts to question and disrupt the social conventions and binary thinking that have long existed in the black community. Rather than glorifying the tradition typical of the black, Morrison problematizes those rooted concepts by making the heroine Sula confront and even destroy the established order of the Bottom town. Therefore, Sula’s dominating character makes Sula distinct and disruptive. She is so singular that she is an artist without a form. Thus my thesis will focus on Sula as a key to understand Morrison’s powerful characterization and story-telling. Seen in this light, Sula’s birth into a matri-focal family constitutes a master narrative around which revolves the story of her grandmother Eva and her mother Hannah. Eva’s arrogant temperament and Hannah’s indulgence in sexuality instead of being a dutiful housewife make Sula what she is in the later days. Sula’s entire life, including her childhood overhearing of her mother’s cruel words of not liking Sula, her unintentional killing of Chicken Little, her friendship with her kindred bosom friend, Nel, and details of Sula’s life as a grown-up, will be delved into so as to offer a more extensive realization of Sula’s being an “artist without a form.” Sula’s image as a public enemy alienates her from her community. But after Sula passes away, the Bottom community falls apart. Morrison seems to point out that without Sula, the Bottom town loses a common target which serves as the force of cohesion.