Character Development in Toni Morrison's Essay

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The moment when Sula accidentally kills Chicken Little plays an important role in her relationship with Nel. While both girls are inclined to feel guilt as a result of their involvement in the child's death, Sula believes that her action was caused by her destructive nature and that it is perfectly natural for her to put across immoral behavior. In contrast, Nel gradually detaches herself from the event and comes to believe that she had nothing to do with Chicken Little's death. Her upbringing influenced her in believing that she could not possibly make a mistake as long as she acts in accordance with her mother's instructions.

The relationship between Sula and Nel is very different from the one between two typical children, as they feel that they are connected as a result of their similar goals. Even with the fact that they have different personalities they feel that they complete each-other. It is very probable that Nel considers Chicken Little's death an opportunity for her to get out of this relationship, taking into account that she feels pressured by the fact that Sula's behavior and personality is very different from her mother's behavior and personality.

It is difficult to determine if Nel feels sorrow for not acting when Chicken Little lost his life or whether she believes that she was simply wrong because she did not perform a socially accepted act.

The Deweys are meant to provide readers with an alternative to children like Nel and Sula. The fact that they all bear the same name makes it possible for readers to understand that the community in Bottom was a location where individuals lost their personal identity.

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Nel and Sula are more similar to Shadrock than they are to the Deweys and to normal individuals in their community. This makes it possible for them to learn more regarding their personal identities and to be able to get actively involved in changing their lifestyles at the moment when they want to.

The novel is called "Sula" because this character is the only one who experiences a complex upbringing and who eventually comes to live her life in accordance with her own interests. In contrast, Nel is unable to follow her dreams and ends up being very similar to her mother. She initially has a tendency to detach herself from society's laws but does not manage to do so and is forced to remain a 'standard' African-American woman in the early twentieth century. Chicken Little's death has a severe effect on both girls and it practically forces them to abandon their understanding of childhood in favor of accepting the fact that they are adults. Both girls come to acknowledge that they are no longer innocent and immortal consequent to this event.

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