African-American Female Journey Within in Toni Morrison's Sula

Abstract

This paper investigates the African American female journey within in Morrison's Sula. It examines the boundaries within which Sula and Nel the protagonists in this novel respectively shape their journey within and to which extent they succeed in their journey within. It will trace how the female journey within grows, develops, transforms, and expresses itself. the paper will focus also on the direction, the import, and the praxis of the female journey within and it shows how these process relate to black feminist thought as portrayed in this novel This paper uses feminist approach to delineates the female protagonists attempt to achieve their journey within, both define their journey within in relation to others. The strong and independent Sula dies when the community rejects her; Nel, who has become more resolute, will have to confront the difficulties of life alone. Thus, by making them highly accountable to the members of their family and to the community, Morrison manipulates her protagonists to develop into less objectified selves The paper concludes by stating that Morrison depicts two forms of response to the need for journey within for the black woman in patriarchy and racially divided society. Nel exposes a system of repression and suppression; Sula challenges her social environment but seems compelled to learn to adjust to it, failing which her very existence would be challenged.