Morrison´s Treatment Of Female And Male Psychology In 1937

2 Pages 596 Words

In examining Morrison’s treatment of female and male psychology in “1937” we can appreciate an important difference in the character’s behaviour. We can say that Sula and Nel represents two essential and complex parts (fearless-weakness) of a sole woman, while Jude seems to symbolise men’s simplicity and chauvinism.
From the female point of view, the author shows us that women (in this black comunity) are complex and decided. We see complexity since Sula and Nel are combined to create a complete being. Sula and Nel are polar opposites, however they need each other in order to exist. On the one hand, Sula has the appearance of a seductive and daring woman. When she returns to the Bottom, after ten years of absence, she is described as a “movie star”(90) who “attracts the glances of old men”(90). She behaves in a daring and careless way; we can see that when she argues with Eva, “don’t talk to me about how much you gave me, big mamma, and how much I owe you”. But at the same time she shows care and compassion when she asks Nel what to do with her grandmother. Sula says to Nel “you always had better sense than me. Whenever I was scared before, you knew what to do”(101), so we realise that Sula needs Nel’s support to make a decision. On the other hand, Nel shows the stereotypical good qualities of a mature woman. Opposed to Sula, Nel is married and leads a common way of life. She takes care of her children and she is very devoted to household activities. Nel enjoys her motherhood and her marriage, but we realise that she does not feel complete .Now that Sula is back, Nel feels renewed and strong. “Her old friend had come home. Sula. Who made her laugh, who made her see things with new eyes, in whose presence she felt clever, gentle and a little raunchy”(95). In other words, it is evident that Nel could shine and feel herself in Sula’s company. To conclude, we can say that both, Sula and Nel are linked no...