The second half of Sula was interesting as the main character, Sula, became the focus of the book. Maturation and discrimination continued in the second half of the novel. At the end of Part I of the book, Sula leaves her roots in the bottoms and goes off to college and the city life. While Sula does this, her best friend Nel stays in the Bottoms to live a more simple life. Nel and Sula have extremely different views on life and society. Nel believes in family, possession, and working for what you have. Sula rejects the life of Nel and does not respect her body or the men she is involved with. The friends contrasting personalities and approach on life made a wedge between them and they no longer spoke to each other until Sula was on her death bed at the end of the book.
Nel had virtually everything she wanted which included a decent job, a nice husband, and the starting of a family. Upon Sula's return to the Bottoms, she moved in on Nel's husband, Jude. Sula and Jude developed a relationship which ended up with Jude leaving Nel and the Bottoms. Sula did not understand why Sula would due something that cruel to her own best friend. Sula was really not that mature even though she was in her twenties during this part of the book. She didn't understand what possession of something, including a husband really meant. Sula had numerous affairs with many men throughout the Bottoms that aggravated the people of the town and the wives of the men. Sula never found a consistent man or work. She lived off of the men and family members. Sula never really matured from the time she was twenty to her death at age thirty.
Sula's death was the best news the people in the Bottom had had since the promise of work at the tunnel. The people really did not like Sula because of her behavior and lack of respect of possession. After Sula's death, the Bottom and Medallion went under a good deal of change. Discrimination was not at such a high level even though Sula was buried in the colored part of the cemetery. The tunnel project to connect the town with another one was to used black workers. They got a major job, and the government seemed to favor opening up employment to black workers. Another Old people's home was opened and Eva was transferred to it. The previous one she was in was a black one, while this new one was open to all. Although many people rejoiced Sula's early death, Nel was kind of saddened as they let a man get between their friendship. Sula regretted not being closer to Sula and she showed this by visiting the cemetery. Sula also looked up to the sky and tried to talk to Sula and explain her feelings.
Nel and Sula showed the two different sides of black women growing up in America. Sula was the brash and out of control women who went against society. She tried to take the easy road to success and a higher life by getting many men. Nel worked for everything that came her way. Nel stuck to her roots and tried to create a family. Sula never really understood possession. She started to when she got involved with a local man named Ajax. Ajax gave her many presents and made Sula feel good. Sula began always wondered when Ajax would come again to her house. She started feeling some the emotions of possession of a man and love. The book showed that it is difficult to change or improve your life when you are facing discrimination and your roots. Sula wanted a better life, which she never attained. Nel was content with a simple life, the same as her ancestors. She did not look to put herself out to society and be exposed to discrimination and failure like Sula.
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