Inversion in "Sula" Book Review by Nicky

This paper discusses how tradition loses its value in Toni Morrison's novel, "Sula" with the exploration of inversion with three generations of women. While women are generally seen as maternal caregivers for the family and men are seen as loving protectors, the opposite is portrayed in the novel. The paper examines how the roles of women are reversed in "Sula", exposing the trap that typical social constraints can cause for individuals that are simply not meant to live the typical life. It looks at how Sula learns from her mother that she does not have to bend to the will of others and she learns on her own that she might just be better off when she lives to please herself and Hannah is partially responsible for Sula's development because she is not the typical mother. In addition, Eva is not typical in that while she does what she must for her family, she is not the caring, maternal figure that many might think she should be. The paper concludes that inversion is significant in "Sula" because Morrison reveals how the typical family structure is not so typical anymore and this type of behavior has been going on for some time.