'their meeting was fortunate, for it let them use each other to grow on' in "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Question

"The friendship between Sula and Nel compensates for the oppressive domestic and political circumstances in which they live. Consider in detail the alternative that their friendship provides, but also explore its eventual limitations". I have to answer this question for an english essay i'm writing for university. If anyone can give some guidance or references it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

To write a solid essay, you need to read the full book. It's a short one, and it's clearly written and understandable. As for the essay prompt, go back through the book and mark all the places where their environment is mentioned, noting especially any scenes involving oppression at home or in a public setting. Then look in the area around those same sections for places where the two girls' friendship allows them to overcome or escape from the oppression. Contrast an early scene of oppression and their friendship with a scene from later in the novel where the girls are estranged from each other; examine how their friendship eventually limits them and does not help them through oppression. Throughout the essay, support your claims through direct textual evidence and quotations from the novel.

The essay that you write will be much better than anything suggested on this site because it will be in your voice and from your point of view.

Answer 2

Hear, hear! Take if from someone who has taught English for many years now: pay attention to what DayLit tells you.

Note, the question itself gives you the outline of what you should include in your essay:

1. the oppressive circumstances
domestric
and political
2. the alternative their friendship provides
3. its eventual limitations

Re-read the book (or scan it carefully), noting specific examples of each of these three elements in the text. You'll have more than enough data for a rich essay.