Sula
... In the novel we are introduced to two young girls from very different backgrounds, Sula and Nel. ... As the reader follows along with the story it becomes quite obvious that Sula and Nel are polar opposites in their actions and their lifestyles. Sula depended upon Nel for sturdiness and comfort, while Nel preferred the unpredictable nature of her counterpart. ... When Sula visited Nel’s home, she was comfortable in it, while Nel regarded the oppressive neatness with dread, but felt comfortable in it, with Sula. In the same way, Sula found comfort within the walls of the Wright home. ... Sula dislikes her disheveled house, and wishes that she could live in the clean house of Nels. Nel likes the homeliness of Sula’s house. ... Boy-Boy, Sula’s grandfather, leaves Eva, Sula’s grandmother, after a long unhealthy marriage. ... Sula abandons the Bottom after Nel marries. Sula does this because she thinks doing one thing forever is hell. Nel doesn’t understand Sula’s idea of the need for abandonment, "Sula was wrong. ... " When Sula returns she betrays Nel’s friendship by sleeping with her husband Jude. The grief Nel feels after Jude left her is serious and forces the reader to wonder why Sula would promote Jude leaving Nel by sleeping with him. ... Later, when Ajax leaves Sula, once again we revisit the idea of leaving someone in your life because consistency was getting a little too comfortable for Ajax.