Examples Of Figurative Language In Sula

From the early 1900’s racism has been a huge issue in the United States. The novel Sula portrays racism many times. Sula is about two young girls, Nel and Sula, who live in Medallion during a period where racism was a major issue. It shows the girl’s life from childhood to adulthood and all the obstacles they faced throughout each period in their life. There are also many differences from both girls backgrounds, however the girls are attached to each other during their adolescent years.They face problems at home, in their friendship, and also in the community throughout the whole novel. Throughout the novel the author sets a tone about racism from the very beginning. In the novel Sula, Toni Morrison connects racism through many different factors, one being figurative language. Throughout the novel, there are many times Toni Morrison uses figurative language to portray racism.

All their repugnance was contained in the neat balance of the triangles-a balance that soothed him, transferred some of its equilibrium to him.Thus reassured that the white, the red, and the brown would stay where they were-would not explode or burst forth from their restricted zones…” (8). Toni Morrison uses rice, meat and tomatoes to show segregation in the community of Medallion. Rice and meat were separated just like whites and blacks were separated. The blacks stayed where they had to stay which was called the Bottom and the whites lived with the other