Sexual Theme in Sula by Toni Morrison Essay Example

falls in love with Ajax, but he leaves without a trace when she becomes too independent and assertive for him. Even for strong women like Hannah and Usual, society expects them to be submissive during sex.
Toni Morrison describes Hannah as someone who doesn't challenge or argue with her partners. Instead, she makes them feel complete and wonderful as they are. This reinforces the sexual standards imposed on women. Despite Salsa's unconventional sexual behavior, she still conforms to societal expectations during intercourse. While the Peace family challenges traditional sexual norms, Nell tends to adhere more to them, particularly in her relationship with Jude.

At Nell and Suede's wedding, the couple eagerly looked forward to having sex that night. "They began to dance, pressed in among the others, and each one turned his thoughts to the night that was coming fast" (85). This eagerness is seen as more traditional, as it is assumed that the couple has never had sex before. Society emphasizes the idea of no sex before marriage, which sharply contrasts with the attitude towards sex in the Peace family. Salsa's casualness about sex conflicts with many marriages and reveals its double standard, but it has a profound impact on Salsa's life.

Of course, it was difficult for Usual to understand why her affair was wrong. "She had no thought at all of causing Nell pain when she bedded down with Jude" (119). This naturally leaves Nell feeling angry and depressed because of her husband and Salsa's affair. "For now her thighs were truly empty and dead too, and it was Usual who had taken the life from them and Jude who smashed her heart,

and the both of them who left her with no thighs and no heart, just her brain ravening away" (111).

Both Usual and Jude act like men in the affair, as neither of them take any blame or responsibility. After the affair, some time passes before Nell even talks to Usual again, and the audience never hears from Jude again.

The protagonist in Usual falls in love with Ajax, losing her "masculinity" and conforming to societal expectations for women. After a positive sexual encounter, she begins to act more traditionally feminine, causing Ajax to leave as he liked her masculine attitude towards sex. Ajax realizes that like her sisters before her, she will question him about his whereabouts, leading to his mild regret. Usual is usually even more independent than her sexually liberated family. Ajax is unsettled by Salsa's attempts to be more feminine, as seen in the gleaming kitchen and the table set for two. He feels trapped and nestsle in by Usual, prompting him to leave when she asks too much of him. This pattern is also seen with Bobby and Jude. The book explores the double standard between men and women when it comes to sex, tearing characters apart.

Both Nell and Usual defy societal sexual norms by striving for independence; however, they ultimately find themselves submitting to these very standards. Salsa's unabashed openness about her sexuality poses a significant threat to the tightly-knit community of Medallion. Therefore, its inhabitants express relief upon her demise, as they no longer fear her advancing their husbands' boundaries. It is worth noting that had any of the wives been discovered engaging in affairs with unmarried men,

the outcome would have been vastly dissimilar.