Sula and Nel as Soulmates in Sula by Toni MorrisonExamining the two distinct characters of Nel (Wright) Greene and Sula Peace from Sula by Toni Morrison, a unique individual soul emerges from both women. This soul takes into account the good, the bad and the gray areas. These gray area qualities are necessary because, although Nel exhibits more stereotypically "good" qualities than Sula, the stereotypes of good and evil do not completely fit the definition. Nel and Sula combined create a ying and yang type of soul, with each half including part of the other half. Even though the two women are sometimes polar opposites of each other, they arrive at their opinions with each other's help. The two characters need each other to exist to the point of becoming “two throats and one eye” (Morrison 2167). A physical example of how the two girls are connected is seen when they line up head to head to form a straight, continuous, complete line (2124). The biggest influence on a growing girl is her mother and, in some cases, like Sula. , his grandmother. In order to fully understand the bond between Nel and Sula, one must examine who and what their mothers were and what traits and beliefs they passed on to their daughters. Nel's mother, Hélène, sought to teach her daughter the ways to be a stereotypical "good woman," a supportive wife and caring mother. As an example for her daughter, Helen took great pleasure in raising Nel and found in her “more comfort and purpose than she had ever hoped to find” in her life (2105). Helene was proud of her motherhood and was most proud when someone complimented Nel on how “obedient and polite” she was (2105). Hélène's adoption of these qualities, an accommodation to the sta...... middle of paper ......;http://www.time.com/time/magazine/1998/ > (accessed 9 September 2001) Morrison, Toni. Sula. New York: Penguin Books Ltd, 1973. “Toni Morrison.” Contemporary Authors, Gale Research, 1993; summarized at (accessed September 26, 2001) O'Neill, Cynthia. Goddesses, heroes and shamans. New York: Larousse Kingfisher Chambers Inc., 1994. Pessoni, Michele. "'She was mocking their God.': Discovering Sula's inner goddess." African American Review 29 (1995): 439-451. Rigney, Barbara Hill. The voices of Toni Morrison. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 1991. Rubenstein, Roberta. “Outcasts and community.” Toni Morrison: Critical Perspectives Past and Present.Ed. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and K. A. Appiah. New York: Amistad Press, Inc..., 1993. 126-1 58.