In Toni Morrison’s novel Sula, one of the main conflicts is that Sula is so careless. In the beginning of the book, we receive insight into Sula’s life as a child. We know that the only reason that Sula and Nell are as close as they are is because Nell lives vicariously through Sula because Sula is so outspoken and independent. Sula also grounds around Nell: “[a]lthough both were unshaped, formless things, NelNell seemed stronger and more consistent than Sula, who could hardly be counted on to sustain any emotion for more than three minutes” (Morrison, 53). They both lean on each other because one lacks what the other one has, so when they built their friend ship, they also became one person. They become so oblivious to each other’s flaws that when Sula kills Chicken Little, NelNell tells her that it is going to be ok and they never speak onabout Chicken Little again. I believe this situation comes back as karma for Nell because when Sula and Nell are grown, Sula sleeps with NellsNell's husband and turns her world upside down.
One day as Sula is walking into her home she overhears a conversation with her mother and friends. Sula hears her mom say “Sure you do. You love her, like I love Sula. I just don’t like her. That’s the difference.”(Morrison, 57) I believe this statement was the beginning of Sula’s carelessness, hearing her own mother say that she does not like her madeto make her upset. Sula deemed it necessary to prove to Hannah that she could like her.