INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUES IN SULA: THE ROLE OF ELDERS IN SHAPING COMMUNITY NARRATIVES

SHALINI CHAKRANARAYAN

doi:10.22159/ijss.2025v13i2.53597

Authors

SHALINI CHAKRANARAYAN Department of Foreign Languages, Jazan University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijss.2025v13i2.53597

Keywords:

Intergenerational dialogues, Community narratives, African American literature, Cultural transmission, Storytelling, Collective memory, Narrative theory, Community mothers

Abstract

This study examines the role of elders in shaping community narratives in Toni Morrison’s “Sula” through the microscope of intergenerational dialogues. By analyzing key scenes, characters, and themes, the research explores how elder characters, such as Eva Peace and the Deweys, influence and shape the community’s collective memory and identity. The theoretical framework minutely integrates narrative theory, the concept of “community mothers,” and the dynamics of intergenerational dialogues to provide a comprehensive understanding of the novel’s exploration of community identity, cultural transmission, and the power of storytelling. The findings highlight the significance of elder wisdom, intergenerational tensions, and shared spaces and rituals in the construction and preservation of the community’s narrative. This study contributes to the existing scholarship on “Sula,” African American literature, and cultural studies, offering insights into the broader social and cultural functions of storytelling and intergenerational relationships.

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