Beloved
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Toni Morrisons Nobel Prize winning novel Beloved is a wonderfully written masterpiece in which each character must deal with a past that continually torments them. The relationship between Denver, Beloved, and Sethe is one that is constantly in the past. Each character is trying to deal with the past and constantly allows the past to take over the present. Morrisons Sethe is a character that had been torn form their loved ones in some way and seek to be set free from the hold slavery had on her. Along with the past, slavery and racial issues also torment and affect each of the characters development and also the plot.
“Racial issues are without a doubt one of the main issues in Beloved. The whole
story revolves around the life of a former slave and her attempts to get on with her
life as best she can considering what the white slave owners have put her through.
However, the racial issues in this story are not unlike those read about in other stories and historical writings.” (
The discontent of the past first comes as a haunting and then is shown as a character herself. “Beloved both in the story and in character hides the truth in simple ways and convinces those involved that the past never leaves, it only becomes a part of who they are.”(www.amazon.com/exec.obidos/tg/stores kica2000) The ever-changing manipulation of truth holds back each characters attempt to escape.
The relationship between Denver, Beloved and Sethe grew more and more complex over the duration of the novel. The past has the power to make or destroy the future. Much of what actually did occur in the story had to do with the relationship between a single mother, her daughter, and a complete stranger (Beloved) who had inserted herself into their lives. Beloved in her own form is a symbol of slavery. “Beloved is not only Sethes child, she is slavery personified.” (www.amazon.com/exec.obidos/tg/stores kica2000) Beloved is conniving, self absorbed, covetous, and offensive “But it was Beloved who made demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire.” (Morrison 242) Each of these words can also be used to describe the horror of slavery, which black people experienced. In this novel, the character of Beloved just represents what actually comes back and haunts Sethe, slavery. It is only when Sethe finally realizes that she needs to discover how to value ones self, the complete opposite of the depreciation that slavery causes one to feel, that Sethe can let go of the harrowing and excruciating pain from slavery and Beloved. Sethes inability to let go of the past and her reliving and fear speaks to the world today ” Now I have found her in this house. She smiles at me, and it is my own face smiling. I will not lose her again. She is mine.” (214)
The reappearance of Beloved, first as a ghost then as a character, allows the Sethe and Denver to abandon their past and participate guilt free in their present and future lives. Morrison names the past, Beloved, to allow each character to release and condemn their ghosts and live a free life outside of 124, for example, using Denver ” It was a new thought, having a self to look out for and preserve.” (252). By using Beloved, Morrison allows each of the main characters to relinquish and surrender their haunting pasts and live up to their presents and futures, “They forgot her like a bad dream.” (274)
Sethes character goes through a cycle from the beginning of the novel till the end. She begins the novel in denial about her past. Sethe struggles every day to shut out her past. Slowly though the past resurfaces more and more each day. As she slowly is able to recall her past her character instantly changes. The internal as well as the external scars from slavery have traumatized Sethes soul and persona. “Each time she relives a memory she experiences the pain all over again.” (
From the beginning of the novel, the reader notices that Sethe has a strong motherly intuition to shield Denver from the past.
“Denver knew that her mother was through with it-for now anyway. The single slow blink of her eyes; the bottom lip sliding up slowly to cover the top; and then a nostril sigh, like the snuff of a candle flame-signs that Sethe had reached a point beyond which she would not go.”(37)
Sethe was persistent on not reliving the past. “She sees memory as pictures that never go away.” (
To Denver her past is a puzzling question mark. The only two people she has ever known, Sethe and Baby Suggs, told her short stories. Denver knows that her brothers ran off when she was only a mere child and her sister was murdered. Even if Denver and Sethe are talking about the past, Denver will only listen if it is about her. The stories about her past are the only resemblance to a life that Denver possesses. Denver is seen as a loner till Beloved comes into her life first as a ghost then as a person, “Now her mother was upstairs with the man who had gotten rid of the only other company she had. Denver dipped a bit of bread into the jelly. Slowly, methodically, miserably she ate it.” (Morrison, 19) Beloved comes to be the one that shows Denver how to mature and move on to the present and future just like she shows Sethe.
The connection of mother and daughter is close knit in the present but is faced with turmoil with the ghost of Sethes dead