Directions: Same format as the last blog. Read pages 76-124. Next, analyze the following moments. Notice the juxtaposition. How does each “symbol” build on the next? In your blog response, discuss how the text works to create meaning. What is meaningful about the shift itself, for example? Choose a 1-3 below to explore, and use direct evidence from the text in your response. As a class, try to mix it up, so we can cover the list as a class. Respond to each other. Be bold. Brilliant.
- "He saw?" (81)
- Mister (85)
- "In the dark, my name is Beloved" (88)
- "Tell me how Setrhe made you in the boat" (90-100)
- “It was time to lay it all down” (101)
- Mothers, fathers, children: laugh, dance, cry – love yourself (103-104)
- Baby Suggs holy proved herself a liar, whitefolks, and 28 days…. (104-105)
- Life on 124 before (105-112)
- “Just the fingers,” Paul D, strangled…Grandma Baby? (112-113)
- Beloved’s fingers, “You are too old for that,” and then Sethe “remembered” something. Could she trust Paul D? (114-118)
- “I saw what you did” (119) “I fixed it, didn’t I?” (119) “The circle of iron choked it” (119)
- Lady Jones, Nelson Lord, two years of silence…. why? What woke her up? (120-124)
- Beloved and…the turtles? (124)
Morrison gives Paul D a bit in his mouth so that she can, through him, comment on the psychological effects of slavery on a slave’s perception of their identity and their place in society. The bit in his mouth reminds Paul D of his status as a an animal as opposed to a human, which transitions into the ironic portrayal of the white landowner as a rooster. “Mister” the rooster represents the “hateful...evil” white slave owner. A critical aspect of this comparison is the idea that the rooster is dependent on Paul D, for it “was me took him out the shell you know, He’d a died if it hadn’t been for me” (85). Likewise, Paul D’s slave owner is dependent on him. All white “Misters” are dependent on blacks economically, but also socially, and politically. Yet, “Mister, he looked so…free. Better than me. Stronger, tougher...couldn’t even get out the shell by hisself but he was still king and I was…” (86). It is the concept of his own identity that Paul D can’t define. Rather than the physical toll of slavery, it is the injustice not understanding who he is that Paul D struggles with most. “Mister was allowed to be and stay what he was. But I wasn’t allowed to be and stay what I was...wasn’t no way I’d ever be Paul D again, living or dead. Schoolteacher changed me. I was something else and that something was less than a chicken sitting in the sun on a tub.” He is not only an animal, he is less than an animal. This was imposed upon him not by the system of slavery, but by a very real human being, one called “Mister.” He has seen the evolution of Schoolteacher into “Mister,” “watched [him] grow up and whup everything in the yard.” In this scene he takes the presence of Mister as an indication that he has been singled out personally for this life, for “when I saw Mister I knew it was me too. Not just them, me too” (85-86). Paul D does not feel like the “real man” his former slave owner made him out to be.
ReplyDeleteThe powerful of the symbolism that is Mister was very striking to me. To compare a bird, probably one of the freest creatures on the planet, to a slave locked up with a bit in his mouth was an extreme contrast. I really like when you comment on how Paul D is "not only an animal, he is less than an animal".
DeleteThe shift of Denver’s understanding of life at 124 is incredibly astonishing. While, up until this point, she has not shown many signs of questioning her mother or Beloved, we see a turning point in this section. The shift is seen particularly in two instances; a look into her questioning of Sethe’s past when she was a young child, and her realization that Beloved’s intentions at 124 are not necessarily as pure and good hearted as she had initially believed. When she is asked by Nelson Lord if Sethe got, “‘locked away for murder,’” (123) she begins to question everything that she once took as normalcy. Before she was quite directly asked about her family, Denver, “had been barely interested in [the baby’s] antics,” (121). Denver has spent her whole life tip toeing around the sticky subjects in her life. She has never had to truly face what her mother has done in her past or why the baby is actually haunting her home. The fact that she is so bluntly faced with such a question completely changes her outlook on her entire life, and makes her eager to understand why her life is the way that it is. In the present, Denver was quite obviously obsessed with everything about Beloved; had Paul D asked questions about Beloved, Denver would defend her honor to no end. But once she sees Sethe, “being strangled,” (113) she begins to question Beloved’s every intention. She outrightly accuses her of hurting her mother, saying, “‘You did it. I saw you,” (119). Gone are the days where Denver tentatively questions her life; she is now taking control of it and unabashedly asking questions and making accusations in order to get the answers she feels she deserves. This shift in Denver’s persona seems to be just beginning.
ReplyDeleteYour point about this scene being the pivotal point for Denver's shift in character is interesting. She is unsure of the truth, but what she does know is that she is tired of being shielded from it.
DeleteI agree. This shift here really evident, and we can see questioning from Denver which we never had before.
Delete- Nadia
DeleteReading the text, I find many things confusing, however the most confusing part is the workings of the spirit world. That being said, I have come up with a theory as to how it ties into the material world and Sethe’s emotions. Going back to rememories, Sethe has defined them as memories, sometimes of other people or from other perspectives, that are triggered by different places or sights. I think these may just be econters with various spirits, such as beloved, who are communicating with the living. As noted by Beloved on page 88, “[there are] A lot of people down there. Some is dead.” This would indicate there are many “living” people stuck in this other world, that would seem to mirror the real world, as shown on the next page when Beloved claims to have found Sethe’s earing in the river by 124. There also seem to be places of particularly strong activity that held some great value to people, such as the clearing that Baby Suggs used to preach at or 124. The river seems to be the strongest link between the two world however. The imagery of Denver being born on the Ohio and washed in it, then Stamp bringing Sethe and her child to her new life over the river, and Beloved taking a bridge over to emerge from the river in the land of the living all circles around the theme of new stages of existence. The Ohio River is almost like the River Styx, which in Greek mythology is the boundary between earth and the underworld, and is traversed by a ferryman, not unlike Stamp. However these spirits seem to be able to make temporary crossings if prompted, such as Beloved by Denver, or Baby Suggs by Sethe on page 113. This also applies to evil spirits, such as when Sethe is choked and Beloved claims “The circle of iron choked [her neck].” pg 119. Laid out like this, the spirit world makes more sense to me, because it works not so different form normal memories. If you welcome them into your head, the ghosts of the past will be just as real to you as the present, some may refuse to go away, others can be called on for guidance or comfort, but if you spend to much time in the past it will hold you back in the present, like if you had an iron circle around your neck.
ReplyDeleteWhen Beloved first arrived at 124, Denver was initially excited at her arrival and they two girls got along well. Denver felt lonely because she had been isolated for most of her life up until that point and she never knew what it was like to live with someone other than her mother or grandmother. However, like Kristy said, as the story progresses it is revealed that Beloved’s intentions for staying at 124 may not be completely innocent. Beloved won’t directly respond to Denver’s question about where she got her name from. She responds by saying that “In the dark, my name is Beloved,” referring to the fact that she comes from somewhere that is dark and unknown to Denver (88). Denver seems to interpret this as meaning that she comes from some sort of afterlife and asks her if she saw Jesus or Baby Suggs there. This is the first sign that Beloved has some sort of ulterior motive for suddenly reappearing after she was thought to be dead, which may not be completely untrue. Beloved tells Denver that Sethe “is the one I have to have,” which causes Denver to begin to suspect that something is off (89). Beloved’s behavior only becomes more and more suspicious as strange things continue to happen. When Sethe and Paul D are alone together, “Beloved came through the door and they ought to have heard her tread, but they didn’t” (118). It seems strange that Beloved is described as being silent and easily able to sneak up on people. Later in the clearing in the woods, Denver accuses Beloved of “[making Sethe] choke” but she denies this and insists that “the circle of iron choked it” (119). All of this behavior makes me think that Beloved is up to something and that the others will discover that her intentions are not as harmless as they appear to be.
ReplyDeleteI also think that Beloved's motive is significant and I like your analysis of the evidence we have so far. It connects to the beginning of the book when Denver and Sethe wonder if Beloved "has plans."
Delete-Emma
DeleteAs a few other students also noted in their blog posts, as I read pages 76 through 124 it became very apparent to me that Denver was beginning to see another side of Beloved that she hadn’t before. I wonder if this new curiosity is simply due to Denver’s growth as a character or if she has been influenced by the questions that Paul D has asked Beloved. We first see Denver confront Beloved when she asks where her name comes from. Beloved responds only by saying, “In the dark my name is Beloved” (88). Intrigued by her response, Denver asks, “What’s it like over there, where you were before? Can you tell me?”... “Dark” (88), said Beloved. Denver seems to assume that Beloved used to be in a sort of spiritual place, asking “You see Jesus? Baby Suggs?”. Beloved couldn’t identify any of the people she was with, yet she doesn’t deny recognizing the name Baby Suggs. She also tells Denver that she came back to see Sethe’s face. This hurts Denver since they seemed to have a strong connection. Beloved motives concern me as I read further. I wonder why she still spends so much time with Denver, despite saying that her main intention for coming to 124 was to be with Sethe. I wonder if Beloved is using Denver’s vulnerability to her advantage.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you mentioned when Denver was interrogating Beloved about where she came from. When she describes it she says it's "dark" and how "some is dead" with " no room to move in" (88). To me when I first read that, it sounded like she was describing hell, but Beloved then asks if she saw Jesus and Baby Suggs. Jesus is known to be a form of God and Baby Suggs preached love to everyone, so both of them couldn't be in hell. Though, it doesn't sound like heaven either so it'll be interesting to find out what Beloved was truly describing.
DeleteA pivotal moment for Sethe was when Paul D revealed to her that Halle saw the boys torture her and take her milk. When Sethe hears about this, she is furious saying “[h]e saw them boys do that to me and let them keep on breathing air? He saw? He saw? He saw?”(81). From this, one can see how much Sethe cared for her babies and how she often put others in front of herself. She wanted her babies to have the milk and was more mad about that than anything. Her repetition of the question “he saw?”, emphasizes her thought process. She repeats it many times as she is still trying to wrap her mind around what happened. She cannot believe that Halle had seen it and didn’t do anything. This revelation was almost forced out of Paul D by Beloved. Beloved had caused tension between Sethe and Paul D, forcing them to argue. Beloved had started an argument that led to even more events from the past to be revealed. Although many emotions are released and questions are answered in the process, it still does bring back painful memories. These memories are painful to both Sethe and Paul D, but they continue to share in order to better understand each other as well as themselves.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you referenced the way in which Beloved has impacted the relationship between Sethe and Paul D within your response.
DeleteIn these chapters, I realized a connection between Sethe and Baby Suggs. Their inabilities to practice self-love have led to both of their downfalls. While, for Baby Suggs, this "downfall" was her literal death, Sethe's loss of self-care caused her to be unable to move on. Baby Suggs' attempt to use self-care to distract her from her past in first shown in pages 103-104. Here, she is preaching to others to "'love your hands! Raise them up and kiss them'" (103) and to "'love your heart. For this is the prize'" (103.) Although this had a tremendous influence on both her and Sethe, it did not last. Only a short time later, Baby Suggs had admitted to Sethe, "'Those white things have taken all I had or dreamed'" (104.) Though Baby Suggs and Sethe tried to use self-love to cope with their horrific struggles, their pasts were too oppressive. Instead, they were forced back into believing they were how the "white things" viewed them. In a way, the past has kept them from living. Now, Sethe is just merely surviving in 124, unable to do anything kind for herself. Clearly, her perception of herself is shaped by the events she has endured. Here, she almost accepts that her identity is just an abused and broken victim and nothing more. There is no longer any happiness or beauty in herself, and nothing she can do to change that.
ReplyDeleteIn contrast to Sethe and Baby Suggs, Denver is able to enjoy life and her identity. This is shown with her constant requests for Sethe to tell her of her birth. Instead of being ashamed of who she is (like Sethe), she is instead free to love herself. Of course, this is due to the fact that she is not burdened by any of the experiences Sethe went through. Now, she feels the liberty to create her own future and practice self-love.
A central symbol in Beloved, is their house, 124 Bluestone Road. In this section of the book, we saw a shift in the description of the house. By delving into Sethe’s complicated and tough escape journey, the ending at house 124 seems miraculous. She notes that “It was in front of that 124 that Sethe climbed off a wagon, her newborn tied to her chest, and felt for the first time the wide arms of her mother-in-law,...Who decided that slave life had...she had nothing left to make a living with but her heart…”(102) The house was described as “a cheerful, buzzing house where Baby Suggs, holy, loved, cautioned, fed, chastised, and soothed.” (102) This sbjifted when Beloved was murdered. Not only did the house lose its glowing presence, it was lonely because “....there was no one, for they would not visit her while the baby ghost filled her house…” (112) The house was no longer lively and full of friends sharing stories and grief. Instead it was filled with “...the sound of her dead sister ...signaled another shift in the fortunes of the people of 124...Instead of sighs and accidents there was pointed and deliberate abuse.” (122) This shift reflects the wearing off of the miracle of an ended journey. Once they had settled in, the past had caught up with the home’s owners and terrible things happened, leaving them in isolation. This reflects a shift in the tone of the book where the reader starts to question Sethe as her past with Beloved comes into light.
ReplyDelete124 is absolutely an unforgettable symbol in Beloved. Morrison makes sure we don't forget where the story takes place and what happened there. We are able to see how 124 has changed since the arrival of Paul D and changed again with the arrival of Beloved.
Delete“He saw?” (81), begins a repetition of sight. A realization of Halle’s presence when Sethe was raped changes a traumatic experience to something unthinkable. Nevertheless, Sethe’s mind allows her no rest, as she thinks, “Why was there nothing it refused?” (83). Her mind, too full of painful thoughts, won’t allow any to be rejected. She sees completely, understands every part of her pain, a mind not allowing her to break like Halle, when she wishes to go insane and in turn not carry it all. Sethe recalls now everybody was looking at her when she was raped. Schoolteacher, disturbingly business-like, Halle paralyzed from above, all those present seeing herself as she could not. Seeing things she had not known Halle had seen as he remained in the rafters. The inaction all around her was the inaction that scarred Paul D as well. Paul D, who “saw him and could not save or comfort him because the iron bit was in his mouth” (83). He sees Halle, but can only see him, only able to watch as Halle was breaking down, a feeling of powerlessness consuming both men. And all the while, there is a disturbing feeling that those watching them - Sethe and Paul D and perhaps even Halle if he noticed Paul D - in a state of despair were all seeing more than they could know about themselves. Paul D can feel it in Mister and the hens, who observe him as he has the bit in his mouth. The helpless chick now grown and now free could watch Paul D breaking. Mister, who could become the “king” among the hens while Paul D, dehumanized by Schoolteacher, had been reduced to feeling less than an animal, “less than a chicken sitting in the sun on a tub” (86).There are those like Mister and Schoolteacher, who watch on in freedom allowed to feel whole and private, those who watch on, paralyzed, like Paul D and Halle, and those who are watched, who have their whole selves taken from them in how they are seen, how they know others see their lives, their feelings, and their trauma. How the watchers can understand them in the personal ways they have not been allowed to witness themselves. Even after this time has passed, after many years, more knowledge and more sight continue to come, continue to be a discomforting presence. Along with this sight comes Beloved, who watched over 124 as a ghost and returned to see her mother’s face. “I was in the water. I saw her diamonds down there. I could touch them.’ ‘What stopped you?” (89). Beloved is from another time, is from the darkness and now only wants to be seen by Sethe, who wants to avoid any more sight that could harm her, plagued still with the memories of Beloved’s death and everything before.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really consider the theme of sight directly before you pointed it out. The strength you point out, that she sees completely, understands every part of her pain, a mind not allowing her to break like Halle is really powerful.
DeleteIn this section, we learned a wealth of information on Sethe’s past life which was extremely fulfilling and mind opening to help understand the novel. I think that retelling the complete story of Denver’s death adds a lot of depth to her character, as well as Sethe’s. This mother to daughter connection that Denver and Sethe have is something Beloved cannot take possession of or change. Although Sethe gave birth to Beloved as well, the significance of having Denver while escaping to freedom creates a specific bond between them. Since traveling North, Sethe wondered for eighteen years what became of her husband after he is left in the South. However, once Paul D reveals that Halle witnessed Sethe’s rape, her entire history is shifted and becomes cluttered as she copes with this realization. As Michelle and Audrey mentioned, Sethe is distraught upon hearing this news saying “he saw them boys do that to me and let them keep on breathing air? He saw? He saw? He saw?”(81). Paul D explains how “It broke him, Sethe” (82) but Sethe remains upset. Up to this point, Halle has been depicted as a “mama’s boy” and a man of great character who sacrificed everything for the ones he loved. Learning of his attendance during his wife’s worst moment, tarnishes this character, despite the fact that he was helpless in that situation. I continue to wonder where Halle ended up, and have strong suspensions that his importance will stay relevant in the novel, perhaps prompting his return. Due to the tense relationship between Beloved and Paul D, it would be interesting to see how Beloved would interact with Halle, the patriarch of their family. Throughout this section Beloved continues to transform, as Denver discovers she may not be as innocent as she seems. The suspension left at end of Page 124, intrigues me to keep reading and discover the secrets of this story.
ReplyDeleteI wrote about the same ideas in my blog post, and I really like your perspective on how Paul D and Sethe communicate
DeleteI like your analysis on Denver and Sethe's relationship. Denver's jealousy and need for attention when Paul D comes can make it easy to forget That Sethe and Denver have only had each other for many years. Denver doesn't seem too worried or jealous about Beloved either which reinforces this idea
DeleteIn this particular section of the novel, Morrison looks specifically at the relationships that happen behind the doors of 124, as well as before that. One of the biggest reasons why Sethe is hesitant to let Paul D live full time in their house is because she never got closure on what happened to her husband Halle. Sethe is rationale about the fact that Halle is most likely never to return, yet there is a part of her that can not let him go. In casual conversation, Paul D tells Sethe, “ I never mistreated a women in my life.’ ‘That makes one in the world’ Sethe answered.” (81) She is clearly holding a grudge against Halle, just for the fact of the unknown. When Paul D tries to argue that Halle was a good man, and never left her, Sethe again responds by saying, “What’d he leave then if not me?” (82)This statement forces Paul D to tell Sethe something about Halley's disappearance that he knows will not make her happy. When Sethe had her milk stolen by the other men at sweethome, Halle had watched it happen. Paul D explained that Halle was trapped on the loft above then, and could not leave. He told Sethe, “I never knew what it was that messed him up… all I knew was that something broke him.”(82) Putting together these pieces from both perspectives allows Sethe and us as the readers to piece together why Halle had never come back at Sethe. He could not bear to look at her after what had happened. This gives Sethe an explanation, but still does not make her less uneasy about the whole situation. She shows clear signs of being upset at Paul D which is reasonable and expected, but at the same time, it is one piece of her unknown life has been suddenly solved.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how Paul D doesn't really sympathize with Sethe, but rather defends Halle's lack of action. He is trying to convince her that Halle couldn't do anything, rather than seeing why Sethe is appalled by this new fact.
DeleteAs I read the text, I focused a lot on the importance of Baby Suggs to her community, seen as a preacher who taught valuable lessons to move on from the harsh past. She would preach her words that “the adults looked on and could not help smiling” because she “offered up to them her great big heart” (103). Baby Suggs changed the people who listened to her; Her heart is the sheer symbol of contentment that is almost nonexistent in the present storyline besides during the carnival. The transition from the past of how nice 124 used to be, and how optimistic the community was magnifies the influence of Baby Suggs before she died. Unfortunately, Baby Suggs’ hope fades away as “124 shut down and put up with the venom of its ghost” (105) as everything becomes what it is in present time of the storyline. Baby Suggs spoke on the hope of living and believing in grace, but “her faith, love, imagination… began to collapse twenty-eight days after…” (105). I felt as though this wasn’t a coincidence that less than a month Sethe comes to 124, Baby Suggs was bed ridden with no hope. It paints Sethe as the reason that could have caused such “venom” to spread through the house.
ReplyDelete124 house is filled with the hopelessness and lack of love by the people who live in it now: Denver, Sethe and Paul D. Paul D explains his tobacco tin that is “buried in his chest where a red heart used to be” (84), representing the seclusion and detachment from his feelings - not what Baby Suggs wanted. Sethe’s past seems very gray and mysterious which can make us question why in such a short amount of time after the arrival to 124, things changed completely. This on top of Denver’s skepticism and mentioning of Nelson Lord’s question of whether her mother “got locked away for murder?” (123) makes us wonder what Sethe did in the past that has her stuck on it in the present.
From the assigned sections, I took away information from two aspects of the novel; the importance of Sethe’s past life and Denver’s perception of Beloved. The idea that past memories shape your life was evident in the previous sections, and in this chapter, we learn why Sethe’s past was so influential. It is irreconcilable that Sethe’s past has been traumatizing, as evident of the fact she was raped. However, Sethe was not only disturbed by that, but her entire conception becomes shifted when she discovers that Halle witnessed the whole thing. In fact, she was clearly distraught when saying,“he saw them boys do that to me and let them keep on breathing air? He saw? He saw? He saw?”(81). As we continue to learn about Sethe’s past, we can understand her actions in the present such as her parenting over Denver, and it will be interesting to watch how these past events affect the future events yet to come.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, the novel captivates the evolution of Denver’s perception of Beloved. At first, Denver believed both of them were close and had a strong connection, but over time, this changed. In this section, this is evident as we see Denver talk to Beloved about her name. To that Beloved responds, “In the dark my name is Beloved”, and maintains an ominous tone towards the subject. Denver then believes Beloved to come from a spiritual place and that the only reason why she came is to see Sethe.
Rishi Srinivasan
DeleteOne of the most interesting things to me from these chapters was the line between knowing who Beloved is and referencing the “ghost”. In chapter seven, Paul D thinks to himself “Denver had come around, so to speak; Sethe was laughing; he had a promise of steady work, 124 was clear up from spirits… And damn! A water-drinking woman fell sick, got took in, healed, and hadn’t moved a peg since” (79). In this, Paul D references directly how the spirits were expelled from 124 just for a woman to appear but doesn’t at all make the connection between the two. Though Sethe is coming to the realizating that Beloved is actually Beloved, Paul D is completely blind to the truth. Denver is now even able to talk to Beloved about where she comes from and who she really is and she continues to reference the darkness she came from saying “In the dark, my name is Beloved” (88). In detail she describes the place she came from and even how she “was in the water. [She] saw [Sethe’s] diamonds down there” (89). This awakening from Beloved that brought her into this world, the need to see Sethe is similar to that of Denver’s awakening. When Nelson Lord asks her if her mother was locked away for murder, she goes quiet for two years only to be awaken by the sound of “her dead sister trying to climb the stairs” (123). We still await this awakening in Sethe and Paul D, realizing the new living Beloved. I would say that we could expect it to come soon as both of them dance around the idea of the ghost leaving and Beloved coming at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI was also drawn to the line between the physical Beloved and references to the "ghost". Well written, Elissa.
DeleteWithin the passage assigned, there are many internal conflicts among all the characters. Like others have previously mentioned, its intriguing to get explanations for both tangible actions of the past, and intangible emotions or trauma that these events have left on the characters in present day. I like the point that Audrey brought up about the frequently explored concept of powerlessness. As Sethe is left in shock with the knowledge that Halle saw her rape, repeating the question “he saw?” (81) Paul D also struggles with the fact that he “saw him [Halle] and could not save or comfort him because the iron bit was in his mouth” (83). Though for a brief amount of time before Beloved’s reappearance the makeshift family thought they could officially leave 124 and its memories behind, they were wrong. Though this section of the reading gives a bit of closure and understanding to the past of Paul D and Sethe, Denver and Beloved pose an entirely different story. I think that Beloved could represent the inescapable past of Sweetwater, and maybe Denver could even represent the futile hope of total escape from Sweetwater. Regardless, both of these younger characters send the reader and the family the message once more that the past is inescapable. With Beloved now clinging tighter to Sethe and Denver becoming much more aware of her origins through losing her sheltered naivety, the tension feels as if something catastrophic is going to happen soon.
ReplyDeleteMorrison cleverly uses secrets as both a literal representation of the past, as well as a symbol of the ongoing enslavement of her characters. The usually guarded and secretive Sethe and the enigmatic Paul D. are the embodiment of this duality. Sethe is so consumed with the past that “her brain was not interested in the future. Loaded with the past and hungry for more, it left her no room to imagine, let alone plan for, the next day” (83). Paul D. is also a prisoner of the past. When Paul D. talks about the “bit” (82) and the humiliating silence, it is both plainly a demoralizing muzzle, but also symbolic of the ongoing slavery that results from the burden of silencing the past. The secrecy and seclusion that Sethe and Paul D. use as a mechanism to survive the pain of their slavery is ironically further entrapping them in a life devoid of emotional connections – a different, but still very real personal prison. Like Sethe, Paul D. has locked away painful memories. Paul D. explains that his past is in a “tobacco tin buried in his chest where a red heart use to be. Its lid rusted shut” (86). The box is so full of hideous memories that Paul D. has sealed it closed, and with that, his emotions are also locked away tightly. Opening the “tin” and his heart will be difficult, if not painful, but necessary in order to free his feelings and life from the entanglement of the past. The recounting of the past demonstrates that the memories, inaccessible for so long, continue to imprison those who have secured them so tightly away in the recesses of their hearts and minds.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, much is revealed in Beloved. Morrison coaxes stories from her reticent characters about the past, and in so doing is afforded an opportunity to expose slavery in a way that the audience could never fully appreciate from a history book. When Beloved asks Denver, “Tell me how Sethe made you in the boat” (90) the story that follows may be part of Morrison’s carefully woven tale, but it is also a history lesson. The suffering is so vivid and excruciating that we”(j)ust cry” (103).
Baby Suggs holy proved herself a liar, whitefolks, and 28 days….
ReplyDeleteEven though Baby Suggs had everything taken away from her, she still had the heart to give care and protection to others who needed it. Although Baby Suggs didn’t have an actual title, people still respected her enough to listen to her preach. When the warm weather came, Baby Suggs brought everyone to the a secret clearing that was only known to deer and those who cleared it in the first place. The place symbolizes a pure sanctuary where people would be able to express their feelings and gain freedom from themselves. Huge flat sided rock is served a stage for Baby Suggs. Baby Suggs didn’t try to sugar coat anything. She told the people the truth but also to believe in themselves.
You see again with the 28 days, the significance that numbers plays throughout the novel continues. I found the whole passage from “Who decided that, because slave life had “busted her legs, back, head…. baby Suggs, holy, proved herself a liar, dismissed her great heart and lay in the keeping-room bed roused once in a while by a craving for color and not for another thing.” was extremely powerful.
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DeleteThe return of Beloved to 124 emphasizes the recurring theme of memory and the importance of the past. In one of the previous chapters, Beloved’s presence seems to convince Sethe almost unconsciously to share the story about her mother’s death. Sethe had repressed and forgotten this memory which shows Beloved’s power over “rememory.” Similarly, it is when Paul D. and Sethe are fighting about Beloved that Paul D’s repressed memory of Halle comes up. One second they are arguing about Paul D’s bad feeling about Beloved and the next Paul D is describing the image of Halle “sitting by the churn [with] butter all over his face (83).” In the next chapter, Denver and Beloved are having a conversation in which Beloved convinces Denver to tell the story of her birth, a story that belongs to Sethe’s memory but has been shared with Denver over the years. However, in Beloved’s presence, Denver is able to tell the story vividly, expressing details that make it seem as though she actually remembered what happened herself such as “the quality of Amy’s voice, her breath like burning wood. The quick change weather up in those hills-- cool at night, hot in the day, sudden fog (92).” Beloved’s presence at 124 makes Paul D, Sethe, and Denver realize that maybe the pain that reliving the past brings is worth it, in order to have a history and an identity. They begin to fill in each other’s gaps concerning the past and, with Beloved’s help, begin to construct the story of their lives that had previously been forgotten or denied.
ReplyDeleteLike most other people have mentioned already, I think Denver underwent a large contrast to the other characters in terms of unconditional appreciation of life compared the conditional nature of Sethe. The previously detailed metaphoric meaning continues to reveal greater relevance with the history of the home reflecting the idea of the history of the people who live there and the hard past endured. Baby Sugg's acted as a contrast to this as having nothing in her life yet still appreciated her situation and listened to other people. Though it may be viewed as hypocritical, her advice may have helped other people while also acting as an outlet for herself.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of talk about the past in pages 76-124. When referring to chapter three when Amy says to Sethe, “Anything dead coming back to life hurts,” Sethe and Paul D have realized that it is worth the pain to bring memories back in the open. It helps them subside the fear that followed them in the past, enabling the two characters to talk about the past. When Sethe realizes that Halle saw everything that the schoolteacher’s nephews did to her she was crushed. Paul D explained what seeing that did to Halle and the state he was in. He felt useless that he was unable to help Sethe because of fear. Fear plays a large role in this novel so far. The more the past is brought to light the easier it is to overcome the fear that was so prevalent in the lives of these characters.
ReplyDeleteSethe and Baby Suggs thinks that the past should be kept in the past because once when Sethe did speak of it she almost lost her life. Slave owners instilled fear in speech because they wanted to control what their slaves said. Those who rebelled often had their tongues cut out. This is why many characters refrain from speaking of the past because of how fear follows. Paul D was unable for a while to talk about his experiences but he expressed his pain through songs.
I really liked how you connected the fear of speech that is instilled into slaves from their owners to why Sethe and Paul are afraid to think of the past. It was super creative and I had never thought of it.
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ReplyDeleteAs we read and delve further into “Beloved” we learn of my symbols and discover how the connect. One of the symbols that jumped out to me first was the rooster, Mister. While Paul. D is discussing why he could not ask Halle why he had a sudden change in demeanor. Paul. D reveals that he was in a bit and could not use his mouth to physically ask Halle what was wrong. He also recounts the rooster he used to watch with envy, “he looked so… free. Better than me. Stronger, tougher.” (86) I believe Morrison included this to demonstrate how slaves were stripped of their dignity. It showed that a mindless and simple chicken had more freedom and control of his life than a slave. I think it also was in stark contrast to the happy and carefree man that Paul. D was at the fair. At the fair he was vibrant and saying hello to everyone he saw.
ReplyDeleteIt is also important to note that as Beloved’s time in 124 goes on, all the characters are forced to revisit their tragic-ridden pasts. “Anything dead coming back to life hurts.” is a theme that is becoming stronger and more prevalent. Paul. D and Sethe are opening up more and are finally forced to experience the harsh memories they tried to seal off.
Beloved’s arrival was transformative to the environment of 124. Denver was excited at Beloved’s return, but quickly grew envious of her mother when she realized that Sethe was what Beloved came back for. She tries her best to win Beloved’s attention and is offended that she isn’t receiving it considering she was the only one who wanted Beloved to be with them at 124. She asked Beloved why she came back and “Beloved smiled. “To see her face” (88). Denver continues to tell Beloved not to tell Sethe her true identity and Beloved responds abruptly with, “She is the one. She is the one I need. You can go but she is the one I have to have” (89). Denver is confused because she never did anything to Beloved except show her affection and yet Beloved couldn’t care less. Her eyes are set on Sethe, and she will not leave until she gets what she want. When Denver tells Beloved that she never did anything wrong, Beloved replies, “Me either. Me either” (89). This is in reference of her murder. She was an innocent infant who hadn’t lived long enough to be capable of performing any unjust acts and yet it happened. It appears that there is an intensifying sense of competition between the sisters, and Beloved has the upperhand with her manipulation over Sethe. Her presence is forcing Sethe to reflect on her life and the path that took her to the present. Paul D describes Beloved as “shining,” referencing her lustful glow that she has for Sethe. When Sethe is choked by a mysterious spirit, Beloved places her “heavenly” hands on Sethe’s neck and kisses it. Sethe pushes her away because her breathe reminded her of fresh milk, the milk that was stolen from her. Denver is upset with Beloved at this point and accuses Beloved of choking Sethe, but Beloved denies it. This causes Denver’s past memories to come flooding back to the days when she went to school, specifically the day Nelson Lord asked Denver if Sethe go “locked away for murder” (123). Denver doesn’t know what to believe at this point, but what she wants is forgiveness from Beloved, so she joins her in the water, “Denver took off her shoes and stepped into the water with her” (124).
ReplyDeleteI like how you transitioned into your quotes.
DeleteI really liked the way that you explored the relationship between Sethe, Beloved, and Denver. They have a much more complicated relationship than what we first think it is
DeleteThe relationship between Beloved and Denver is both fascinating and confusing. It has been constantly evolving throughout the chapters but in chapter 8 Toni Morrison gives readers another peak into the complexity of their relationship. The two go from dancing to arguing with in an instant. One second the two go close and the next Beloved pushes Denver away, “Don’t tell me what to do. Don’t you never never tell me what to do.” “But I’m on your side, Beloved.” “She is the one. She is the one I need. You can go but she is the one I have to have.” (pg 89) This continues the theme of Beloved and Denver’s battle over the love of their mother. But it adds a new wrinkle, it gives us a glimpse to Beloved’s true motives. It is all about getting to Sethe. Yet is astonishing because Sethe still does not comprehend that Beloved is her daughter. Denver is the first to catch on to this, and even she knows it’s not good news for the family although Sethe and Denver love having her there.
ReplyDeleteSethe may not recognize it but she has shown her subconscious understanding on multiple accounts. As she reflects on her argument with Paul D she states, “Nothing better than that to start the days serious work of beating back the past” (pg 86). Morrison puts this line at the very end of the chapter to make the foreshadowing obvious for what is to come. But I also think it hints that Sethe is starting to grasp Beloved’s true identity because she is an old piece of the family’s dark history returning and bringing bad omen’s with her. This subtle thematic content stayed prevalent through the next chapters. As Amy aided Sethe by rubbing her feet she said, “Anything dead coming back to life hurts”. This continued the foreshadowing. I think there is only worse to come for Sethe, Beloved, Denver, and Paul D.