Directions: In past blog responses, I provided you with a bullet point list of moments, tracing the stream of conscious of the characters from the third person narrator. For your post, please provide your own list of moments with page numbers, as I have done in the past. You may use my past lists as a guide for formatting. Also, provide a brief paragraph at the bottom to describe your analysis, reasoning, and any questions you have for our class discussion.
Angela Davis and Toni Morrison
This ain’t her mouth (181-185)
ReplyDeleteSpinning (187)
Blackberries (188, 201)
Loved wide/loved small (190-191)
Freedom (191)
Veil (192)
Forest (194)
Stamp Paid... welcome door (200, 218)
Sethe’s self-sufficiency (202)
Nobody saw them falling (205)
Click (207)
The Misery...color (208)
They came in my yard (211)
Love...the Word (212)
Red ribbon (213)
Three hand holding shadows (214)
Rememory (216)
Jungle (234)
Voices surrounding/thoughts within 124 (235)
Morrison’s use of the veil and the hummingbirds vividly depicts Sethe’s motive for the murder of her children. Sethe feels that her space to live is becoming increasingly constricted. When she sees the schoolteacher, her first response is to “hear wings” and to free her “hummingbirds”—her children. Once the white men come onto Baby Suggs’ yard, her sanctuary from slavery is gone. Sethe knows that the only place for her children to be free is another space, one behind the “veil” of death. Here, Morrison alludes to the Christian belief that the veil of forgetfulness separates heaven and earth, and that one passes through it at birth and at death. Sethe “collected every bit of life she had made...and carried, pushed, dragged them through the veil, out, away, over there where no one could hurt them. Over there. Outside this place where they would be safe.” Sethe would rather that “the hummingbird wings beat on than to have her “hummingbirds” with her, “stuck...through her headcloth” on this side of the veil (192). Morrison seeks to convey that a mother’s desire for the safety of her children goes beyond their safety from harm, but rather is their safety from a life imposed upon them by those who do not love them. Sethe does not want her children’s time on this side of the veil to be defined by the actions of others, she wants their time to be in her control. This is the reason for Denver’s sheltered upbringing, the “voices” that linger outside of 124, and the “thoughts, unspoken” within (235).
“She was spinning,” (187)
ReplyDelete“She just flew,” (192)
“This here Sethe was new,” (193)
“A forest sprang up between them,” (194)
“124 was loud,” (199)
“The Misery,” (201)
“When her laughter died, the tears did not,” (206)
“The click” (206)
“Ribbon, “ (208)
“‘Say the Word!’” (210)
“She ain’t even mad at me,” (214)
“Late for work,” (215)
“Locked it tight behind her,” (234)
“Stamp Paid abandoned his efforts,” (235)
The complete change in dynamic of the 124 household after Paul D finds out about, “the Misery,” (201) is rather astonishing. As soon as Paul D confronts Sethe - albeit in a rather careful way - a noticeable, “forest sprang up between them,” (194) effectively destroying any semblance of closeness and trust they had once held with each other. As per usual, Sethe completely ignores any idea of something going wrong in her life, choosing instead to believe that everything is going incredibly well. Even when, “the click came,” (206) and Sethe quite suddenly comes to the conclusion that Beloved is, in fact, her daughter, she reacts in an incredibly odd way, further adding to the concern around the woman’s mental wellbeing. She is now living under the assumption that, “[Beloved] ain’t even mad at [her],” (214) and living her life as though her and her daughters are now perfectly free. The section closes with Sethe ironically locking her door which, in my opinion, is quite uncharacteristic when coupled with the idea of freedom, making me feel as though yet another blunder is about to come Sethe’s way.
Kristy, I like your points. I too had a similar feeling regarding the end of the section.
Delete^ -Nadia
DeleteIt made him dizzy (189)
ReplyDeleteHe was wrong (193)
To lay it all down, sword and shield (203)
“Now too late, he understood her” (212)
“And when she left… she neither saw the prints nor heard the voiced that ringed 124 like a noose” (215)
She was soft, trusting (223)
Stealing and Sixo’s argument (224-225)
“Thank God I don’t have to rememory or say a thing because you know it” (226)
And one of the boys said “Sethe” (228)
Had enough milk for all (233)
The entire section focused a lot on Sethe, rightfully so, because she is now convinced that life has returned to a happy state similar to before Beloved was murdered. She believes that the hand holding shadows at the carnival was not with Paul D, “but ‘us three’” (214) referring to herself, Beloved and Denver. Like Kristy pointed out, Sethe assumed that Beloved forgave her and understood why she was murdered, she is so consumed with the past and justifying her actions that she is unaware of the dangers ahead. When she left for work, “she neither saw the prints nor heard the voices that ringed 124 like a noose,” (215) she rationalizes her actions to herself that did not make sense to Paul D. Paul D described her as an animal, “‘You got two feet, Sethe, not four” (194), as she tried to prevent her kids from being treated like animals. Sethe is later reminded of the past and her being categorized by her “animalistic” and human characteristics. With such a horrific experience, it caused her pain in her head. Such a comment before Paul D left is made so much more impactful when Sethe later reveals overhearing her categorization as an animal.
ReplyDelete- “That ain’t her mouth” (181)
- Spinning (187)
-"Your love is too thick" (193)
- “It occurred to him that what she wanted for her children was exactly what was missing in 124: safety” (193)
- 2 feet not 4 (194)
- Baby Sugg's burial (201-202)
- 28 days, 18 years (204)
- "He smelled skin, skin, and hot blood" (212)
- “Now too late, he understood her” (212)
- Had enough milk for all (233)
- The Jungle (234)
I chose those quotes because I felt that those quotes either foreshadows something that is about to happen or it signifies something important in the story. Some of these quotes I didn’t fully understand but I was confused by them which made me write them down just so I would be able to remember it as I read along. I didn’t understand what the hummingbirds were or what they represented until i read Emma's blog post. I think once I figure out what a symbol means or how two things connect, I am able to understand the story and the characters more clearly.
“That ain’t her mouth” (181)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning” (187-188)
“It made him dizzy” (189-191)
“Because the truth was simple…” (192)
“...what she wanted for her children was exactly what was missing in 124: safety.” (193)
“This here Sethe was new.” (193-195)
“...Stamp felt uneasy” (199-202)
“It was then, when Beloved finished humming, that Sethe recalled the click...” (207-208)
“It was the ribbon.” (212-213)
“She ain’t even mad at me,” (214)
“And when she left… she neither saw the prints nor heard the voiced that ringed 124 like a noose” (215)
“...long ago, she was soft, trusting…” (222)
“She understood it then, but now with a paying job and an employer...she despised herself…” (225)
“...124 was left to its own devices.” (235)
I chose these quotes because I feel that they represent the changes not only in Sethe, but in the way others act around her. The “old Sethe” seemed to be much more well liked, before her violent actions came to light. With the “new Sethe”, people were afraid of her or shunned her and her family. Stamp avoided 124 as many other in the town did, and one of her friends, Ella, barely gave her a nod at the carnival. Even her lover, Paul D, left when he found out. This contributes to Sethe’s actions as well by sending her further into isolation and explaining her actions. I agree with Kristy that hese changes are not really addressed by Sethe which further supports the town’s fear and confusion about her. As well as isolation, she finally figures out Beloved is actually her daughter. Still not really reacting, she just assumes all is forgiven and fine. She returns back to her regular routine at work and does not really face her issues with Paul D, Beloved, or the rest of the town. Although she is being treated differently, she tries to avoid her past and continue on with her life.
That ain't her mouth (181)
ReplyDeleteStamp Paid looked at him (184)
You forgetting I knew her before (185)
She was crawling already (187)
Paul D did not answer (191)
There was this piece of goods (191)
The roaring in Paul D's head (193)
124 was loud (199)
While Stamp Paid (203)
She had been on her knees (204)
Fingering a ribbon (208)
They were standing on Richmond Street (209)
Trying to get to 124 (212)
And him (212)
Sethe had gone to bed (213)
I don't have to remember (216)
As Sethe walked to work (217)
Sawyer shouted at her (222)
Did you steal that shoat? (224)
She understood it then (225)
Had enough milk for all (233)
Jungle (234)
Voices surrounding/thoughts within 124 (235)
I found this new format of reflection interesting and challenging as I had to stop myself and think while reading. I'm not sure if I completed the assignment correctly because the book flows between consciscouses so fluently, some of the transitions were hard to find. Despite this, this section of the text brought more insight and excitement to the story. Paul D leaving abruptly after discovering Sethe's truth was a huge moment for both of the characters. However, Sethe's seems less weighed down after his departure, seen through taking the girls to ice skating. It seemed like a joyous experience but once Sethe breaks down in tears, her true emotion is portrayed. In addition, the repeated line "nobody saw them falling" is purposefully repeated throughout this scene. I am unsure of the direct context of this line, but it seems to sound impending or dooming. As we read the next section of the text, it will be interesting to continue watching Beloved's story unfold.
^Jessica
ReplyDelete“This ain’t her mouth” (203)
ReplyDelete“There wasn’t nobody in the world I couldn’t love if I wanted to” (191)
“This here Sethe was new” (193)
“You got two feet Sethe, not four” (194)
And right there was the thorn/Baby Sugg’s death (201)
“Nobody saw them falling” (205-206)
“The click” (206)
Red ribbon (208-213)
“I’m saying they came in my yard” (211)
“How bad is the scar?” (217)
“Under every dark skin was a jungle” (234)
Like Michelle, some of the moments I chose out of the reading stood out to me because it seems like they may have some sort of literary meaning, but I did not understand what some of them meant, like when the phrase “nobody saw them falling” is repeated and I’m unsure of the meaning of Stamp Paid’s red ribbon. I did understand that this section of the book was meant to further discuss Sethe’s motive for attempting to murder her children. Clearly, the other people in town see Sethe’s attempt to kill her own children as being a heinous crime. Even Paul D, another former slave, is unable to understand why Sethe would do such a thing and he tells Sethe she has “two feet, not four,” suggesting that she was acting like an animal rather than like a human when she did this (194). Also, Sethe finally comes to the realization that Beloved is actually her daughter when “the click” comes to her “clear as daylight” (206). I wonder why after so much time of Beloved living with her that it finally occurs to her that Beloved is her daughter just now. Is it because Stamp Paid brought up “the misery” from so long ago and this is causing Sethe to revisit all the memories she tries not to think about? It will be interesting to see what Beloved will do, and what will happen if/when Beloved realizes that Sethe has finally made this connection.
“‘This ain’t her mouth.’” (181)
ReplyDelete“‘Milk was all I ever had.’” (187)
“‘Or maybe I couldn’t love em proper in Kentucky because they wasn’t mine to love.’” (190)
“Listening to the doves...and having neither the right nor the permission to enjoy it…” (191)
“To get to the place where you could love anything you chose--not to need permission for desire--well now, that was freedom.” (191)
“She just flew. Collected every bit of life she had made...dragged them through the veil, out, away, over there where no one could hurt them.” (192)
“She lived with 124 in helpless, apologetic resignation because she had no choice.” (193)
“This here Sethe didn’t know where the world stopped and she began.” (193)
“‘You got two feet, Sethe, not four.’” (195)
“To this day he believed his berries were the reason Denver was still alive.” (200)
“All he could make out was the word mine.” (203)
“Nobody saw them falling.” (205)
“‘I know it.’” (207)
“‘I’m saying they came in my yard.’” (211)
“...She despised herself…” (235)
“Under every dark skin was a jungle…” (234)
Perhaps one of the most interesting moments here was the repetition of “‘Nobody saw them falling’” (205). When I read this section, I was immediately reminded of the carnival scene. In a way, the skating part of the book contradicted the part with the fair. In that section, the narration had described “nobody noticing but Sethe” (57) when the shadows of her, Denver, and Paul D held hands. Of course, this scene took place before Beloved’s arrival, symbolizing a time of joy and hope before the main conflict was introduced. While the shadows depicted the relationship between Sethe, Denver, and Paul D, them falling during skating instead demonstrated their relationship with Beloved. Clearly, Beloved’s arrival has created several issues for the characters in the book. Since she came to 124, chaos has ensued; Sethe has progressively grown more irrational, Denver seems to be both skeptical and obsessed with Beloved, and Sethe’s relationship with Paul D had metaphorically “fallen.” This reflects how “nobody saw them falling” (205), seeing how many aspects of Sethe and Paul D’s life had collapsed with her hardly realizing. In contrast to the shadows, the falling represents the disorder and destruction reappearing in Sethe’s life.
Overall, the majority of quotes I used demonstrate Sethe’s loss of safety and hope. In addition, some of these moments reflect how Sethe’s fixation on Beloved is harming herself, as well as her relationships with others. The mention of the word “mine” (203) suggests how consumed with Beloved Sethe has become. This could be to compensate for everything Sethe had to abandon, where she had to “collect every bit of life she had made...and drag them over there where no one could hurt them” (192). Now, Sethe finally has “permission” to love something--that “something” being Beloved--as there is no one who can tear her away from her. To Sethe, her ability to love Beloved illustrates true freedom, despite its negative effects.
“That ain’t her mouth” 181
ReplyDelete“A pretty little slave girl had recognized a hat, and split to the woodshed to kill her children” 186
“She was spinning” 187-191
“I couldn’t let her nor any of em live under schoolteacher” 192
“Thin love ain’t love at all” 194
“Now 124 was back…” 200
“Just about everybody in town was longing for Sethe to come on difficult times” 202
“Holding hands, bracing each other, they swirled through the ice” 205-206
“The click” 206
“Say the word” 210
“What a roaring” 213
“Us three” 215
“Schoolteacher beat him anyway” 225
“The deeper and more tangled the jungle grew inside” 234
“124” 235
These chapters were interesting as it focused on two storylines being told at the same time: The events that happened at 124, and a key recognition of Sethe that Beloved is her daughter. Though the town is mad at Sethe for the murder of her children, she is unbothered and completely delighted with Beloved’s company, growing to value her more than Paul D. Her value of “thick love” is expressed once more with how eagerly she welcomes Beloved into the family, and emotionally kicks Paul D out of her group of three with Beloved and Denver. This has negative implications and expresses future failure, as the last time Sethe demonstrated “thick love” she killed her children because of it. The story abruptly jumps from horrific recollections of slave life to Sethe happily ice skating with her children, which is a (lack of) transition that I find to be purposeful, demonstrating her blissful unawareness of whatever fate will befall her.
“Babies stayed babies longer” (187)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning…the wheel never stopped” (187)
“The smile broke in two” (188)
“I got a rope and tied it round his ankle” (188-189)
“It made him dizzy” (189)
“I did it. I got us all out” (190)
“Circling, circling” (191)
“I stopped him” (193)
“It ain’t my job to know what’s worse” (194)
“And right there was the thorn” (201)
“Spirit willing; flesh weak” (203)
“That woman was sailing happily on a frozen creek” (205)
“Nobody saw them falling” (205)
“When the click came Sethe didn’t know what it was” (206)
“He regretted that conversation” (212)
“What a roaring” (213)
“I don’t have to remember nothing” (216)
“I can forget what I did changed Baby Suggs life” (217)
“Thank God I don’t have to rememory” (226)
Motherhood and her continuous momentum forward play a role in Sethe’s memories throughout the section, significant in what and how she recalls her unraveling past. Paul D watches Sethe move, “she was spinning. Round and round the room-like a slow but steady wheel” (187). Paul D experiences rememory, sees the past tarnished and in turn the present. Sethe is continuous to him now, moving in circles as if moving forward from her past, moving as not to remain in in one place, yet “It made him dizzy” (189) with a new truth in his mind. Sethe, who lived through that day has no rememory when Paul D questions her; the past has not changed for her. The thoughts of early motherhood contrasting with what has just been learned are replaced soon by Sethe’s confidence that she made the right choice. “I did it. I got us all out” (190). To Sethe it is right, whatever freedom she had left in that short time she gave to her children. An interesting pattern of this section was the ways Sethe’s memories seem to change, whether she herself is aware of that change. Sethe is trapped in her own mind, along with the reader who now sees her thinking in first person. “I don’t have to remember nothing,” (216) is thought in irony as Sethe recalls the entire day and claims, “I can forget what I did changed Baby Suggs life.” (217) There is a sense of underlying guilt looking at the memory from a broader perspective, and even as Sethe says she can forget now that she has Beloved, her mind returns to Baby Suggs, bedridden until the end. This image doesn’t allow forgetting, neither for the reader or Sethe’s own mind. “Thank God I don’t have to rememory” (226) seems to solidify this feeling with the memories we now see. The past is breaking down, seen new to her and to us, rememory even as Sethe says there is none.
I found that your description of Paul D and Sethe helped really explain what the characters were independently going through and explains the conflict they experience well. Your commenting on being "trapped in her own mind" was interesting as I too somewhat considered whether what she did to her children was justifiable or not.
Delete"ain't her mouth" (181)
ReplyDelete“A pretty little slave" (186)
"wheel never stopped” (187)
“This here Sethe" (193)
"Over and over again" (203)
"Nobody saw them falling" (205)
"Say the Word!” (210)
"Sethe had gone" (213)
"Sethe understood it then" (225)
I found that the dual timeline addressed the idea of "rememory" well as it seemed to act as a good encapsulation of the emotional dilemmas Sethe goes through. The comparison of the past to the present acted to elaborate the idea that our memories come to "haunt us" (however physically in this case), yet we must move on from them in a positive way. Additionally, the contrast in internal guilt and external judgement helped highlight the idea of how this experience was such a deeply rooted emotional experience rather than solely based on what happened in the past. As for the ice skating, I took it as a manifestation of the idea experienced in society that we often look past issues we all know yet cease to address (namely, societal inequality through whatever means it permeates) to live an ignorant bliss and ignore or "move past" depending on your stance or view.
I too caught on to Sethe's comment about re-memory. I found it ironic and slightly comical. Yet it is interesting that you bring up the insight it gives us into her mind because that is how she see's it.
Delete“That ain’t her mouth” (181)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning,” (187)
“Dizzy” (189)
“A forest sprang up between them,” (194)
“124 was loud,” (199)
The Misery (201)
“Nobody saw them falling.” (205)
“The click” (206)
“The Ribbon” (208)
Had enough milk for all (233)
The Jungle (234)
“... 124 was left to its own devices.” (235)
“free at last (235)
As we have seen, throughout her iconic Beloved Morrison weaves a story rich in symbolism. So much of Morrison’s message is about slavery, whether overtly imposed by former slave owners or discreetly imposed by the secrets held for so long. Sethe’s life has been bound by both cages, and now that her secret is exposed, she is ironically further isolated at 124. When Paul D confronts Sethe, “she was spinning” (187), physically moving around the room while she began to explain her situation to Paul D. Sethe’s circling made Paul D “dizzy” (189). Was it her physical movement, the “sound of her voice” (189), or was it the content of her story? All this “spinning,” implies that Sethe was also continuing to “spin” a tale as she unraveled the details of her secret past. This also conjures images of Sethe “spinning” out of control. The house at 124 held Sethe’s life for so long – her family and her secret – and now, Sethe’s horrific acts are no longer confined within those four walls, and with this release “124 was left to its own devices” (235). Poignantly, those inside were “free at last to be what they liked” (235) and at the same time, still enslaved to “unspeakable thoughts, unspoken” (235).
“This ain’t her mouth” (181-185)
ReplyDelete“Pigs were crying in the chute” (181)
“She was Spinning”/ Circling (187, 189)
“Remember Aunt Phyllis”- Sweet Home (187)
“I stopped him” (193)
“The forest was locking the space between them” (194)
“124 was loud” (196)
“I’m too old”- Stamp paid (196)
“To lay it all down, sword and shield” (203)
“Nobody saw them falling” (205)
“The click” (207)
Ribbon (208-213)
“Listen here girl” (209)
“He regretted the conversation” (212)
“What a roaring” (213)
Voices in 124 (215)
“I don’t have nothing to remember” (216)
“There was no entry now” (222)
“Did you steal the shoat” -School teacher (224)
“While the boys is small” (232)
Ribbon- again (233)
Two backs (234)
Noises of 124- again- mumbling (235)
“Women of 124” (235)
Throughout this chapter and the novel as a whole Morrison has been able to touch upon many different topics while maintaining threads of thematic content subtly layered into the chapters. This really stood out to me with her repetition of the ribbon Stamp Paid has the Ribbon in his pocket when he enters 124 and on his way home. But when he pulls it out of his pocket the second time there is a curl of hair knotted around it. I’m guessing this has something to do with Beloved and will reoccur, but I am unsure of it’s full meaning.
Sethe and Stamp Paid also continually referred back to the noise of 124 and how it changed as different events unfolded. As Stamp Paid walked up to the house “124 was loud” but after both men are gone from the house Beloved has free range, “Mixed in with the voices surrounding the house, recognizable but undecipherable to stamp paid, were the thoughts of women of 124, unspeakable thoughts, unspoken.” (235) It will be interesting to see how Morrison utilizes these themes and symbols in chapters to come.
I thought your description of the ribbon and noise really helped emphasize the purpose the author made them serve. I feel that these were definitely chosen as explicit symbols to encapsulate the situations experienced. I'm also unsure how this will progress in the remaining chapters and if any additional meaning will be drawn.
Delete“That aint her mouth” (181)
ReplyDeleteThe berries (184)
“The Look” (185)
“Her hands worked like claws” (185)
“You got two feet Sethe, not four” (194)
“Right then, a forest sprang up between them, trackless and quiet (194)
"Nobody saw them falling" (205)
"He smelled skin, skin, and hot blood" (212)
Red ribbon (212-213)
“People who die bad don’t stay in the ground.”(221)
Human characteristics on the left, animal characteristics on the right, and putting them in a line (228)
The jungle (234)
I thought this section was a great way to learn more about the mystery that surrounds Sethe and the death of Beloved. I also think it provides more of an insight into the relationship between Sethe and Paul. D. In the beginning, Paul. D is adamant that the woman in the newspaper clipping is not Sethe because he knows that the mouth doesn’t add up. I also believe he was so persistent in his claim that it was not her because he loved her and could not imagine her taking the life of her own baby. Later on in the section we see how his view on Sethe changes. He is shocked and horrified at the revelation that Sethe did, in fact, murder her baby. He uproots the life he has been building and leaves Sethe and 124. He felt he could no longer be open and trust her and that they were seperated by the vastness and wildness of a forest.
“It’s a mistake somewhere ‘cause that ain’t her mouth.’”Pg 186
ReplyDelete“It made him dizzy... Circling him the way she was circling the subject. Round and round, never changing direction...” Pg 189
“‘I stopped him,’ she said, starting at the place where the fence used to be. ‘I took and put my babies where they’d be safe.’” Pg 193
“Your love is too thick.” Pgs 193-194
“‘You got two feet Sethe, not four,’ he said, and right then a forest sprang up between them; trackless and quiet.” Pg 194
“Stamp Paid raised his fist to knock on the door he had never knocked on (because it always was open for him) and he could not do it.” Pg 203
“Nobody saw them falling.” Pg 205
“It was then, when Beloved finished humming, that Sethe recalled the click - the settling of pieces designed and made especially for them.” Pg 207
“...he regretted that conversation: the high tone he took; his refusal to see the effect of marrow weariness in a woman he believed was a mountain. Now, too late, he understood her.” Pg 213
“The people of the broken necks, of fire-cooked blood and black girls who had lost their ribbons. What a roaring.” Pg 213
“Se looked straight at the shed, smiling, smiling at the things she would no have to remember now... She ain’t even mad with me.” Pg 214
“...there is no world outside my door.” Pg 217
“Somebody new in there. A woman.” Pg 219
“Why? Why he have to ask? Can’t nobody offer? What’s going on?” Pg 219
“ Look here, I don’t know who Sethe is or none of her people.” Pg 220
“‘And left when he found out what Sethe did?’ ‘ Look like he might have a place to stay after all.’” Pg 221
“She didn’t want any more news about whitefolks... about the world done up the ay whitefolks loved it. All news of them should have stopped with the birds in her hair.” Pg 222
“I told you to put her human characteristics on the left; her animal ones on the right.” Pg 228
“‘While the boys is small.’ That’s what he said and it snapped me awake.” Pg 232
“ But it wasn't the jungle blacks brought with them to this place from the other (livable) place. It was the jungle whitefolks plated in them. And it grew… until it invaded the whites who made it… The screaming baboons lived under their own white skin; the red gums were their own.” Pg 234
“When Sethe locked the door, the woman inside were free at least to be what they liked, see whatever they saw and say whatever was on their minds.” Pg 235
In a strange turn of events, I found this section has realigned the text in a way that makes a lot sense to me. To begin with, it is satisfying to see Sethe finally realize the similarities between Beloved the baby, Beloved the woman, and the ghost. At the same time, she now seems like someone suitably crazy for a person who believes in a ghost and someone who carries all the baggage that she does. The imagery of the birds around her head facilitating her isolation from the world outside her new life with Beloved and Denver, including the past, is both an understandable coping mechanism. Granted, I think the case for Beloved being a reincarnation is very strong, but given the otherwise realistic and serious setting, it may not be the case. Paul D, being the weary but friendly person he is seems to have also found a more fitting setting in the larger african american community. From a factual perspective, as of right now this book could be a tragic story about how extraordinary coincidence and mounting insanity plagued a former slave and her daughter as she tried to build a new life with the ghosts of her past, with no paranormal activity. On a completely separate note, there seems to be a thematic build around animalistic imagery, and I have no idea where it is leading. It was after herding pigs that Stamp informed Paul D of Beloved’s death, which lead to Paul D’s “four legs” insult, which seems to resonate with Sethe because of a scaring incident in which School Teacher categorized her as part animal. I may be reading into this too much, but this book continues to turn out horrible surprises and this feels like the setup for the next one.
I was also a bit confused on the animalistic imagery. It reminded me of how they compared Denver to an antelope towards the beginning of the book.
DeleteI too found it satisfying to see Sethe finally realize the similarities. It's interesting that you mentioned the supernatural idea of reincarnation compared to the otherwise realistic plot. I always find books more difficult to comprehend when they have mostly realistic components and then 1 or 2 supernatural events. - Nadia
Delete“That ain’t her mouth” (181)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning,” (187)
“I stopped him” (193)
“124 was loud” (196)
“The click” (206)
“As Sethe walked to work “(217)
“ Had enough milk for all” (233)
Pg 181-235
I found this section of the book to be quite interesting. After Sethe murdered her children, she was surrounded by the hate of her fellow town members. However, the love she held for Beloved was the opposite, and was evidently strong through this sections and previous chapters. Morrison also uses this relationship to demonstrate how Sethe moves away from Paul D. Also, as Ian mentioned in his blog, I too recognized the symbol of spinning. When Sethe and Paul D are talking, Sethe mentions that she is dizzy and physically spinning. I found this to suggest how harmful the slave life and killing her own children was to Sethe, and her mind can no longer physically take it.
“That aint her mouth” (181)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning” (187)
“It made him dizzy” (189)
“Circling, circling” (191)
“So long” (195)
“You got two feet, Sethe, not four” (195)
“Loud” (196)
“Lay it all down, sword and shield” (203)
“Beloved finished humming” (207)
Ribbon (208)
“Say the word” (210)
“I’m saying they came in my yard” (211)
“How bad is the scar?” (217)
“Had enough milk for all” (233)
“The day Stamp Paid saw…” (234)
This was the section that I think we as readers have been waiting a very long time for. Sethe finally realizes that this strange girl that showed up does not have the name Beloved because of a coincidence, but it is actually her daughter that has come back to life to see her. The song that she was humming was not the only thing that made Sethe realized that this was actually her, but it was the last puzzle piece. Sethe had been subconsciously noting all the things that Beloved had done that made her like her dead daughter and the song that no one else would have known is what made it all come rushing back for Sethe. Toni Morrison is not subtle in the way that she reveals Sethe's epiphany. “The clicked had clicked” for Sethe and it was made just as clear to the reader as it was to her that Sethe understood what was going on, and Beloved was there for the reason. The reason being to find Sethe.
Sethe's song was her marking that identified her just like the branding that identified her mother.
Delete“But this ain’t her mouth,” Paul D said. “This ain’t it at all.” (184)
ReplyDelete“Circling the way she way circling the subject.” (189)
“Not to need permission for desire- well now, that was freedom.” (191)
“She just flew. Collected every bit of life she had made, all the parts of her that were precious and fine and beautiful, and carried, pushed, dragged them through the veil, out, away, over there where no one could hurt them.” (192)
“What she wanted for her children was exactly what was missing from 124: safety.” (193)
“This here Sethe was new” (193)
‘“Your love it too thick ,” he said…” (193)
“You got two feet, Sethe, not four.” (194)
“How to make it an exit and not an escape.” (194)
“124 was loud.” (199)
“Nobody saw them falling.” (205)
“He regretted that conversation.” (212)
“Whatever’s going on outside my door ain’t for me. The world is in this room.” (215)
“Under every dark skin was a jungle” (234)
“124 was left to its own devices” (235)
I chose these quotes based on three main things I noticed throughout these chapters: the repetition used by Toni Morrison, the transformation of Sethe, and the impact of Paul D and Stamp Paid leaving 124. The first thing I noticed being repeated was the phrase, “This ain’t her mouth.” (184) by Paul D when he sees Sethe’s picture in a newspaper clipping. Despite his anger with her later in this chapter, we see Paul D’s strong feelings towards Sethe and how he wishes to believe that the stories aren’t true. I also noticed the repetition of regret, specifically in terms of Paul D and Stamp Paid. Both of these characters contemplate their response to Sethe’s actions and wonder if they overacted. Stamp Paid is especially worried about if he has a duty to protect Sethe because of her connection to Baby Suggs. He also wonders about his obligation to stay closer to 124. Meanwhile, Sethe tries to deal with her actions and feels the need to justify herself to get rid of the guilt that is weighing on her.
A major theme throughout these chapters was the transformation of Sethe. We see how the people in her life begin to go against her, despite their long and rich histories together. This is first brought up when Paul D says, “Your love is too thick” (193). He is angry by the way that Sethe dealt with the burden of slavery. He thinks that if your love is so strong that you kill your child, there is something wrong. As a reader, this part of the story is very difficult because Toni Morrison has shown us Sethe’s “good side” for the whole beginning of book. When we learn she made a very poor choice, especially through the eyes of Paul D, I find it hard to choose a side. I, like Paul D when he said “This ain’t her mouth”, wish to believe that what we heard about Sethe’s actions wasn’t true. Paul D continues to berate Sethe when he says, “You got two feet, Sethe, not four” (194), referencing her animalistic behavior. These words separate them in a way that is palpable and irreversible.
I feel you did a good job covering the internal conflict Sethe undergoes and the surrounding issues it bore. The quote you referenced about her animalistic choices really helped me think more about if what she did was heroic or brutal.
Delete“That ain’t her mouth.” (181)
ReplyDelete“She was crawling already when I got here.” (187)
“It made him dizzy.” (189)
“The roaring in Paul D’s head…” (193)
“You got two feet Sethe, not four,” (194)
“Stamp paid could hear it from the road.” (199)
“Four days after Paul D had reminded her of how many feet she had…” (203-204)
“She had been on her knees,” (204)
“Nobody saw them falling.” (205)
“When the click came Sethe didn’t know what it was.” (206)
“Fingering a ribbon” (208)
“Sethe had gone to bed smiling,” (213)
“He clutched the red ribbon in his pocket for strength.” (217)
“Thank God I don’t have to rememory” (226)
When I followed the stream of consciousness, I mainly noticed the shifts between stability and instability. For some time now Toni Morrison has built Paul D up, slowly he has grown on us just as he has grown on Denver and Sethe. He moves in and suddenly everyone seems to start to accept his presence, something Sethe regrets later on in this section. The instability builds, you can see it coming out of the corner of your eye but you still hope it doesn’t, as Paul D questions his reality and what he seems to now call home. When Stamp Paid tells him what Sethe did, how she killed Beloved and maimed her boys, he still insists “that ain’t her mouth” (181). For only a few more pages calm remains as Sethe starts to question Beloved and where she came from, how she might be related to her through remembering what Bubby Suggs said to her. The book builds up to Paul D leaving, holding you in suspense through “it mak[ing] him dizzy” (189) but eventually all he can do is tell her that she has two feet and not four before leaving, not even saying goodbye. The instability continues as Sethe beats herself up over letting Paul D in. She so easily accepted him into her new life without question and she now regrets it but instead of sulking forever she creates something new. Her, Denver and Beloved build their family, skating while no one sees them fall. The pattern of switching between stability and instability repeats it over and over again.
“He simply looked at the face, shaking his head no.” (183)
ReplyDelete“She was spinning...it made him dizzy” (187-189)
“Sethe knew that the circle she was making around the room, him, the subject, would remain one.” (192)
“Little hummingbirds” (192)
“I took and put my babies where they’d be safe” (193)
“You got two feet Sethe, not four.” (194)
“124 was loud” (199)
“Just about everybody in town was longing for Sethe to come on difficult times.” ( 202)
“Nobody saw them falling” (205)
“The white folks had tired her out at last. And him.” (212)
“The ribbon” (212-213)
“He hoped she stuck to blue, yellow, maybe gree, but never fixed on red.” (213)
“The hand-holding shadows…’us three’” (214)
“Sethe was excited to giddiness about the things she no longer had to remember” (216)’’
“Paul D dug it up” (222)
“Passed right by those boys hanging in the trees” (233)
“White folks’ jungle” (235)
While reading this section, I felt that one of the most important elements was the perspective of the characters, and I mostly picked quotes I thought would reflect on that. Throughout the story, we tend to sympathize with Sethe, and look at the novel completely through her point of view. Morrison usually portrays her as brave and loving so no matter how twisted an event is, we always take her side. However, this section adds to the complexity of the novel as a whole by giving us the perspective of other characters such as Paul D and Stamp Paid. Hearing from a witness and an outside opinion on the murder of Beloved, helps us to decide for ourselves what we feel would have been the most morally correct decision.
Along the same lines, good versus evil tends to be another common theme in the novel. Paul D seems to condemn Sethe’s crime saying, “you got two feet Sethe, not four (194),” and calling her an animal for what she did. However, in Sethe’s mind, she “took and put [her] babies where they’d be safe (193).” It is difficult to imagine being put in Sethe’s shoes, and the complexity of what slavery could have driven people to do is very apparent. As Stamp Paid says later on, slavery drives everyone, black or white, to behave like animals. It is easy to understand why Paul D was so horrified by the event, however, Morrison allows us to see what would drive Sethe to kill her own child.
“Milk was all I ever had” (187)
ReplyDelete“Perhaps it was the smile” (190)
“Size of the miracle; its flavor” (190)
“Well now that was freedom” (191)
Hummingbird wings (192)
New Sethe (193)
“You got two feet, Sethe, not four” (194)
The thorn (201)
“Every eighteen or twenty years her unliveable life would be interrupted by a short lived glory” (204)
Sethe fell on her knees while skating (206)
The click (207)
Sethe’s song (207)
This section marked a pivotal change in Sethe’s attitude, revealing a lot about her as a mother and human being. When Paul D confronted her about the murder of Beloved, she didn’t get upset or deny any of it, she defended her actions as being the only means of protecting her children. She felt as though she could trust Paul D with this information, “perhaps it was the smile” (190) having been through so much with him, believing that he would understand. She was wrong. Paul D believed that killing her children couldn’t have possibly been the only answer. He explained to Sethe that “you got two feet, Sethe, not four” (194), reminding her that she is not an animal. Paul D believed that she loved her children too much for her own good, but at the same time understood the feeling of having the freedom to love whatever you wanted, as much as you wanted. Sethe wasn’t as upset about Paul D leaving as expected, immediately repressing the idea of him and returning to her two girls. Sethe takes them ice skating where she falls on her knees, laughing uncontrollably like an animal. Morrison purposely points out that she was on all fours, emphasizing Paul D’s point. Sethe is able to continue on as long as she has her children, they being the only thing in her life that she has the ability to control how much she loves them. Something interesting happens to Sethe during this section with Beloved. She has a realization about Beloved’s potential identity, that being her dead baby. There is a click that happens when Beloved begins to hum a tune. All of these memories rush through Sethe about her mother’s markings, Baby Suggs, and Beloved because the song that she was humming was a song that Sethe made up that she use to sing to her baby Beloved.
“That ain’t her mouth” (181)
ReplyDelete“Paul D slid the clipping…” (183)
“You got two feet Sethe, not four” (194)
“So long” (195)
“124 was loud” (199)
“Walking back through the woods” (206)
“What a roaring” (213)
“When Sethe locked the door” (235)
Morrison centers this novel around Sethe as a strong, loving mother which allows the readers to sympathize. People’s personal ethics play a role in this section of the text as well. Morality is a theme throughout the text. Paul D has a hard time understanding his feelings, his emotions, and his actions which casts doubt on him. Sethe is referred to as an animal by Paul D which brings her back to the past. As the section ends, Sethe locks her door and she feels free which I see as a juxtaposition. She says how the women inside were free to be whatever they like, see whatever they saw, and say what’s on their mind. The thoughts of the women of 124 remains unspoken, yet Sethe feels free. The quotes I chose were the points that stood out to me the most that I felt most supported who the characters are.