Beloved by Toni Morrison presents a variety of complex themes that tend to revolve around Beloved or other factors throughout the book. Her novel ties issues relating to family, redemption and slavery. However, throughout the book and it’s entirety one of the most noticeable over arching theme revolves around Beloved and a source of redemption for Sethe and issues in general about humanity. Though some scholars might challenge the role Beloved plays throughout the novel, such as a demon, it’s most noticeable how Morrison uses the symbol of Beloved to help Sethe and other characters reflect on their past to essentially help the reader understand that as humans we must learn to “forgive and forget”.
Ideally, it’s clear how Beloved initially almost becomes symbol of redemption and of family towards Sethe and at times even for Denver. Beloved represents the lost baby that Sethe originally killed and Beloved even describes to Denver about being in a dark place,“[laying] down in her side curled up” (88) something commonly noticed in babies while they are in their mothers wombs. Essentially, pushing the reader to think that she is talking about her experiences of being Sethe’s dead baby. However, none the less, this only helps contextualize the fact that Beloved or the idea of Beloved is purposely back to help Soothe heal from her “wounds” as she goes onto state to Denver that she is here to, “ ‘See her [Sethe’s] face”(89). While, other scholars to this day may argue Beloved’s contribution to the theme; such as Pamela E. Barnett who argues that Beloved’s purpose throughout Beloved was to strengthen the idea of sexual abuse or play a role of a succubus, or a female demon that terrorizes males in there sleep. While there might be some truth to this, personally I would not say this is Beloved’s main role throughout the book. Beloved predominantly haunts females for a greater cause, such as Sethe, by having them reflect on their past experiences to learn and grow from them. For instance, throughout chapter 27 we first see how Sethe relives her experience of having white men come back and nearly kills Mr.Bodwin. This scenario originates from her initial experience of killing her baby so he wouldn’t have to endure being enslaved by “white men”. Additionally, we later go onto find that Beloved has left Sethe as Paul D finds Sethe around 124 she tells Paul D that “ ‘She [Beloved] has left me [Sethe]’ … ‘She [Beloved] was my best thing’ ”(321). This is almost a repetition of the past, and how Sethe felt after having killed her own baby. However, instead of being hung onto the past and not being able to move on. Paul D helps her understand the notion that “It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind” (321) after remembering anecdotes from a conversation with Sixo. This pushes Paul D to tell Sethe that they have a “yesterday” and need a “tomorrow”. Though the loss of Beloved stings, and always will be a scar in The heart, Beloved leaves Sethe and Paul D to figure the remaining pieces of the puzzle. They must not be scared to move forward. Paul D’s superego helps him realize that Sethe is the one for him because she understands him, and vice versa; such as their trip to the carnival as almost a family. As a result of Beloved leaving now, Paul D and Sethe help each other mutually in the end and is only right that they attempt to have a “tomorrow” or a family and forget about their sad haunting pasts. This helps illustrate the idea that Beloved helps haunt females not just for the fun of it, but for a better cause, to help promote movement and growth in different characters.
Another scholar by the name of Philip Page discusses the idea of family throughout Beloved. Particularly stating that,“Family-the creation of it, the attempt to preserve it, the nostalgia for it-dominates the plot”. Much like Page, I tend to agree more with her statement. Hence it becomes clear that Beloved plays a role to rehabilitate Sethe’s family and past. For instance, we see how initially she tends to protect Beloved telling Paul D to ,“stop picking on her” (77) something we often see mothers do which is to defend their baby. Beloved to Sethe serves as a second chance at being a mother. More noticeably we see this when she states, “Beloved, she my daughter. She mine. See. She come back to me of her own free will…” (236). Though she is physically not the same baby Sethe had, Sethe has correlated Beloved as her own daughter and has helped her think about her role as a mother and has almost even given her the chance to be a mother all over again. Not only that, but Beloved helps Sethe and others remember painful memories and helps Sethe, and the other characters like Denver reflect on their past. For example, Sethe is often pondering about her time as slave at Sweet Home, and why she killed Beloved. Presumably after seeing these four white men. Sethe, as a result, is traumatised as the white Nephew had nursed Sethe, however, having Beloved around she even swears that now “No one will ever get my [Sethe’s] milk no more except my own children”(236). Now having Beloved again gives Sethe a sense of her priorities. Sethe more noticeably prioritizes her family now that she has a second chance at having Beloved. Nonetheless, it is quite clear how Beloved impacts Sethe in particularly to help her move from her past memories. Sethe must learn to forgive herself and move forward in life.
Ideally, it’s clear how Beloved initially almost becomes symbol of redemption and of family towards Sethe and at times even for Denver. Beloved represents the lost baby that Sethe originally killed and Beloved even describes to Denver about being in a dark place,“[laying] down in her side curled up” (88) something commonly noticed in babies while they are in their mothers wombs. Essentially, pushing the reader to think that she is talking about her experiences of being Sethe’s dead baby. However, none the less, this only helps contextualize the fact that Beloved or the idea of Beloved is purposely back to help Soothe heal from her “wounds” as she goes onto state to Denver that she is here to, “ ‘See her [Sethe’s] face”(89). While, other scholars to this day may argue Beloved’s contribution to the theme; such as Pamela E. Barnett who argues that Beloved’s purpose throughout Beloved was to strengthen the idea of sexual abuse or play a role of a succubus, or a female demon that terrorizes males in there sleep. While there might be some truth to this, personally I would not say this is Beloved’s main role throughout the book. Beloved predominantly haunts females for a greater cause, such as Sethe, by having them reflect on their past experiences to learn and grow from them. For instance, throughout chapter 27 we first see how Sethe relives her experience of having white men come back and nearly kills Mr.Bodwin. This scenario originates from her initial experience of killing her baby so he wouldn’t have to endure being enslaved by “white men”. Additionally, we later go onto find that Beloved has left Sethe as Paul D finds Sethe around 124 she tells Paul D that “ ‘She [Beloved] has left me [Sethe]’ … ‘She [Beloved] was my best thing’ ”(321). This is almost a repetition of the past, and how Sethe felt after having killed her own baby. However, instead of being hung onto the past and not being able to move on. Paul D helps her understand the notion that “It’s good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind” (321) after remembering anecdotes from a conversation with Sixo. This pushes Paul D to tell Sethe that they have a “yesterday” and need a “tomorrow”. Though the loss of Beloved stings, and always will be a scar in The heart, Beloved leaves Sethe and Paul D to figure the remaining pieces of the puzzle. They must not be scared to move forward. Paul D’s superego helps him realize that Sethe is the one for him because she understands him, and vice versa; such as their trip to the carnival as almost a family. As a result of Beloved leaving now, Paul D and Sethe help each other mutually in the end and is only right that they attempt to have a “tomorrow” or a family and forget about their sad haunting pasts. This helps illustrate the idea that Beloved helps haunt females not just for the fun of it, but for a better cause, to help promote movement and growth in different characters.
Another scholar by the name of Philip Page discusses the idea of family throughout Beloved. Particularly stating that,“Family-the creation of it, the attempt to preserve it, the nostalgia for it-dominates the plot”. Much like Page, I tend to agree more with her statement. Hence it becomes clear that Beloved plays a role to rehabilitate Sethe’s family and past. For instance, we see how initially she tends to protect Beloved telling Paul D to ,“stop picking on her” (77) something we often see mothers do which is to defend their baby. Beloved to Sethe serves as a second chance at being a mother. More noticeably we see this when she states, “Beloved, she my daughter. She mine. See. She come back to me of her own free will…” (236). Though she is physically not the same baby Sethe had, Sethe has correlated Beloved as her own daughter and has helped her think about her role as a mother and has almost even given her the chance to be a mother all over again. Not only that, but Beloved helps Sethe and others remember painful memories and helps Sethe, and the other characters like Denver reflect on their past. For example, Sethe is often pondering about her time as slave at Sweet Home, and why she killed Beloved. Presumably after seeing these four white men. Sethe, as a result, is traumatised as the white Nephew had nursed Sethe, however, having Beloved around she even swears that now “No one will ever get my [Sethe’s] milk no more except my own children”(236). Now having Beloved again gives Sethe a sense of her priorities. Sethe more noticeably prioritizes her family now that she has a second chance at having Beloved. Nonetheless, it is quite clear how Beloved impacts Sethe in particularly to help her move from her past memories. Sethe must learn to forgive herself and move forward in life.
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