Beloved left me with one significant impression: what did I just read? The entire book was filled with interesting yet weird details. The most significant of these details that was freaky was that of death and how each character reacted (or didn't) to death. For someone like Stamp Paid, death really depended on the circumstances, with him killing his wife and all but not accepting the killing of Beloved by Sethe. For Sethe, death was necessary but awful. Her unwillingness to come to terms with Beloved and take control of what she did, and instead trying to constantly appease Beloved in her return from the after life was the major key that led to her decay.
Another concept used by Morrison is that of escape. The idea of escape is prevalent throughout the novel. Escaping from slavery, sorrow, illness. But it is the lack of actual escape that is a major theme throughout the novel. Morrison plays with the idea that the characters cannot escape from slavery, no matter how far they run. That they will always be looked down upon by society, always be kept down, and that no amount of so called "freedom" or war can change the fact that they have no ability to escape poverty and the sadness that surrounds them. For Sethe, for Baby Suggs, and for Beloved, the way to escape the constant struggle with being kept in a theoretical bondage instead of the actual that they had fled was through death. Sethe lays herself down to leave, and does not try to get healthier, ditto Baby Suggs. For Beloved, she is killed to prevent her from going into slavery, only to be resurrected and inflict suffering upon Sethe for being killed, and in turn making Sethe's life miserable before running off.
To say the least, the book is something that one cannot prepare for. It simply happens that almost every character has either killed another person, inflicted serious pain, been killed or maimed, or a combination of these possibilities. But overall, it makes for an interesting story filled with connections to the post Civil War era in the United States, regarding Black Codes and Jim Crow Laws and the constant struggle for freedom and independence for African-Americans.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Is This AP Worthy?
Without a doubt this book would be AP worthy. Compared to Song of Solomon, another Toni Morrison book, Beloved is deeper in terms of motifs, and touches on many of the same themes as Song of Solomon. The character development is not quite as profound in Beloved however, yet few books probably have as well developed characters as those of Milkman Dead and Guitar.
But this book isn't as concerned with the individuals as Song of Solomon. Morrison focuses more on the relationships between characters, characters and society, and race relations rather than developing each individual as fully as in Song of Solomon. We see Sethe as a loving, caring mother, but that never changes throughout the book. Denver remains independent from when we first meet her, and her only change is the view of Sethe. Paul D hardly changes as well, remaining someone who avoids staying in a single place and is a pretty good guy otherwise.
This book, although limited in character development, is definitely of AP merit. The creative use of motifs such as color to foreshadow death or her tying everything back to Sweet Home to show how little life has changed for Sethe towards the end show how complex the story is. Although the underlying foreshadowing might be a bit difficult to pick up on at first, as the story progresses, it shows how complex the story is from the beginning. As Sethe says right from the beginning when addressing Denver's remark that '"nothing ever dies,'" Sethe replies '"Nothing ever does'" (44).
But this book isn't as concerned with the individuals as Song of Solomon. Morrison focuses more on the relationships between characters, characters and society, and race relations rather than developing each individual as fully as in Song of Solomon. We see Sethe as a loving, caring mother, but that never changes throughout the book. Denver remains independent from when we first meet her, and her only change is the view of Sethe. Paul D hardly changes as well, remaining someone who avoids staying in a single place and is a pretty good guy otherwise.
This book, although limited in character development, is definitely of AP merit. The creative use of motifs such as color to foreshadow death or her tying everything back to Sweet Home to show how little life has changed for Sethe towards the end show how complex the story is. Although the underlying foreshadowing might be a bit difficult to pick up on at first, as the story progresses, it shows how complex the story is from the beginning. As Sethe says right from the beginning when addressing Denver's remark that '"nothing ever dies,'" Sethe replies '"Nothing ever does'" (44).
Monday, January 25, 2016
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Arrive
Sethe has now encountered another situation where people are fleeing I24. Paul D, conflicting with her over why the "crawling already? baby" is killed. This brings back the idea that sometimes, leaving the known world of hostility can bring more volatility to one's life. Sethe makes the argument that killing her child is better than having her return to slavery, while Paul D believes that life is always better than death, and her actions resulted in a life worse than death. A life of isolation, loneliness, and bitter resentment from the community around her for her actions. That begs the question though: was Sethe right to kill her child when the four horsemen of the apocalypse (Schoolteacher, Sheriff, Slave Catcher, and Schoolteacher's son) arrive to take them away?
Baby Suggs and Stamp Paid both play significant roles within this particular section. Although baby Suggs is dead, the idea of colors is repeated as a motif within the section, and that was what Baby Suggs focused on when she was dying. Death is portrayed with colors throughout the section (most of the time the color red comes up). Meanwhile, the living are portrayed in a world of constant cold, as the section takes place in winter, with minimal color. The colors only being used when regarding death is significant because it comes back to the the idea that death is the only way to end the perpetual state of slave-like conditions that Sethe experiences. That death is the ultimate savior to end the pain of which she endures, of which Baby Suggs endured, and of which Sethe made her baby not have to endure. Life is portrayed as bleak and dismal, while death is portrayed in color to show how life is not so great for the people of I24, and that death is the final escape for those trapped in isolation at the house. Death is the one thing that nobody can escape within this novel, but seems to be the one thing consistently welcomed by the few who are near it.
Baby Suggs and Stamp Paid both play significant roles within this particular section. Although baby Suggs is dead, the idea of colors is repeated as a motif within the section, and that was what Baby Suggs focused on when she was dying. Death is portrayed with colors throughout the section (most of the time the color red comes up). Meanwhile, the living are portrayed in a world of constant cold, as the section takes place in winter, with minimal color. The colors only being used when regarding death is significant because it comes back to the the idea that death is the only way to end the perpetual state of slave-like conditions that Sethe experiences. That death is the ultimate savior to end the pain of which she endures, of which Baby Suggs endured, and of which Sethe made her baby not have to endure. Life is portrayed as bleak and dismal, while death is portrayed in color to show how life is not so great for the people of I24, and that death is the final escape for those trapped in isolation at the house. Death is the one thing that nobody can escape within this novel, but seems to be the one thing consistently welcomed by the few who are near it.
Thursday, January 14, 2016
We're Halfway There
Magical realism is by far the most important style utilized by Toni Morrison here. The character "Beloved" (since she doesn't actually know if that is truly her name, it is just what she remembers) is entirely based on magical realism. First, she just kind of appears out of the water, never eats anything that is not sweet, can hardly walk, and yet is completely healthy. Not to mention nobody ever hears her approaching them. Or the scene where Denver thinks that she choked out Sethe in a field without actually touching Sethe, only for Beloved to reply that it was the chains. Weird that she would know exactly what caused the random bruising on Sethe's neck. Just a bit odd.
Next, the idea of everything being cold comes in to play a lot more once Beloved arrives. There is always an aura of coldness surrounding her throughout the section. When Beloved goes to touch Sethe's neck right after the bruising from being magically choked appears, Sethe remarks about how cool Beloved's hands were. Or right before Beloved scandalously meets Paul D in the cold room, the narrator is commenting on how cold the Autumn weather was in Ohio, how chilly the cold room is, and how that was what was on Paul D's mind at the time. Another instance where cold and Beloved are intermingled is when Denver somehow, magically loses Beloved in a tiny storage room. Denver thinks of how cold she feels inside without Beloved there, as Beloved kept her company and was exactly what she needed after everyone else had left her life.
This all points to one thing ultimately that is semi-obvious. Beloved is the ghost baby from earlier in the book that Paul D chased away, only now in human form. It explains why nobody can hear her walking or entering rooms. It explains why she magically disappeared for a bit. This also explains why she magically appeared right after Paul D chased away the ghost. Only now she has been reincarnated to the age she would have been had she not been killed. That is why she acts like an infant, according to Sethe, when Sethe is hurt, because mentally she is still an infant. Or her inexplicable, child-like curiosity with everything. And also why she doesn't actually know her name, but that everyone calls her Beloved, because that is what was left on the gravestone by Sethe. Beloved is a freaky character.
Next, the idea of everything being cold comes in to play a lot more once Beloved arrives. There is always an aura of coldness surrounding her throughout the section. When Beloved goes to touch Sethe's neck right after the bruising from being magically choked appears, Sethe remarks about how cool Beloved's hands were. Or right before Beloved scandalously meets Paul D in the cold room, the narrator is commenting on how cold the Autumn weather was in Ohio, how chilly the cold room is, and how that was what was on Paul D's mind at the time. Another instance where cold and Beloved are intermingled is when Denver somehow, magically loses Beloved in a tiny storage room. Denver thinks of how cold she feels inside without Beloved there, as Beloved kept her company and was exactly what she needed after everyone else had left her life.
This all points to one thing ultimately that is semi-obvious. Beloved is the ghost baby from earlier in the book that Paul D chased away, only now in human form. It explains why nobody can hear her walking or entering rooms. It explains why she magically disappeared for a bit. This also explains why she magically appeared right after Paul D chased away the ghost. Only now she has been reincarnated to the age she would have been had she not been killed. That is why she acts like an infant, according to Sethe, when Sethe is hurt, because mentally she is still an infant. Or her inexplicable, child-like curiosity with everything. And also why she doesn't actually know her name, but that everyone calls her Beloved, because that is what was left on the gravestone by Sethe. Beloved is a freaky character.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Introduction to the Book
Sethe-
Sethe is the mother to Buglar, Howard, Denver, and the unnamed ghost baby. She is conflicted as to whether she wants to be at I24, because nobody visits and it gets lonely until Paul D shows up. People only ever leave I24, whether it be dead or alive, until Paul D arrives. This is similar to her life up until that point, where she was sending her children away or running away herself to escape Sweet Home, the place where most of the main characters either meet or are conceived. The running from I24 and nobody willing arriving could be construed to be similar to how being out of slavery did not necessarily mean a better life. Sethe has many secrets though that she keeps hidden from Denver, her daughter, which will hopefully be revealed throughout the story.
Denver-
Denver is the child of Sethe. She is also the last of Sethe's children left at I24 living. Denver is constantly stuck between staying and leaving the house, with the ghost being the only company she ever has. Denver is a little crazy because of this not having any company and being isolated from everyone.
Paul D-
Paul D is from Sweet Home, just like Sethe. Paul D was one of the suitors for Sethe originally, before she chose Halle, and comes to I24 as one of the few visitors. He apparently chases off the ghost baby, but not sure how long that will last or if it really has. The ghost might have disappeared because of the presence of a man figure in the house for Sethe.
Baby-
Baby is the motherly figure until her death early in the book. Her presence is important to the book because, not only is she from Sweet Home as well, she kept Denver and Sethe company even as Buglar and Howard ran away.
Amy-
Amy is a random white girl that stumbles upon a pregnant Sethe. She is included in this post because of her importance towards Sethe, helping her give birth and also keeping her safe when Sethe could hardly walk. Will be interesting to see if she returns later in the book as a character, as it seems that nobody ever actually is able to escape in this book. Nobody escapes, everyone just is recycled into a similar situation in a new place throughout the book, such as Sethe or Paul D.
The Ghost Baby (Unnamed)-
The unnamed Ghost Baby is the child that Sethe killed, She lives at I24, and keeps Denver sane as everyone around her passes through the house. The baby apparently leaves when Paul D arrives, but I got a hunch that she will return as Paul D and the memories of Sweet Home have.
Sethe is the mother to Buglar, Howard, Denver, and the unnamed ghost baby. She is conflicted as to whether she wants to be at I24, because nobody visits and it gets lonely until Paul D shows up. People only ever leave I24, whether it be dead or alive, until Paul D arrives. This is similar to her life up until that point, where she was sending her children away or running away herself to escape Sweet Home, the place where most of the main characters either meet or are conceived. The running from I24 and nobody willing arriving could be construed to be similar to how being out of slavery did not necessarily mean a better life. Sethe has many secrets though that she keeps hidden from Denver, her daughter, which will hopefully be revealed throughout the story.
Denver-
Denver is the child of Sethe. She is also the last of Sethe's children left at I24 living. Denver is constantly stuck between staying and leaving the house, with the ghost being the only company she ever has. Denver is a little crazy because of this not having any company and being isolated from everyone.
Paul D-
Paul D is from Sweet Home, just like Sethe. Paul D was one of the suitors for Sethe originally, before she chose Halle, and comes to I24 as one of the few visitors. He apparently chases off the ghost baby, but not sure how long that will last or if it really has. The ghost might have disappeared because of the presence of a man figure in the house for Sethe.
Baby-
Baby is the motherly figure until her death early in the book. Her presence is important to the book because, not only is she from Sweet Home as well, she kept Denver and Sethe company even as Buglar and Howard ran away.
Amy-
Amy is a random white girl that stumbles upon a pregnant Sethe. She is included in this post because of her importance towards Sethe, helping her give birth and also keeping her safe when Sethe could hardly walk. Will be interesting to see if she returns later in the book as a character, as it seems that nobody ever actually is able to escape in this book. Nobody escapes, everyone just is recycled into a similar situation in a new place throughout the book, such as Sethe or Paul D.
The Ghost Baby (Unnamed)-
The unnamed Ghost Baby is the child that Sethe killed, She lives at I24, and keeps Denver sane as everyone around her passes through the house. The baby apparently leaves when Paul D arrives, but I got a hunch that she will return as Paul D and the memories of Sweet Home have.
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