"I am Beloved and she is mine" (210). Beloved's biggest fear in the novel is that of losing Sethe. Although Sethe attempted to murder Beloved, Beloved still loves her more than anything else in her life. The fear of losing the most important thing in your life is a terrible concept to attempt to grasp. Not only is Beloved afraid of losing Sethe, she is also afraid of not being able to help her. "In the beginning I could see her I could not help her because the clouds were in the way" (211). Beloved loves Sethe and wants nothing more than to help her and make sure that she does not lose her.
Neglect is another fear of Beloved. At times, Beloved feels as though Denver may steal Sethe away and she will be neglected by her mother. Being neglected is extremely degrading, especially when you are being neglected by your own mother.
The concept of everyone forgetting is the last reason for which Beloved is fearful. Beloved as a character is symbolic of Toni Morrison's made up concept of rememory, which is remembering a memory because it is an internal experience. For Sethe, Beloved represents the rememory of her slavery experiences, the bit, and baby. I think that Beloved is able to realize that remembering your memories is an extremely important concept in moving on. Without the past, we would make the same mistakes in the future, which means Sethe could also try to kill her children again.
Imagine losing the most important aspect or person of your life, how distraught would you be? Would you go through crazy endeavors to avoid that at all costs?
Do you think Beloved also fears being neglected by Denver or just by Sethe?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Denver's Fear
"I don't know what it is, I don't know who it is, but maybe there is something else terrible enough to make her do it again" (205). Throughout the novel, Denver demonstrates a constant fear that Sethe will attempt to kill her. The presence of this fear is due to the fact that Sethe tried to kill Howard, Buglar, and Denver all once before. Sethe also succeeded in killing Beloved. The above quotation is an example of Denver's worrying about whatever possessed Sethe to attempt murder the first time is still alive inside of her or somewhere else. "I need to know what that thing might be, but I don't want to" (205). Although Denver desires to know what it is that urged Sethe to commit the horrible crime the first time, at the same time she is scared. I believe the reason Denver is scared for the reasoning to be revealed is because if it is something that could easily occur again, Denver has even more reason to worry for her own life and personal well being.
I believe that Denver is also fearful of Sethe being taken away and Denver herself becoming lonely. She has fear that Sethe may be taken away by both Beloved and Paul D. Her fear that Beloved will steal Sethe is shown throughout various areas of the book. When Beloved first arrives, Denver wants to sleep in the same room with her and tries as hard as she can to keep Beloved away from her precious mother, Sethe. From the get-go, Denver is clearly aware that the Beloved that came out of the water is the same Beloved as the baby that was murdered by Sethe. Perhaps in attempts of gaining revenge, Beloved may try to hurt Sethe or just steal her away from Denver, when Sethe is all that Denver has remaining. Denver's fear of Paul D taking Sethe away is shown in the scene where Denver, Sethe, and Paul D attend the carnival, just before Beloved comes into the picture (not as the baby, as the woman). Again through the mentioning of Sweet Home and Paul D attempting to get Sethe to "like" him, I think that Denver becomes jealous and fearful that she will lose Sethe.
One of the last things that I believe causes fear in Denver is that something will happen to either her or Beloved (because of something Sethe does). Denver desires to protect herself and her newly reincarnated sister until her daddy comes back with her. Although as the reader, we are very aware that her father will not be coming back, Denver still has faith in the idea that he will be returning. "Now it's just us and I can protect her till my daddy gets her to help me watch our for Ma'am..." (207). When Paul D leaves 124, Denver feels the need to protect her sister until her father is present and can protect the both of them from their mother.
Why do you think Denver is fearful of finding out what "that thing" that possessed Sethe to murder her own children might be?
Do you think Denver is being selfish when she gets upset that everyone is talking about Sweet Home which she was not a part of? Or do you think she is justified in the sense that she fears she will become lonely when everyone realizes they maintain a special bond that does not involve her?
I believe that Denver is also fearful of Sethe being taken away and Denver herself becoming lonely. She has fear that Sethe may be taken away by both Beloved and Paul D. Her fear that Beloved will steal Sethe is shown throughout various areas of the book. When Beloved first arrives, Denver wants to sleep in the same room with her and tries as hard as she can to keep Beloved away from her precious mother, Sethe. From the get-go, Denver is clearly aware that the Beloved that came out of the water is the same Beloved as the baby that was murdered by Sethe. Perhaps in attempts of gaining revenge, Beloved may try to hurt Sethe or just steal her away from Denver, when Sethe is all that Denver has remaining. Denver's fear of Paul D taking Sethe away is shown in the scene where Denver, Sethe, and Paul D attend the carnival, just before Beloved comes into the picture (not as the baby, as the woman). Again through the mentioning of Sweet Home and Paul D attempting to get Sethe to "like" him, I think that Denver becomes jealous and fearful that she will lose Sethe.
One of the last things that I believe causes fear in Denver is that something will happen to either her or Beloved (because of something Sethe does). Denver desires to protect herself and her newly reincarnated sister until her daddy comes back with her. Although as the reader, we are very aware that her father will not be coming back, Denver still has faith in the idea that he will be returning. "Now it's just us and I can protect her till my daddy gets her to help me watch our for Ma'am..." (207). When Paul D leaves 124, Denver feels the need to protect her sister until her father is present and can protect the both of them from their mother.
Why do you think Denver is fearful of finding out what "that thing" that possessed Sethe to murder her own children might be?
Do you think Denver is being selfish when she gets upset that everyone is talking about Sweet Home which she was not a part of? Or do you think she is justified in the sense that she fears she will become lonely when everyone realizes they maintain a special bond that does not involve her?
Howard and Buglar
Howard and Buglar are a little bit harder to diagnose in terms of fear. Howard and Buglar are only in the book for a very short time so they don’t have a lot to be afraid of. According to chapter one of Beloved, Howar and Buglar left 124 because they were afraid of the baby ghost Beloved. “…Howard and Buglar, had run away by the time they were thirteen years old—as soon as merely looking in a mirror shattered it (that was the signal for Buglar); as soon as two tiny hand prints appeared in the cake (that was it for Howard)." (pg. 1) Chapter one makes it seem as if Beloved’s ghost made it unbearable for them to live in 124 anymore. At this point in the story, it definitely seems believeable that a haunting ghost would be the reason for Howard and Buglar to decide to leave.
As the book continues though, the motives behind Buglar and Howard’s departure start to become unclear. Up until chapter 16 it seems as if the reason Buglar and Howard left was because of the ghost. Then, everything changes. In chapter 16, Sethe tries to kill Howard and Buglar so they won’t have to be brought back to Sweet Home by schoolteacher. “Inside, two boys bled in the sawdust and dirt…” (pg. 149) Denver, Howard, and Buglar were so close to death that schoolteacher didn’t even consider taking them back to Sweet Home. “Right off it was clear, to schoolteacher especially, that there was nothing to claim.” (pg. 149) After reading this, Howard and Buglar’s motive could be that they were afraid their mother would try to kill them again. Sethe had taken those drastic measures before so Howard and Buglar thought that, if Sethe thought it was necessary, she would try to do it again. When Sethe tried to kill her children, only Howard and Buglar were old enough to remember. This memory and the fear of trying to be killed again could have been the reason that they decided to run away from 124.
In my opinion, Howard and Buglar left because they were afraid of their mother trying to kill them again, not the ghost of Beloved. Going back to the second quote above from page 149, I don’t know how Howard and Buglar could possibly live the rest of their childhood with Sethe after she had put them on the brink of death. Howard and Buglar had put up with the ghost of Beloved for a while so I don’t really think it bothered them that much. With Sethe however, a memory of trying to be killed can never be erased. Howard and Buglar were just waiting until they got old enough in order to survive on their own before they left. They had to wait before they ran away because they knew if they ran any earlier they would not have been able to survive on their own. It seems illogical to me to run from a ghost when the person who tried to kill them is still alive and living with them. Howard and Buglar know that if schoolteacher ever came back to 124 that there is a chance that Sethe would try to kill them again. If I were in the same shoes as Howard and Buglar, the fear of being killed would cause me to run; not a baby ghost haunting my house.
The website bookrags.com also believes that Howard and Buglar left home because of their fear of Sethe. When summarizing Howard and Buglar, the website says, “They ran away from 124 after about 9 years because they feared their mother might try to kill them again.” (http://www.bookrags.com/notes/bel/CHR.html) Howard and Buglar had a fear that they could not solve unless they left 124. For them, they could not risk being with Sethe any longer.
Do you think Howard and Beloved left 124 because of their fear of Sethe or is there another reason? Would you have left because the house you were living in was haunted or because you would be afraid that your mother would try to kill you again?
As the book continues though, the motives behind Buglar and Howard’s departure start to become unclear. Up until chapter 16 it seems as if the reason Buglar and Howard left was because of the ghost. Then, everything changes. In chapter 16, Sethe tries to kill Howard and Buglar so they won’t have to be brought back to Sweet Home by schoolteacher. “Inside, two boys bled in the sawdust and dirt…” (pg. 149) Denver, Howard, and Buglar were so close to death that schoolteacher didn’t even consider taking them back to Sweet Home. “Right off it was clear, to schoolteacher especially, that there was nothing to claim.” (pg. 149) After reading this, Howard and Buglar’s motive could be that they were afraid their mother would try to kill them again. Sethe had taken those drastic measures before so Howard and Buglar thought that, if Sethe thought it was necessary, she would try to do it again. When Sethe tried to kill her children, only Howard and Buglar were old enough to remember. This memory and the fear of trying to be killed again could have been the reason that they decided to run away from 124.
In my opinion, Howard and Buglar left because they were afraid of their mother trying to kill them again, not the ghost of Beloved. Going back to the second quote above from page 149, I don’t know how Howard and Buglar could possibly live the rest of their childhood with Sethe after she had put them on the brink of death. Howard and Buglar had put up with the ghost of Beloved for a while so I don’t really think it bothered them that much. With Sethe however, a memory of trying to be killed can never be erased. Howard and Buglar were just waiting until they got old enough in order to survive on their own before they left. They had to wait before they ran away because they knew if they ran any earlier they would not have been able to survive on their own. It seems illogical to me to run from a ghost when the person who tried to kill them is still alive and living with them. Howard and Buglar know that if schoolteacher ever came back to 124 that there is a chance that Sethe would try to kill them again. If I were in the same shoes as Howard and Buglar, the fear of being killed would cause me to run; not a baby ghost haunting my house.
The website bookrags.com also believes that Howard and Buglar left home because of their fear of Sethe. When summarizing Howard and Buglar, the website says, “They ran away from 124 after about 9 years because they feared their mother might try to kill them again.” (http://www.bookrags.com/notes/bel/CHR.html) Howard and Buglar had a fear that they could not solve unless they left 124. For them, they could not risk being with Sethe any longer.
Do you think Howard and Beloved left 124 because of their fear of Sethe or is there another reason? Would you have left because the house you were living in was haunted or because you would be afraid that your mother would try to kill you again?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Sethe's Fear
Sethe is always afraid. From the beginning to the end of Beloved, she always has a fear of something. There are a lot of memorable instances of when Sethe shows fear but none resonate more to me than the events that take place in chapter 16. Everything about that chapter is memorable. The fear of Sethe in particular stands out to me. Schoolteacher has found 124 and is coming to bring Sethe’s children back to Sweet Home. Sethe knows what it is like to be a slave. She knows how hard it is to live that life. She chooses to try and kill her children rather than let schoolteacher take them back to Sweet Home. The horrific events occur on page 149; “Inside, two boys bled in the sawdust…” and, “…woman holding a blood-soaked child to her chest…” and finally, “She did not look at them; she simply swung the baby towards the wall planks…” Toni Morrison is able to really drive home the fear that Sethe has for her children. She is willing to kill all four of them rather than let them be taken back to Sweet Home where they will be slaves for the rest of their lives. The question is and will always be; is Sethe justified in her behavior?
Personally, if I had children I don’t think there are any circumstances that would justify me killing them. Maybe I feel this way because I have never been part of something as execrable as slavery, but it still just does not seem right to me. However, Sethe has been. She has been to Sweet Home. She has been raped, whipped, and tortured numerous times and she doesn’t want her children to go through that. She must think that being a slave is worse than death and by trying to kill Howard, Buglar, Beloved, and Denver she is actually saving them. Even though I believe that Sethe is completely insane in trying to kill her children, I can understand where she is coming from. Sethe clearly cares about her children and wants them to live the best life that they can. If that life means staying out of slavery, then Sethe will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
According to an English essay titled, “Toni Morrison’s Beloved: A Cardiogram of Love and the Search for Identity,” Sethe is justified in trying to kill her children because in the world that Morrison created for Sethe, “love means salvation from slavery.” (pg. 7) I do understand what this essay is saying in that Sethe loves her kids and since, according to the essay, love is about staying away from slavery then she is justified in trying to keep them out of slavery by killing them. However, I do not totally agree with this statement. I think part of the reason she tries to kill them is love but I ultimately think the biggest reason is fear. I think it has more to do with fear because Sethe has been told her whole life that it is important not to love anything too much because that thing can be taken away just as quickly as it was given. Sethe has the fear of her children being beaten, mocked, and worked to the bone. She has the fear that her children will be tormented to the point that they will try to kill themselves. Sethe knows that if she does not try to kill her children in the shed, she will always have the fear that her children will have to live the same horrible life that she had to live through. And for Sethe, anything is better than that.
To conclude, fear is a key aspect of Sethe’s life. Trying to kill her children to keep them out of slavery is just one example of many. Life at 124 is so hectic that Sethe always has instances where there is something for her to fear. What is your opinion of chapter 16 and are there any other memorable passages from the book that involve Sethe being afraid of something?
A link to the English essay that I used is below:
http://fc.dwight.edu/~psanders/A1%20EE.pdf?FCItemID=S0009132A
Personally, if I had children I don’t think there are any circumstances that would justify me killing them. Maybe I feel this way because I have never been part of something as execrable as slavery, but it still just does not seem right to me. However, Sethe has been. She has been to Sweet Home. She has been raped, whipped, and tortured numerous times and she doesn’t want her children to go through that. She must think that being a slave is worse than death and by trying to kill Howard, Buglar, Beloved, and Denver she is actually saving them. Even though I believe that Sethe is completely insane in trying to kill her children, I can understand where she is coming from. Sethe clearly cares about her children and wants them to live the best life that they can. If that life means staying out of slavery, then Sethe will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
According to an English essay titled, “Toni Morrison’s Beloved: A Cardiogram of Love and the Search for Identity,” Sethe is justified in trying to kill her children because in the world that Morrison created for Sethe, “love means salvation from slavery.” (pg. 7) I do understand what this essay is saying in that Sethe loves her kids and since, according to the essay, love is about staying away from slavery then she is justified in trying to keep them out of slavery by killing them. However, I do not totally agree with this statement. I think part of the reason she tries to kill them is love but I ultimately think the biggest reason is fear. I think it has more to do with fear because Sethe has been told her whole life that it is important not to love anything too much because that thing can be taken away just as quickly as it was given. Sethe has the fear of her children being beaten, mocked, and worked to the bone. She has the fear that her children will be tormented to the point that they will try to kill themselves. Sethe knows that if she does not try to kill her children in the shed, she will always have the fear that her children will have to live the same horrible life that she had to live through. And for Sethe, anything is better than that.
To conclude, fear is a key aspect of Sethe’s life. Trying to kill her children to keep them out of slavery is just one example of many. Life at 124 is so hectic that Sethe always has instances where there is something for her to fear. What is your opinion of chapter 16 and are there any other memorable passages from the book that involve Sethe being afraid of something?
A link to the English essay that I used is below:
http://fc.dwight.edu/~psanders/A1%20EE.pdf?FCItemID=S0009132A
Friday, June 4, 2010
Ronnie- Baby Suggs
Baby Suggs is portrayed interestingly in the novel Beloved. As the format of the novel goes, you first learn of Baby Suggs very late in her days. As a readyer, I thought of her initially as a weak elder, maybe burdening the family with her ill self. As the plot unwrapped and revealed the past, my image of Baby Suggs became inverted. Now, reflecting and comparing the characters with the theme of fear, I think Baby Suggs was a very strong character- so much so in fact, that long after her death, her spirit lives on through the community she affected.
When Halle bough Baby Suggs out of freedom, he gave her a new life. Baby Suggs was unaware of it until she first stepped into official free land. Though she used this new life to bring joy to otheris, this freedom introduced her to fear. From her freedom, she looked back to Hall and Sethe, yearning for their return. "So when Sethe arrived- all mashed up and split open, but with another grandchild in her arms- the idea of a whoop moved closer to the front of her brain. But since there was still no sign of Halle and Sethe herself didn't know what had happened to him, she let the whoop lie- not wishing to hurt his chances by thanking God too soon", (135). Baby Suggs knew to remain wary of what was given to her. She learned as a slave that once something is given, it is more easily and very likely to be taken away.
"... The good news, however, was the Halle got married and had a baby coming. She fixed on that and her own brand of preaching, having made up her mind about what to do with the heart that started beating the minute she crossed the Ohio River. And it worked out, worked out just fine, until she got proud and let herself be overwhelmed by the sight of her daughter-in-law and Halle's children- one of whom was born on the way- and have a celebration of blackberries that put Christmas to shame. Now she stood in the garden smelling disapproval, feeling a dark and coming thing, and seeing high-topped shoes that she didn't like the look of at all. At all," (147).
Though that day was filled with joy, Baby Suggs' fear kept her tied down to knowing, deep down in her ex-slave gut, that no good was to come. When Baby Suggs' fear came true (more was taken from her), she fell in spirit and soul; she became numb and sick.
In "Boom Goes the Novel," a blog by Jennifer Schuessler of New York Times, blogger "Wilfred"
comments on an opinion, "Michael’s claims are absolutely bizarre. I cannot imagine how he would come to believe that Beloved isn’t about inequality." This makes me think about how ex-slaves remain paranoid despite their freedom being legal. More specifically, Baby Suggs slave mindset lingers in her free life, and rightfully so because he fear ends up becoming a reality. Though she has legal freedom, how and why is she treated differently? How might other free slaves be treated and do you agree with blogger "Wilfred"?
(http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/boom-goes-the-novel/#more-2311)
When Halle bough Baby Suggs out of freedom, he gave her a new life. Baby Suggs was unaware of it until she first stepped into official free land. Though she used this new life to bring joy to otheris, this freedom introduced her to fear. From her freedom, she looked back to Hall and Sethe, yearning for their return. "So when Sethe arrived- all mashed up and split open, but with another grandchild in her arms- the idea of a whoop moved closer to the front of her brain. But since there was still no sign of Halle and Sethe herself didn't know what had happened to him, she let the whoop lie- not wishing to hurt his chances by thanking God too soon", (135). Baby Suggs knew to remain wary of what was given to her. She learned as a slave that once something is given, it is more easily and very likely to be taken away.
"... The good news, however, was the Halle got married and had a baby coming. She fixed on that and her own brand of preaching, having made up her mind about what to do with the heart that started beating the minute she crossed the Ohio River. And it worked out, worked out just fine, until she got proud and let herself be overwhelmed by the sight of her daughter-in-law and Halle's children- one of whom was born on the way- and have a celebration of blackberries that put Christmas to shame. Now she stood in the garden smelling disapproval, feeling a dark and coming thing, and seeing high-topped shoes that she didn't like the look of at all. At all," (147).
Though that day was filled with joy, Baby Suggs' fear kept her tied down to knowing, deep down in her ex-slave gut, that no good was to come. When Baby Suggs' fear came true (more was taken from her), she fell in spirit and soul; she became numb and sick.
In "Boom Goes the Novel," a blog by Jennifer Schuessler of New York Times, blogger "Wilfred"
comments on an opinion, "Michael’s claims are absolutely bizarre. I cannot imagine how he would come to believe that Beloved isn’t about inequality." This makes me think about how ex-slaves remain paranoid despite their freedom being legal. More specifically, Baby Suggs slave mindset lingers in her free life, and rightfully so because he fear ends up becoming a reality. Though she has legal freedom, how and why is she treated differently? How might other free slaves be treated and do you agree with blogger "Wilfred"?
(http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/boom-goes-the-novel/#more-2311)
Ronnie- Paul D
From Sweet Home to the chain group, Paul D's fear stems from the roots of slavery. He is fine in dealing with it all until he's free and hears of one more atrocity.
When Paul D first meets Sethe again, they rejoice in remembering Sweet Home optimistically, recalling that they had been like family. "There had been six of them who belonged to the farm, Sethe the only female," (9). But as Denver comes and dampens the mood, Paul D takes a step back saying, "it wasn't sweet and it sure wasn't home," (14). "But it's where we were... All together. Come back whether we want it to or not," Sethe replies, shivering afterward (14). The irony of its name is that Sweet Home became a hell and so much so, that it was worth risking their lives to escape.
For the majority of the novel, Paul D reveals/"rememories" his experiences as a slave: the bit after attempting to run away, seeing Halle go mad before running away, or when he actually did manage to leave Sweet Home, it was because he was sold to a chain group in Alfred, Georgia.
"To Sethe, the future was a matter of keeping the past at bay. The 'better life' she believed she and Denver were living was simply not that other one.
The fact that Paul D had come out of 'that other one' into her bed was better too; and the notion of a future with him...was beginning to stroke her mind," (3).
In an attempt to pull something out of the harsh past and smoothing out its edges, Paul D and Sethe reach to move towards the "better life." The second it begins to become a reality, Beloved -self encompassing of the past- turns 124 upside down. During the process, Paul D finally learns of Sethe's unspeakable crime and that's he crumbles. "Tell me this on thing. How much is a nigger supposed to take?" (235). His past strikes back unrelenting; slavery can never be escaped, thus the irrational becomes rational. What was thought to have been learned to escape the harshness of it all becomes futile the second freedom becomes slightly jeopardized. Paul D now fears the cruelty of slavery, but also its products.
Do you think Paul D has a reason to remain almost paranoid, constantly telling Sethe not to love something so much, and trying to justify Mr. Gardner's actions in creating the idea that the Sweet Home slaves were men?
When Paul D first meets Sethe again, they rejoice in remembering Sweet Home optimistically, recalling that they had been like family. "There had been six of them who belonged to the farm, Sethe the only female," (9). But as Denver comes and dampens the mood, Paul D takes a step back saying, "it wasn't sweet and it sure wasn't home," (14). "But it's where we were... All together. Come back whether we want it to or not," Sethe replies, shivering afterward (14). The irony of its name is that Sweet Home became a hell and so much so, that it was worth risking their lives to escape.
For the majority of the novel, Paul D reveals/"rememories" his experiences as a slave: the bit after attempting to run away, seeing Halle go mad before running away, or when he actually did manage to leave Sweet Home, it was because he was sold to a chain group in Alfred, Georgia.
"To Sethe, the future was a matter of keeping the past at bay. The 'better life' she believed she and Denver were living was simply not that other one.
The fact that Paul D had come out of 'that other one' into her bed was better too; and the notion of a future with him...was beginning to stroke her mind," (3).
In an attempt to pull something out of the harsh past and smoothing out its edges, Paul D and Sethe reach to move towards the "better life." The second it begins to become a reality, Beloved -self encompassing of the past- turns 124 upside down. During the process, Paul D finally learns of Sethe's unspeakable crime and that's he crumbles. "Tell me this on thing. How much is a nigger supposed to take?" (235). His past strikes back unrelenting; slavery can never be escaped, thus the irrational becomes rational. What was thought to have been learned to escape the harshness of it all becomes futile the second freedom becomes slightly jeopardized. Paul D now fears the cruelty of slavery, but also its products.
Do you think Paul D has a reason to remain almost paranoid, constantly telling Sethe not to love something so much, and trying to justify Mr. Gardner's actions in creating the idea that the Sweet Home slaves were men?
Objective
Our group members consist of Maggie Robinson, Ronnie Amaya, and Adam Brocklehurst. In our blog, we are going to discuss and explore the theme of each characters' fear throughout the novel, Beloved.
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