"Beloved" by Toni Morrison.
I am Maya Batiya,
A student of M.A. Department of English, M.K.B.U.
#"Beloved" by Toni Morrison.
# Beloved(Novel) :
Beloved, novel by Toni Morrison, published in 1987 and winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The work examines the destructive legacy of slavery as it chronicles the life of a Black woman named Sethe, from her pre-Civil War days as a slave in Kentucky to her time in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1873. Although Sethe lives there as a free woman, she is held prisoner by memories of the trauma of her life as a slave.
“All the time, I’m afraid the thing that happened that made it all right for my mother to kill my sister could happen again. 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.”
#Characters of Beloved :
1.Sethe :
Sethe, the main character in Beloved, is an African American woman who embodies strength and resilience. Born into slavery, she grows up without knowing her mother's name and is eventually sold to Sweet Home, where she marries Halle Suggs. After having four children, Sethe escapes Sweet Home but is pursued by Schoolteacher. In a desperate act to protect her children, she kills her daughter, Beloved. After gaining her freedom, Sethe settles in 124 Cincinnati, where she is haunted by Beloved's ghost. Her two sons run away, and her mother-in-law, Baby Suggs, joins her. By the novel's end, Sethe is nearly driven mad by her past but begins to rebuild her life with Paul D, who returns to her.
2.Baby Suggs:
Though her name is Baby Suggs, she was called Whitlow by her owners. She wins freedom when her son, Halle pays for her. However, she does not understand the importance of freedom and thinks that she is too old. Later, at the 124 Cincinnati, she transforms herself into a preacher and becomes a holy lady in the community. She holds gatherings in the forest located nearby. She becomes forlorn and exhausted when Sethe kills Beloved. After a few years when Sethe’s sons run way from the house, she becomes too weak and dies. She leaves an impact on Sethe as she comes to terms with life.
3.Denver :
Denver is Sethe’s second daughter and lives with her. She was named after a white lady, Amy Denver, who helped Sethe deliver her. That is why she always insists on stories of Amy. She was born when Sethe escapes from the North. Although she is quite young, she feels afraid and lonely when her mother is not at home. Until she was 12, she did not leave the lawn of her home in Cincinnati. Initially, she becomes highly obsessed with the presence of Beloved. However, Denver becomes highly independent and strong, supporting her mother by the end. She also understands the plight her mother has gone through.
4.Beloved :
The first Beloved is the daughter of Sethe whom she kills when she is caught fleeing Sweet Home. The second Beloved is the ghost that appears at 124 in Cincinnati. The identity of the ghost remains very indefinable. She may also be a ghost of her third child, Beloved. The ghost Beloved is not only limited in language ability, but she is also very soft like a baby, and emotionally an unbalanced. Beloved also narrates mysterious stories about her past. Due to that, Sethe becomes emotional and takes care of her. However, with time, the ghost Beloved becomes highly furious, temperamental and almost self-centered. She disappears by the end of the novel when Sethe recalls her ‘slave master’ coming again.
5.Schoolteacher:
The schoolteacher held many slaves at Sweet Home. One of the slaves, Sethe faces him before being freed. He is Mr. Garner’s brother-in-law and the owner of Sweet Home. He is a psychopath who enjoyed treating his subjects cruelly and doesn’t stop his nephews when they mistreat Sethe. He even punishes Sethe for disclosing the same information to her master, Mr. Garner. It is unclear what happens to this schoolteacher by the end of the novel.
6.Paul D
Paul D was also a slave at Sweet Home. He has lived with Sixo, Halle and two other Pauls over there. He wanders during the Civil War and also gets tortured by Schoolteacher who is very much against him due to his love for Sethe. Later, he appears at 124 in Cincinnati and lives with Sethe, but the ghost of Beloved turns against him. He tries to escape the past through his tobacco tin, but Sethe, as well as Beloved, force him to confront his past. He leaves 124 but later returns when Sethe faces a mental crisis.
7.Mr. Garner
Mr. Garner, the owner of Sethe, is a minor character. He is known for his kindness towards his slaves and treated them humanely. It is also trusted his slaves do things otherwise unimaginable at any slave house like allowing them to handle guns at the expense of danger to his life. However, despite his kindness and generosity, it shows some contradictions and hypocritical attitude in the end.
8.Sixo
Six is one of the slaves at Sweet Home. He is painted in indigo color at the beginning of the story, having markedly different features than other slaves. He is one of the slaves who speaks English and is well-versed in his mother tongue. One of his character traits is to rebel against his masters. That is why he does not like to be confined at any plantation and tries to escape as soon as he finds a chance. He is described as gentle despite being rebellious, but that part of his nature is reserved for his own community.
9.Amy Denver
She is a white indentured lady who helps Sethe when delivering Denver. Denver is named after Amy Denver. She has been trying to go to Boston to get some carmine to color her clothes when she encounters Sethe. Her kind act stays with Sethe at 124, and she recites that incident whenever Denver, her daughter, forces her.
10.Stamp Paid
Although his original name is Joshua, he gets this name after his wife is raped by his master. He feels that he has paid all the debts of his wife and that it has been stamped. He mostly works as an agent for the Underground Railroad and has been shown as a problem solver of his community in the novel. He again appears at 124 and convinces the community living around the house to assist Sethe, resolving her problem.
# Themes of "Beloved" :-
1.Dehumanization through Slavery :
In "Beloved," the dehumanization of African Americans during and after slavery is a central theme. Characters like Paul D and Sethe experience severe abuse and violence, stripping them of their humanity. For instance, Sethe endures brutal beatings from the Schoolteacher’s nephews, and the use of animal imagery to describe this violence emphasizes the extent of their dehumanization. Baby Suggs also reflects on how slaves are reduced to mere commodities, further illustrating the loss of human dignity.
2. Naming Process :
The theme of naming in "Beloved" highlights how slavery dehumanized individuals by stripping them of personal identity. Names given by slave owners often reflected ownership and control, as seen with characters like Paul D, whose name symbolizes his value and function rather than his humanity. Similarly, Baby Suggs' name, Whitlow, connects to her status as property, reinforcing the systemic exploitation and loss of personal identity.
3. Motherly Figure :
In "Beloved," the theme of the motherly figure is central. Sethe, deprived of maternal love from her own mother, strives to provide the love she was denied to her own children. Despite her hardships, she showers her children, including the ghost of Beloved, with affection. This contrasts with the historical reality where African American mothers were often denied the ability to nurture their children due to slavery. Sethe’s efforts reflect her deep desire to offer the love and care that was previously withheld.
4.Men and Masculinity :
In "Beloved," masculinity is portrayed differently across racial lines. Sethe and Paul D’s relationship reflects Sethe's attempt to fill the void left by Halle. Black men like Halle, Stamp Paid, and Paul D often assert their masculinity through physical strength, which is highlighted by the brutal treatment they receive from white men like the Schoolteacher.
5. Slavery :
The theme of memory is crucial in "Beloved." Sethe’s past continues to haunt her through the ghost of her daughter, Beloved, and affects her present life. Denver clings to past stories shared by Sethe. The arrival of Paul D brings more past memories to the surface, and when Beloved’s ghost leaves, the community begins to move forward.
6.Memory of the Past :
In "Beloved," the memory of the past is a powerful force. Even after gaining freedom, Sethe is haunted by her deceased daughter, Beloved, who brings constant anxiety. Denver cherishes past stories shared by Sethe. The arrival of Paul D also brings past memories to the forefront. When Beloved’s ghost eventually disappears, the community begins to find peace, illustrating how the past continues to impact the present.
7.Moral Ambiguity :
It is truly immoral to mistreat and abuse the black people because they are slaves. It is also true that it is not morally right to kill a child. Sethe kills her daughter, Beloved, on the fear that she would be enslaved. However, the novel does not resolve this moral ambiguity anywhere in its storyline to explain if Sethe’s act was punishable or justifiable.
8.Concept of Freedom :
The concept of freedom and enjoyment of its fruits is also another theme of the novel. Sethe wins freedom by the end of the novel. Halle tries to win freedom for his mother. Paul D, too, comes to Sethe at 124 after becoming free. All of them are enjoying freedom from slavery which makes up another minor theme of the novel.
# Conclusion :
Beloved concludes with a group of women from the local community converging on 124 to ward off the ghost that has been haunting it. After Beloved disappears, Paul D returns to the house intending to make amends. He finds Sethe lying in the bed where Baby Suggs died, distraught by Beloved's sudden disappearance.
