The text explores the perplexing actions of a mother who would harm her own children and questions how she could end the lives of her own offspring. However, within the novel itself, we come to understand that although Seethe’s actions were undoubtedly wrong, she believed it was her only option. Seethe had endured immense suffering and trauma as a slave, enduring constant torment. Consequently, she did not want to subject her children to the same agonizing existence where being alive was no different from being dead. ‘Beloved’ undeniably portrays the pain felt by Black individuals but also encompasses more than just depicting suffering.
The novel ‘Beloved’ serves as both a prayer and a healing ritual for the devastating impact of slavery on a country. It goes beyond depicting the pain and agony experienced by black individuals. Instead, it uncovers the horrors of slavery and explores the ongoing suffering and anguish endured by African Americans. It delves into the identity crisis faced by slaves and the denial of community life, ultimately depicting their denial of humanity. ‘Beloved’ is a relentless novel that captivates its readers.
The text provides an insight into the African American experience in America during the sass’s. It takes place in Ohio after the Civil War, when slavery has been abolished but its memories still linger. The author, Morrison, uses irony to depict Seethe and her mother-in-law, Baby USGS, reminiscing about their lives as slaves on a farm called Sweet Home in Kentucky. Despite being treated relatively well by their former owner, this period of enlightenment does not last long.
The benevolent slave owner experiences financial difficulties and sells one of his slaves. However, when he dies, Sweet Home becomes a miserable place under the control of a cruel new owner named Schoolteacher. Seethe, a pregnant slave, flees from Kentucky to Ohio, facing great danger along the way. Upon reuniting with her other children, Seethe contemplates killing them in order to prevent their recapture. Tragically, she succeeds in murdering her daughter, Beloved. As a way to honor Beloved’s memory, Seethe offers herself to the man who carves her tombstone. However, shortly after this event, the ‘ghost’ of the deceased baby returns to seek vengeance and haunts the inhabitants of 124 Bluebonnets.
The ‘ghost’ or ‘Beloved’ symbolizes the past of the inhabitants and their haunting experiences. Throughout the novel, the characters not only face the haunting presence of Beloved at 124, but also confront their own haunted pasts. Their journey is not just about purging their home of the ghost, but also about letting go of the traumatic events from their past. They constantly battle to prevent the past from overpowering their present and to break free from the dark burden of their history. Morrison aims to depict the atrocities of slavery through its impact on these characters.
One way in which the author demonstrates the characters’ desperation to escape the harsh reality of slavery is by depicting their longing for freedom and their loved ones. The characters in this novel carry the scars of slavery, including memories of being branded, forced into chain-gangs, experiencing lynching, and enduring beatings. Ella, a former slave who has found some level of freedom by crossing the river to Ohio, advises Seethe not to fall in love with an impossible dream. Morrison uses each character in the novel, including Seethe, Baby USGS, Denver, Beloved, Paul D., etc., to symbolize the complex struggles faced by slaves collectively – struggles of oppression, suppression, and repression that are not allowed to be openly expressed or documented according to the law. Moreover, through her novel, Morrison aims to prompt discussion and raise awareness about society’s collective denial, inequality, and responsibility for forgetting the memories of the millions of slaves who never completed their journey to our shores as highlighted in the dedication.
Seethe, the protagonist of the novel, goes to great lengths to avoid becoming enslaved again. She even contemplates murdering her own children, preferring their death and subsequent entry into Heaven over their enslavement. The haunting presence of Beloved further intensifies Seethe’s torment, as she is constantly reminded of her troubled past and the numerous traumatic experiences that have profoundly impacted her.
One significant element in her life is the permanent scar on her back, which she calls a “chokecherry tree”, resulting from the severe beating she endured as a slave. This scar holds immense significance as it represents something invisible but enduring. The weight of carrying a tree is unimaginable for any person, and one can only imagine the emotional suffering Settee endured throughout her life. Even though she is no longer enslaved, her past remains a binding force that steadily grows and overwhelms her.
Seethe is the most traumatized character among all the characters, and her anguish is unimaginable. She is extremely desperate to rescue her children from a life of misery and torment as slaves. This desperation is evident when she sends her children away from Sweet Home and embarks on a solitary journey while pregnant, from Sweet Home to Ohio. Furthermore, she even tries to kill her own children in order to protect them from school teacher. This sacrifice clearly demonstrates the dreadful nature of slavery. In Seethe’s perspective, the consequences of slavery are even worse than the fear of death itself.
Morrison’s intention in Seethe’s story is to highlight the horrific nature of slavery. The desperation that drives someone to seek safety for themselves and their loved ones demonstrates the undeniable reality of this. Therefore, Seethe’s choices, such as sending her children away, embarking on a treacherous journey while pregnant and alone, and even attempting to harm her own children, serve as powerful evidence of the profound impact of slavery.
The undeniable truth is that Seethe has taken the life of her child. By protecting her from the physical and emotional cruelties of slavery, Seethe finds herself experiencing intense guilt and enduring immense physical and emotional suffering.
The symbol of the border between slavery and freedom is embodied by Seethe. Throughout the novel, Seethe is haunted by her past, losing her sense of self through flashbacks and painful memories, often triggered by the presence of Beloved. Despite committing the unthinkable act of killing her own child, Seethe manages to stay sane. However, it is not until the end of the novel that Seethe can finally grow and escape the painful border of her past. The novel effectively portrays how slaves are dehumanized, treated as commodities to be bought and sold, much like cattle.
This text does not surprise me as a reader. However, what truly disturbs me are the living conditions and punishments that the men endure. I am specifically referring to the deplorable living conditions at the work camp in Georgia. It is deeply unsettling that the men are forced to reside in small holes within a trench in the ground. The shocking part is that when it rains, they are surrounded by muddy water, which they must squat in, sleep above, and even urinate in. This is not just disturbing to me as a reader but also as a human being. Additionally, the “breakfast” provided at the same camp is extremely unsettling.
This is both disgusting and bizarre. The white men view the ‘naggers’ as animals, but still force them to perform oral sex on them. This is truly the most troubling and repulsive act experienced by the slaves in the book. Morrison highlights the characters’ search for identity through names and naming. Renaming themselves as Baby USGS and Stamp Paid is a means of escaping the limitations imposed by others. Paul D, Paul A, and Six all have their identities denied by being named after their owners.
Throughout the novel, slavery is depicted as the destruction of identity. It reduces individuals, particularly black bodies, to a state of servitude worse than that of animals. Paul D embodies this loss of self, as he questions his manhood and worth as a person, ultimately succumbing to emotional depression. His impact on people, particularly women, is profound and unsettling. He possesses a certain blessed quality that makes women want to weep. The theme of slavery is also significant in the story. As Seethe and Paul D look back on their time at Sweet Home, Paul D shares a story about Mister the rooster. The irony lies in the fact that Mister could not free himself from his own egg and required Paul D’s assistance; however, once out, he became the ruler of the farm. This contrast highlights the freedom that Mister enjoys, which Paul D never believed he could have. In saving others, Paul D realizes he is unable to save himself.
The sentence also applies to Seethe, who murdered her own daughter in order to save her from a life of misery and torture. Paul Ads, after slavery, carries a rusty tobacco tin as a symbol of himself, a reminder of the burden he now carries within. Referenced multiple times in his own thoughts, it represents the sadness in his heart since leaving Sweet Home. It took him a while, but he eventually managed to place Alfred, Georgia, Six, schoolteacher, Whale, his brothers, Seethe, Mister, the taste of iron, the sight of butter, the smell of hickory, and notebook paper one by one into the tobacco tin lodged in his chest.
As the individual reaches ‘124’, it becomes impossible to open regardless of any worldly force. The concept of a family does not exist within the text. The enslaved individuals are forbidden from marriage and denied the roles of “mothers” or “fathers” to their children. With families being separated and slaves lacking control, they cannot protect their loved ones. To shield themselves from emotional pain, they develop a defensive mechanism involving maintaining distance and letting go of expectations for protecting their loved ones.
The suffering endured by black individuals due to slavery is evident in several characters. In the novel, Six indirectly causes his own death, which could be seen as a form of suicide although he did not physically pull the trigger. His overwhelming desire for freedom ultimately leads to his demise. Similarly, other characters also choose death rather than live without freedom. Paul A is burned alive in his attempt to escape, while Whale’s mental anguish stems from witnessing his wife being mistreated by white individuals and being powerless to protect her.
Paul D, Paul A, Whale & Six, the brothers, all suffer from a loss of masculinity, as if being deprived of a name, an identity, a family, and freedom was not enough. Baby USGS symbolizes the true black woman as she has been liberated from slavery by her son, Whale. “Caught between the harshness of life and the cruelty of death, she lacks the motivation to either leave life or embrace it.” Slavery has restricted Baby USGS’ self-perception by destroying her family and denying her the ability to become the person she desires to be – a loving wife and mother.
Throughout the novel, she is perceived as wise and spiritual. However, towards the end, she sadly succumbs to the torturous life of slavery. She confesses to Seethe that a black slave is not treated as a human being, even though they are expected to reproduce and have the ability to read and write. Some slaves are permitted to express love, but they are made to believe that their purpose is to serve white people. Despite having desires for companionship, love, and family like any human being, they are ironically conditioned to never express those feelings fully. Thus, slaves were placed in a unique dehumanized state where they could only partially express their human instincts.
Morrison’s writing signifies the presence of these contradictory thoughts, rather than simply stating them outright. One consequence of removing the deception from slaves is that even after being freed, they are never truly liberated. The psychological and societal consequences of being a slave continue to haunt their lives. Seethe serves as evidence that expressing emotions for anyone affected by slavery becomes extremely perilous, as Paul D. observes that it is very risky. For a woman who used to be a slave to love something so deeply was hazardous, especially if it was her children whom she had chosen to love. The expression of any movement signifies vulnerability for slaves.
Former slaves find it challenging to express emotions and understand their meaning. It becomes unfamiliar to them. Morrison’s novel, released two decades after the Civil Rights Act, showcases how African Americans are in a worse situation than before. In this post-Civil Rights era, the African American community struggles with the decision of whether to connect their redemption to the white community’s redemption or to separate themselves, focus inwardly, and heal independently. Beloved arises from the severe limitations that society imposed on human instincts.
Beloved, a ghostly presence in Morrison’s novel, emerges as a result of suppressed instincts. Through her own interpretation, Morrison resurrects the lives, thoughts, and actions that were silenced during slavery. This narrative allows readers to directly experience the profound consequences that stem from suppressing instincts without alternative outlets for expression. It becomes clear that the characters cannot and will not forget their past experiences; instead, they “dismember” their memories.
In this story, the characters attempt to repress the unsettling events, yet they persist, awaiting recollection. Likewise, readers are haunted by these stories and depictions that Morrison presents. These narratives challenge a typical reader’s ability to forget. Morrison aims for us to not only witness the characters’ haunting experiences but also to feel the anguish of history in our own minds. Morrison skillfully merges horror and beauty in a manner that permanently disturbs the psyche. In essence, “This is not a story to pass on.”
