Literary Analysis: Beloved
Sethe's appearance changes in various ways throughout the book. Her appearance reflects her state of mind. Sethe is described in different ways as the storyline moves along. First, it starts with Sethe's life as a slave at Sweet Home. Then, her appearance, and mind-set changes with events occurring at 124 Bluestone. Lastly, Sethe becomes very weak and would rather die, rather than letting her past haunt her.
Sweet Home and Sethe's journey to 124 Bluestone bring out a lot of the hardship aspect of Sethe's life, and it is reflected through her state of mind. Her anger and pain of being enslaved/owned is represented through the scars on her back and soreness of her feet. Throughout the novel, Tony Morrison …show more content…
Paul D re-entering Sethe's life is a huge event that affects her in a cheerful and refreshing way. Sethe showed signs of happiness when she first sees Paul D, which was a drastic change from her stress and paranoia that the ghost has been causing for years. The novel states, "...Sethe and Paul D resumed catching and snatching each other's fingers, stealing quick pats on the behind. Joyfully embarrassed to be that grown-up and that young at the same time" (129). Sethe enjoys feeling youthful again with Paul D. In the novel, there is a scene where Paul D, Sethe, and Denver are attending a carnival. They enjoy each others company, and finally start connecting as a family. "...happiness she caught in the shadows swinging hands on the road to the carnival..." (97). Sethe is picturing a life of happiness through a shadow of them walking down the street. Sethe never mentions her past, well at least until Beloved arrived. She has locked it up inside her, and tries to forget it all, especially those haunting memories of being molested and killing her own daughter, Beloved. When Sethe killed Beloved, Morrison wrote, "...the women's eyes with no whites were gazing straight ahead" (151). Once again her black eyes symbolizing fear and anger. In a scene towards the end of the novel, Paul D confronts Sethe on killing her daughter. He tells her that her love is too thick, but Sethe replies with, "Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all" (164). Sethe believes that killing her own daughter was the only way to save her from slavery. Paul D is so upset to hear the news that he tells Sethe that she has two feet, not four. This, again reflects that Sethe is acting out of control like an
Sethe's appearance changes in various ways throughout the book. Her appearance reflects her state of mind. Sethe is described in different ways as the storyline moves along. First, it starts with Sethe's life as a slave at Sweet Home. Then, her appearance, and mind-set changes with events occurring at 124 Bluestone. Lastly, Sethe becomes very weak and would rather die, rather than letting her past haunt her.
Sweet Home and Sethe's journey to 124 Bluestone bring out a lot of the hardship aspect of Sethe's life, and it is reflected through her state of mind. Her anger and pain of being enslaved/owned is represented through the scars on her back and soreness of her feet. Throughout the novel, Tony Morrison …show more content…
Paul D re-entering Sethe's life is a huge event that affects her in a cheerful and refreshing way. Sethe showed signs of happiness when she first sees Paul D, which was a drastic change from her stress and paranoia that the ghost has been causing for years. The novel states, "...Sethe and Paul D resumed catching and snatching each other's fingers, stealing quick pats on the behind. Joyfully embarrassed to be that grown-up and that young at the same time" (129). Sethe enjoys feeling youthful again with Paul D. In the novel, there is a scene where Paul D, Sethe, and Denver are attending a carnival. They enjoy each others company, and finally start connecting as a family. "...happiness she caught in the shadows swinging hands on the road to the carnival..." (97). Sethe is picturing a life of happiness through a shadow of them walking down the street. Sethe never mentions her past, well at least until Beloved arrived. She has locked it up inside her, and tries to forget it all, especially those haunting memories of being molested and killing her own daughter, Beloved. When Sethe killed Beloved, Morrison wrote, "...the women's eyes with no whites were gazing straight ahead" (151). Once again her black eyes symbolizing fear and anger. In a scene towards the end of the novel, Paul D confronts Sethe on killing her daughter. He tells her that her love is too thick, but Sethe replies with, "Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all" (164). Sethe believes that killing her own daughter was the only way to save her from slavery. Paul D is so upset to hear the news that he tells Sethe that she has two feet, not four. This, again reflects that Sethe is acting out of control like an