Beloved by: Toni Morrison has been an interesting experience to read. Since before being assigned to begin this novel, we've been asked “What is the significance of writing a book in a past setting, in the present?” This question has forced us to wonder the true answer to such a question. I believe that history repeats itself and that we can associate many aspects of the past into our daily lives. Therefore, we can associate many aspects and situations in this book to real world issues that we may face today. The first association I made was the first altercation between Denver and Paul D towards the beginning of the novel. This reminds me of my own personal experiences with step parents and questioning authority. This part of the novel really captured me. Another theory that I believe in is that fact that there may be actually two ghosts instead of just one. “‘You got company?’ He whispered, frowning. ‘Off and on,’ said Sethe.” (Morrison. 10). They believe that the entity is just one set thing rather than one. Later in the novel Denver sees a white figure wrapped around the waist of Sethe while praying. This could be baby Suggs who may be a guardian angel.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Blog Post 17: Paul D... JERSEY FIST BUUUUUMP!
In the reading, Paul D revisits his dark past of slavery at Sweet Home. Paul D explains that the worst feeling he felt out of all things was watching as the farm rooster, Mister. Paul D is forced to watch the rooster roam free while he has slaved. This shows the prioritization of a slave's life compared to one of an animal. It's ironic that he is enslaved while the rooster is still free and running around. People often associate symbols with several different events because of the weight that comes with these several different symbols. Symbols may help a character continue to look for specific answers to a problem, or to continue on a quest of some sort. We see different symbols like this several times within Beloved. Water can be seen as a huge symbol as well. As we learned for how to read literature like a professor, if they don't drown it's baptism. We can associate this when Beloved comes from out of the lake. The house, 124 is a symbol for several things. This includes life and death, growth for Denver, and a haven of some sort for Sethe. We continue to learn about the birth of Denver and the white lady that helped Sethe during the difficult time. We originally learn the white lady is in search of velvet from Boston and just helps Sethe along the way. There may be some unrevealed reasons as to why she gave her help even more.
Blog Post 16: Dearly BELOVED...We is Typing Here Today...
For starters, I don't necessarily agree that they instantaneously allowed Paul D become the head of the household. Sethe and Denver allow Paul D to stay and live with them, although Denver doesn't really approve of this at all to begin with. This book comes off as very confusing and overly poetic, but I begin to easily understand the dialogue beginning on page 52 and I can relate to it personally. The situation the reader views is a single mother introducing a male figure into the household, the figure then moving in, and then the figure trying to assert his dominance within this household that is unfamiliar to male dominance. This causes automatic opposition from Denver, who doesn't necessarily know how to feel immediately about the situation or the male figure which is Paul D. Page 52 is like watching a BET Movie, but I've also witnessed such opposition personally. As we readers we can tell that Sethe has missed having someone of her own although she does not admit such a thing. She lives life every day wondering about the life or death of her husband, Halle. Her sons, who you can interpret as male figures, flee at a young age to escape the ghost. Being with someone again changed Sethe’s perception of the world again. “He was responsible for that. Emotions sped to the surface in his company. Things became what they were…” (Morrison. 48). I don't understand why they just bring this complete stranger, Beloved, into their house as if it's just normal (this may be the culture) but Paul doesn't ask too many questions because “If she wanted them to know and was strong enough to get through the , she would.” (Morrison. 63). They continue to take care of Beloved and nurse her back to good health.
Blog Post 15: SWEET HOME... not in 'Bama.
The official/unofficial marriage of the two slaves, Sethe and Halle is a remarkable one. While at Sweet Home, the male slaves excruciatingly wait a year for Sethe to make her decision on who she wants to be with. When Sethe makes her choice and chooses Halle, she requests Mrs. Garner for a wedding only to be laughed at. The two slaves then conduct a wedding of their own. The name of their first born daughter, Beloved from a slave perspective could be important to show how she was a product of forbidden love, which is significant. Sethe’s fourth child, Denver seems to be stuck in the Shadow of her dead sister. Her mother is overly focused on forgetting the past and she is often overlooked. The ghost is even her only true friend. Denver acts very jealous and cries after seeing her mother talk to one of the other fellow slaves. Sethe is without a father or father figure and everyone avoids her because of her cries about the house. While at Sweet Home, the slaves have sex with cows and dream of rape while waiting for Sethe to make her decision. Swaying corn stalks then indicate to the men that Sethe had made her choice. The other men celebrate by eating the corn stalks broken by the newlyweds.
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