Critical analysis essay over Beloved by Toni Morrison
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Course
Engels
Level
VWO / Gymnasium
Book
Beloved
A very comprehensive analysis essay at VWO level that expands the book Beloved by Morrison and puts it in context by linking with the characters in the book, the writer and the society described.
How does Toni Morrison in Beloved and Bram Stoker in Dracula explore the role of the body?
Critical analysis essay over Beloved by Toni Morrison
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Death or Slavery
The famous story about the woman who tried to murder her own children just so they
would not have to end up in slavery. This book is based off the true story of Margaret
Garner, who escaped slavery and fled to Kentucky. Sethe, the character who
represents Garner, tries to murder her own children so they will not have to live in
slavery. A true problem of morality. It was wrong for Sethe to choose death over
slavery for her young children who cannot make this decision themselves.
After all, the children were too young to even truly understand the meaning of
slavery, so they do not even know where they want to live or die.
Most slaves prefer to live in hopes of a better life, than to be dead. Even though a
slave’s life is horrible, and some would rather be dead, being alive is enough reason
for some to fight trough. They are treated like animals, close to starvation and getting
beat up regularly. But for some being treated like an animal instead of human is
better than being dead. But most didn’t want their lives to end, in fact the suicide
attempts among the slaves was way lower than one might expect.As David Lester
states:
“A slave interviewed in 1847 also asserted that suicide was not as common in
slaves as one might expect. He felt that the slaves continued to hope,
especially for freedom, and this hope kept them alive.” (Lester, 1996)
As stated, it was more likely that a slave would rather keep living in hope than to end
their lives with suicide. This could have been the same with Sethe’s children. It is
more likely that they would want to keep living instead of ending it, but because
Sethe was one of the few who preferred death, she assumed that her children would
want the same and she made that decision for them.
Sethe made her decision for her children especially for her two year old, who is the
only one to die, the rest of her children get injured but survive.
“Children begin to grasp death’s finality around age 4.” (Virginia Hughes, 2013,
National Geographic)
Although it is the question whether Sethe would have listened to her youngest if he
would be able to make the decision, the two-year old is not even able to understand
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