An in-depth summarising analysis of Toni Morrison's Beloved (Chapter 1 to 12) encompassing context, key quotations from the text, and deep analytical points including structure, techniques, symbolism, and themes.
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
Critical analysis essay over Beloved by Toni Morrison
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Voorbeeld van de inhoud
Beloved
1. Opens in 1873, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where, or the past 18 years, Sethe and Denver have been
living in a house that is haunted by Beloved. Until 8 years ago, Baby Suggs also lived with
them in 124 Bluestone Road, she died after sinking into deep depression and being exhausted
by a life of slavery.
CONTEXT: Morrison tells us that this is not her story, just her affiliation with her history,
showing collectivism and coming together of slaves through shared hardships. She addresses
the racist attitudes through the presentation of the love a mother has for a child who isn’t
loved by society. The Roman 9:25 is a dedication to all slaves and implies the importance of
memory.
QUOTES: ‘No more powerful than the way I loved her’ ‘No moving, no leaving. It’s alright
the way it is’ ‘Full of baby’s venom’ ‘into a pool of red undulating light… blocked him’
‘brown with the face of an alert doll’ ‘she had terror in her eyes a vague smile in her lips’ ‘her
past was like her present, intolerable’
ANALYSIS: Morrison recalls the number of slaves to emphasise the size of trauma,
unbelievable for the reader, and inexact to show that we will never know the true number.
Sethe represents the guilt and strength of a mother’s love which is emphasised by the
supernatural apparition of the Baby Ghost. Baby Suggs is a representation of the trauma that
slaves experiences, showing the lasting impact of slavery.
2. Brief recapping of this chapter as no significant context, quotes or analysis required. Sethe and
Paul D has sex during this sequence and are reminded of the past.
3. Denver has a vision of her mother being embraced by a white dress. There’s flashbacks to
Denver’s birth and meeting the white girl ‘Amy Denver’. Sethe reveals that schoolteacher
from Sweet Home found her after she escaped and she to jail.
CONTEXT: There may be connotations to Morrison’s own father experiences of seeing hung
boys in a tree.
QUOTES: ‘outside a driver whipped his horse into gallop… necessary when passing 124’ ‘ a
sign of spite from the baby ghost’ ‘the boys handing from the most beautiful sycamores in the
world’ ‘it made her wonder is hell was a pretty place too’
ANALYSIS: There is a bad atmosphere in the house, with a constant, intruding, reoccurrence
of spite, which implies they are not even safe in their own home. Even those from outside
avoid their house, a symbol of how the family are outsiders in society due to their
supernatural reputation. Their reality is hellish compared to Sweet Home which was a false
‘pretty’, a facade for the reality of it. The theme of rememory is introduced, which links to
Beloved who is the past haunting their future.
4. Denver demands to know whether Paul D intends to stay. Sethe insists that Paul D remain and
scolds Denver for discourtesy, even though the girl is old enough to be considered an adult. To
ease the tension, Paul D invites Sethe and Denver to go to a carnival.
CONTEXT: There is imager of a corrupted nature which has occurred post-Beloved’s arrival.
Links to the new supernatural 19th century America where new technology spurred a new
interest in the mysteries of the world, in particular, spirit photographs. American amateur
photographer William Mutler is thought to be the first person to capture a ‘spirit’ in a
photograph in the 1860s. After the Civil War, thousands of families had lost family member
and there was an increased interest in contacting those who had been lost.
, QUOTES: ‘the crickets were screaming’ ‘the stench of roses’ ‘doomed roses’ ‘old roses were
dying’ ‘the sky, stripped of blue, was white hot’
ANALYSIS: Sethe is presented as naïve, it was her ‘first social outing in 18 years’ as she
dresses up in a fancy attire, compared to Paul D and Denver as ‘neither felt the occasion
required special clothing’. Immediately Sethe is already separate from her family and friends
since Beloved’s arrival. The tone of the chapter is hopeful, as they walk to the carnival, Sethe
sees an omen in their shadow holding hands. Morrison provides a glimpse of life for the
characters without the manifestation of Beloved who acts as a reminder of slavery.
5. As Paul D, Sethe and Denver return from the carnival, they encounter a young woman
(Beloved), wet and wheezing, who has walked up from the stream. She gives hazy responses
to Paul D’s question. Concerned for her fragile state of health, they take her in, but Denver is
reluctant. Surprisingly, Denver takes care of her.
CONTEXT: Beloved embodies trauma, particularly for Sethe, whose identity has been lost
due to slavery. She leeches off Sethe because of her weakness, representing the aftermath of
slavery.
QUOTES: ‘Denver tended her’ ‘Sleepy beauty’ ‘black eyes opened with a slice’ ‘dreamy
eyed’ ‘raspy voice’
ANALYSIS: Morrison salts this chapter with details suggesting that the visitor is the
embodiment of Sethe’s murdered daughter Beloved. Superstition is very relevant in this scene
as Beloved emerges from the water, like a child from a water sac. Her wobbly head in
reminiscent of a new-born unable to support weight of its neck. There is a hint of magical
realism as Sethe fails to make the connection between this strangers name with her own
Beloved. The event in this chapter establishes the foundation for the four way emotional
conflict that will arise.
6. In the fourth week of her residency at 124 Bluestone Road, Beloved clings to Sethe, following
her about the kitchen and awaiting her return from work at the restaurant. Like a hungry child,
Beloved clamours for Sethe's stories. Sethe describes how she pilfered fabrics to fashion a
wedding dress, which she topped off with a wool shawl. Following the Saturday honeymoon
in the cornfield, Mrs. Garner gave Sethe the earrings and wished the couple happiness.
CONTEXT: This circular narrative (connections between Sethe and her mother who both
killed their children) shows how the end of slavery wasn’t the end of segregation. Also
alludes to Fredrick Douglas.
QUOTES: ‘Sethe was licked, tasted, eaten by Beloved’s eyes’ ‘rainwater held onto pure
needles for dear life’ ‘words Sethe understood then but could neither recall nor repeat now’
‘Denver hated the stories that did not concern her’
ANALYSIS: Beloved is presented as an animal feeding off Sethe which shows how Beloved
has grown attached to Sethe instantly. Pathetic fallacy showing how Beloved latches onto
Sethe ‘for dear life; linking to slavery which ripped families apart. Beloved feeds off Sethe’s
painful past like a parasitic entity, and it makes her stronger. This circular narrative
(connections between Sethe and her mother who both killed their children) shows how the
end of slavery wasn’t the end of segregation.
7. Beloved disturbs Paul D, and he questions her about her past, until Sethe interrupts him. After,
Sethe chastises Paul D for pressing Beloved so cruelly and mid-argument, Halle’s name comes
up. Paul D tells Sethe that Halle was shattered by the experience of rape. Sethe and Paul D
discuss the shame of wearing the bit, and Paul D explains the worst punishment was seeing the
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