“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

“Beloved” is among the widely recognized novels written by Toni Morrison. The novel tells of a true story of Margret Garner, a black slave woman who escaped slavery in Kentucky together wither her family. They later settled in Ohio where the story begins. “Beloved” is an interesting story that presents well-fitted characters that make the story a big work of Morrison. However, three of the characters in the “Beloved” are of great interest to me. The three include; Sethe, Denver, and Paul D. From the story, all the three play a crucial role each to make the story live and interesting to read. Sethe is a protagonist in the novel who used to work as a slave but now a free black woman. Denver is Sethe’s daughter who is eighteen years old and the only child still living with her mother. Paul D is a slave at Sweet Home, the plantation where Seth and others used to work as slaves. The three are the persons of interest because of the roles they play as the only present people in the novel.

Sethe, Delver, and Paul D as the only present characters in the novel have a great insight that could depict why they are persons of interest. Sethe, who used to be the slave at Sweet Home, is at the center of the story. She managed to free herself from slavery and is now living in Ohio, a housed named 124 with her only remaining daughter Delver. She killed one of her daughters in an attempt to protect her from slavery though, the dead daughter keeps haunting them in the house. So her efforts were all to protect her children from going through slavery as she did. This is evident in the novel when she says, “My daughter. The one I sent ahead with the boys.” “She didn’t live?” So, she is a motherly woman who suffers a lot of traumatic past. Paul D is another character of great interest from this novel of “Beloved”. Paul D works as a slave at Sweet Home, and the name he uses is the common name used to call the male slaves. From the novel, he appears to undergo tormenting memories as a slave where he was forced to live in a chain gang. At sometimes Paul D reunites with Sethe to have a romantic relationship but later leaves her before rejoining again. Lastly, Delver is a character of interest that is present in the novel as the daughter of Sethe. She stays in the house throughout and does not interact with anyone in the community as they fear the haunting in their house. She appears a cool woman but later seeks help and job from the community as she fights for her independence.

I liked the three characters, Sethe, Delver, and Paul D from the novel for multiple reasons specifically related to their roles. First, is the critical role that Sethe plays that aims at indicating the triumph from slavery to a free world. I think she is the best character to fit in this role based on her braveness and determination to have the freedom on her away. I like her particular for her inspiration especially for the perceived oppressed. She expresses the courage to the oppressed that they need to do anything to have their freedom. Her brevity is what we require in the modern world to help fight away slavery and oppression. I also like Paul D in the novel for his actions as a man who tries to keep the situation cool even when things are not working out. Sethe tells Paul D, “You can’t leave right away, Paul D. You got to stay awhile.” All he tries to do in the novel bring some harmony in the home of Sethe at the same time connects the past and present through his memories. Delver on her side plays cool and allows all unusual things to go on in their house as she waits for the right time. “I don’t know about lonely,” said Denver’s mother.” I like her patience and the determination that at some point, she would get out of all the mess of staying in a haunted house.

The three characters, Sethe, Delver, and Paul D, had significant roles that can draw a lot of lesson for a reader. The first lesson one can learn from the three is their great courage depicted even in times of hardship such as slavery. For instance, Sethe fights her way out of slavery in Kentucky where she confronts her oppressor with little fear. Despite the strange things happening in their house due to the haunting of her late sister, Delver continues to stay strong in the house. The three as well teach us that determination makes us overcome even the hardest situations we face in the present. We see the three characters triumph finally after several attempts to have their freedom. However, I still want to know how the three characters managed to struggle for their freedom and independence on their own even without the input of the society. The novel seems to focus on how these characters fight their oppression to have freedom but little mentions about the efforts by the society as a whole to combat slavery.

Despite Sethe, Delver, and Paul D being the only three present in the novel, they significantly impact the way the author of the story advances the idea of slavery and fighting for freedom. Anyone going through the book will be in a position to understand slavery in America, its level, and the efforts to combat it. For instance, when Sethe manages to run away from Kentucky to Ohio into freedom, the novel depicts that few slaves are finding their way out of slavery. However, before they get freedom, they undergo a lot of suffering. Paul D, on the other hand, shows that even with the attempts to do away with slavery, it is still happening. We also see Delver tries to get her independence. Thus, the three profoundly impacts the way Morrison passes the message on freedom and independence.

There are quite some changes that Morrison could do if to re-write the novel. First, it would be good if the author introduces in the perspective of the community or the society at large. Irrespective of the way the author may do it, it is just essential the readers understand the position of the community on the slavery thing. Secondly, I think the author can bring in more characters who are present in the story rather than having multiple characters, yet most of them seem absent in the story. This is because more present characters will help give the actual state of affairs of slavery in America. On the characters, I think I prefer the author to use the same characters especially the three characters. These three should be retained because of how they diligently do their things a calculated manner. They play smart and have them win the game ultimately.  Though, it could better to add more present characters.

 

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