The novel summary is as follows:
1) Beloved is a 1987 novel by Toni Morrison about a former slave named Sethe living in post-Civil War Ohio.
2) Sethe escapes from a brutal plantation known as "Sweet Home" but is later recaptured. To prevent her children from returning to slavery, she kills her baby daughter.
3) The novel takes place years later, as Sethe lives with her daughter Denver. Their home is haunted by the ghost of Sethe's murdered daughter.
4) A mysterious young woman named Beloved appears, who Denver and Sethe believe may be the reincarnation of the murdered child. Beloved's presence has dramatic
D. H. Lawrence has displayed a bold originality of his genius and his consummate artistic finesse in Sons and Lovers. With his pioneering artistry, he deviated from the traditional patter of fiction and tried to break fresh grounds.
D. H. Lawrence has displayed a bold originality of his genius and his consummate artistic finesse in Sons and Lovers. With his pioneering artistry, he deviated from the traditional patter of fiction and tried to break fresh grounds.
Dramas staged between 1660 and 1700 are called ‘Restoration Dramas’. The dramatic literature of the period was dominated by comedies called ‘Comedy of manners’. Actually ‘Restoration Comedy’ is used as a synonym for “Comedy of Manners”. The plot of the comedy, often concerned with scandal, was traditionally less important than its witty dialogues.
The comedy of manners was first developed in the new comedy of the Ancient Greek Playwright Menander. His style, elaborate plots, and stock characters were imitated by the Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence, whose comedies were widely known and copied during the Renaissance. The best-known comedies of manners, however, may well be those of the French playwright Moliere.
Oscar Wilde and William Congreve are the most celebrated authors of ‘Comedy of Manners’.
To the lighthouse, Summary,themes, symbols and modernismWali ullah
Virginia Woolf biography, works and style. Stream of consciousness and it's features. Introduction, summary, themes, and modernism in To The Lighthouse. Modernism. Modern Novels. Modern writing Techniques, Virginia Woolf life and works.
Dramas staged between 1660 and 1700 are called ‘Restoration Dramas’. The dramatic literature of the period was dominated by comedies called ‘Comedy of manners’. Actually ‘Restoration Comedy’ is used as a synonym for “Comedy of Manners”. The plot of the comedy, often concerned with scandal, was traditionally less important than its witty dialogues.
The comedy of manners was first developed in the new comedy of the Ancient Greek Playwright Menander. His style, elaborate plots, and stock characters were imitated by the Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence, whose comedies were widely known and copied during the Renaissance. The best-known comedies of manners, however, may well be those of the French playwright Moliere.
Oscar Wilde and William Congreve are the most celebrated authors of ‘Comedy of Manners’.
To the lighthouse, Summary,themes, symbols and modernismWali ullah
Virginia Woolf biography, works and style. Stream of consciousness and it's features. Introduction, summary, themes, and modernism in To The Lighthouse. Modernism. Modern Novels. Modern writing Techniques, Virginia Woolf life and works.
$25 for short notice & tons of reading...... Due SundayLITR221.docxmarilynnhoare
$25 for short notice & tons of reading...... Due Sunday
LITR221 – American Literature from the Civil War to Present
Week 2 – Racial and Ethnic Identity
Part I:
Name one surprising fact you discovered about any of this week's authors. Why did it surprise you?
Part II:
Most of the works this week were somewhat specific in terms of location. How might the perspective have changed if the events were placed in a another location? For instance, lynchings took place in the North, as well as the South. What is the significance of placing "Song for a Dark Girl" in the South? How would the impact have changed without that information? That is only one example.
Part III:
Although the focus of the week was race and ethnicity, Morrison, Hurston, and Walker present strong female characters. What characteristics do these stories imply are desirable? Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of any one of these characters. Use examples from the text to support your argument.
Submission Instructions:
As with every "main" forum post, please make comments substantive (in at least 300 words). Use quotations to support your points, but make sure to balance them with your own original ideas. Finally, please engage two of your classmates in their forum posts to help further our conversation. Please be sure to check back to read and respond to anyone who responded to your forum as a common courtesy. Respond to classmates' posts in at least 100-150 words each.
Reading & Resources:
"A Month in the Country" by Jay Wright
"Song for a Dark Girl" by Langston Hughes
"How it Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston
"Sula" by Toni Morrison
or
"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
"What You Pawn I Will Redeem" by Sherman Alexie
"The Third and Final Continent" by Jhumpa Lahiri
"The Conversion of the Jews" by Philip Roth
"The Day the Cisco Kid Shot John Wayne" by Nash Candelaria
or
"The Last of the Menu Girls" by Denise Chavez
Student Response #1 – Martin
Part I:
One interesting fact I discovered this week is that Native American Author, Sherman Alexie suffers from bi-polar disorder. This has played into his work. Through the depression times he speaks of struggling to leave his bed however, when in the manic state he beams of writing entire novels in two weeks. From this he argues that most of the world’s great art comes from manic periods of an artists life. I have never put much thought to associating great writers and their mental limitations…or might it be their mental strengths. For example, greats like Sylvia Plath who plummeted into depression while still in college. Similarly there was Ernest Hemmingway (one of my personal favorites as he lived in my home state of Idaho) who too suffered from depression and bipolar disorder. (McCann)
Finally, I found it interesting that Alexie spoke of harnessing this disorder and utilizing its powers to produce his works.
Part II:
In the poem, A Month in the Country, author Jay Wright describes escaping the wiles of.
We all have good and bad thoughts from time to time and situation to situation. We are bombarded daily with spiraling thoughts(both negative and positive) creating all-consuming feel , making us difficult to manage with associated suffering. Good thoughts are like our Mob Signal (Positive thought) amidst noise(negative thought) in the atmosphere. Negative thoughts like noise outweigh positive thoughts. These thoughts often create unwanted confusion, trouble, stress and frustration in our mind as well as chaos in our physical world. Negative thoughts are also known as “distorted thinking”.
How to Create Map Views in the Odoo 17 ERPCeline George
The map views are useful for providing a geographical representation of data. They allow users to visualize and analyze the data in a more intuitive manner.
Ethnobotany and Ethnopharmacology:
Ethnobotany in herbal drug evaluation,
Impact of Ethnobotany in traditional medicine,
New development in herbals,
Bio-prospecting tools for drug discovery,
Role of Ethnopharmacology in drug evaluation,
Reverse Pharmacology.
This is a presentation by Dada Robert in a Your Skill Boost masterclass organised by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan (EFSS) on Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, the 26th of May 2024.
He discussed the concept of quality improvement, emphasizing its applicability to various aspects of life, including personal, project, and program improvements. He defined quality as doing the right thing at the right time in the right way to achieve the best possible results and discussed the concept of the "gap" between what we know and what we do, and how this gap represents the areas we need to improve. He explained the scientific approach to quality improvement, which involves systematic performance analysis, testing and learning, and implementing change ideas. He also highlighted the importance of client focus and a team approach to quality improvement.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Unit 8 - Information and Communication Technology (Paper I).pdfThiyagu K
This slides describes the basic concepts of ICT, basics of Email, Emerging Technology and Digital Initiatives in Education. This presentations aligns with the UGC Paper I syllabus.
Synthetic Fiber Construction in lab .pptxPavel ( NSTU)
Synthetic fiber production is a fascinating and complex field that blends chemistry, engineering, and environmental science. By understanding these aspects, students can gain a comprehensive view of synthetic fiber production, its impact on society and the environment, and the potential for future innovations. Synthetic fibers play a crucial role in modern society, impacting various aspects of daily life, industry, and the environment. ynthetic fibers are integral to modern life, offering a range of benefits from cost-effectiveness and versatility to innovative applications and performance characteristics. While they pose environmental challenges, ongoing research and development aim to create more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. Understanding the importance of synthetic fibers helps in appreciating their role in the economy, industry, and daily life, while also emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and innovation.
The Art Pastor's Guide to Sabbath | Steve ThomasonSteve Thomason
What is the purpose of the Sabbath Law in the Torah. It is interesting to compare how the context of the law shifts from Exodus to Deuteronomy. Who gets to rest, and why?
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
2. “BELOVED” By Toni Morrison
Beloved, novel by Toni
Morrison, published in 1987
and winner of the
1988 Pulitzer Prize for
fiction.
3. About the novel “BELOVED”
Beloved is Toni Morrison's fifth
novel. Published in 1987 as
Morrison was enjoying increasing
popularity and success, Its
reception by critics was
overwhelming, and the book is
widely considered Morrison's
greatest novel to date.
4. About the novel
Mythic in scope, Beloved is an attempt to
grapple with the legacy of slavery. Morrison
based her novel on a real-life incident, in
which an escaped slave woman who faced
recapture killed her children rather than
allow them to be taken back into slavery.
5. About the novel
In the novel, the protagonist's near-
recapture follows the Fugitive Slave Act of
1850, part of the Compromise of 1850,
which stated that escaped slaves, as
property, could be tracked down across
state lines and retrieved by their old
masters
6. About the novel
In Beloved, Morrison explores themes of
love, family, and self-possession in a world
where slavery has only recently become a
thing of the past. Beloved is the ghost of
Sethe's murdered child, returned for unclear
reasons, embodied as a full-grown woman at
the age that the baby would have been had it
lived
7. About the novel
Beloved also presents a powerful account
of the foundation of black America. The
memories of the characters, even the
strange, supernatural race-memory of
Beloved, extend back no farther than the
beginnings of American slavery.
8. Social Background of the Novel
The institution of slavery destroyed much of
the heritage of the Africans brought to the
Americas; the novel partially recounts the
creation of a new people and culture, a people
displaced and forced to forge a new identity in
the face of brutality and dehumanization.
10. About the Author “Toni Morrison”
Toni Morrison was an
American novelist, essayist,
editor, and professor. Her
contributions to literature
were recognized worldwide
when she received the 1993
Nobel Prize in Literature.
11. “Toni Morrison”
Born Chloe Ardelia Wofford in Lorain, Ohio,
Morrison attended Howard University and
Cornell University in the 1950s before becoming
the first black woman fiction editor at the
publishing giant Random House. In 1970 she
published her first novel, The Bluest eye,
12. Toni Morrison’s Early Life
Morrison's writing was greatly influenced by her family. Her
grandparents had relocated to Ohio during the national movement of
black Americans out of the South known as the Great Migration. After
leaving their farm in Alabama, Morrison’s mother’s parents moved to
Kentucky, and then to Ohio.
They placed a high value on the education of their children and
themselves. Morrison was a gifted student, learning to read at an
early age and doing well at her studies at an integrated school.
Morrison attended Hawthorne Elementary School, where she was the
only African American in her first-grade classroom.
13. Toni Morrison’s Writings
One of the most critically acclaimed American
writers, Morrison is considered a major architect of
a literary language for African Americans. Her
work often features black vernacular, black
settings, and is focused on blackness—unusual for
her time. Her writing is considered to have formed
a distinctly black literary sensibility, while drawing
a reading audience that cut across racial
boundaries.
14. Toni Morrison’s Writings
Morrison’s first book, The Bluest Eye (1970), is
a novel of initiation concerning a victimized
adolescent Black girl who is obsessed by white
standards of beauty and longs to have blue eyes. In
1973 a second novel, Sula, was published; it
examines (among other issues) the dynamics of
friendship and the expectations for conformity
within the community.
15. Toni Morrison’s Writings
Song of Solomon (1977) is told by a male
narrator in search of his identity; its
publication brought Morrison to national
attention. Tar Baby (1981), set on a
Caribbean island, explores conflicts of race,
class, and sex
16. Toni Morrison’s Writings
The critically acclaimed Beloved (1987), which won
a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is based on the true story
of a runaway slave who, at the point of recapture,
kills her infant daughter in order to spare her a life
of slavery. A film adaptation of the novel was
released in 1998 and starred Oprah Winfrey. In
addition, Morrison wrote the libretto for Margaret
Garner (2005), an opera about the same story that
inspired Beloved.
17. Toni Morrison’s Writings
In 1992 Morrison released Jazz, a story of violence
and passion set in New York City’s Harlem during
the 1920s. Subsequent novels were Paradise (1998),
a richly detailed portrait of a Black utopian
community in Oklahoma, and Love (2003), an
intricate family story that reveals the myriad facets
of love and its ostensible opposite.
18. Toni Morrison’s Writings
A Mercy (2008) deals with slavery in 17th-century
America. In the redemptive Home (2012), a
traumatized Korean War veteran encounters racism
after returning home and later overcomes apathy to
rescue his sister. In God Help the Child (2015),
Morrison chronicled the ramifications of child
abuse and neglect through the tale of Bride, a Black
girl with dark skin who is born to light-skinned
parents.
20. “Sethe”
Born on a distant plantation that she barely remembers,
Sethe is the child of an African-born slave woman whose
name she never knew. As a young teenager she was brought
to Sweet Home, where she took a man named Halle Suggs
for her husband. She had four children, pregnant with the
fourth when she fled Sweet Home on foot and alone. When
schoolteacher, the brutal master at Sweet Home, tracked
her down, Sethe attempted to kill her children rather than
see them returned to slavery
21. “Beloved”
Beloved is the ghost of Sethe's third child, murdered
to protect her from schoolteacher. Her real name is
never known. She is the embodiment not only of the
baby's ghost but also the legacy of slavery. She
represents the power of the past to intrude into the
present.
22. “Paul D”
Paul D was one of the Sweet Home men. He has also
suffered horribly, and has reacted by shutting away
any deep feelings. He shows up at 124 and tries to
make a life with Sethe. He is powerless against
Beloved, who seduces him as a way of controlling
him and dividing him from her mother. After nearly
twenty years of freedom, he is still unsure of the
source of his manhood and his humanity.
23. “Denver”
Sethe's daughter. She is the grown up daughter of Sethe
who was born during Sethe's flight to the North. Denver is
eighteen years old and terribly lonely. She has not left the
yard of 124 by herself for twelve years. She has a possessive
need for Beloved, and initially will do anything to please
her. But she is also a very dynamic character; by the end of
the novel, she is transformed into a strong and independent
young woman with a new understanding of her mother.
24. “Baby Suggs”
Halle Suggs mother and Sethe's mother-in-law. Halle
bought her freedom, which she accepted because she saw
how much it meant to him. She did not expect how much it
would mean to her, feeling while still a slave that she was
too old to enjoy freedom anyway. But freedom transformed
Baby Suggs, giving her a new understanding of what it
meant to be alive and transforming her into a kind of holy
woman for Cincinatti's black community. Sethe's tragedy,
however, broke Baby Suggs' spirit, and she spent her last
days bed-ridden and somber.
25. “Hale Suggs”
Halle Suggs was Sethe's husband and the father of
all of her children. Halle vanished at the time when
he was supposed to flee to the North with Sethe;
later, it is discovered that he witnessed Sethe's
brutalization at the hands of schoolteacher and his
nephews. When Paul D last saw Halle, he had gone
insane.
26. “Schoolteacher”
Mr. Garner's brother-in-law. Schoolteacher was a cruel and
sadistic master, interested in ways to break the wills of his
slaves. He conducted a pseudo-scientific study of the slaves,
treating them in his study the way a biologist treats lab
animals. His nephews held Sethe down and stole her milk
while schoolteacher took notes. When it was discovered that
Sethe told Mrs. Garner what they had done, schoolteacher
had one of his nephews whip Sethe, giving her the
distinctive scars on her back.
27. “Amy Denver”
A former indentured servant, Amy helped Sethe to
escape to the North, saving Sethe's life and helping
to deliver her baby. Amy was trying to get to Boston
so she could buy carmine colored velvet. Sethe's
daughter Denver is named after her.
28. “Howard & Buglar”
Sethe's sons and her two older children, she tried
and failed to kill them when schoolteacher came.
The two boys fled years ago after particularly
frightening encounters with the ghost. Sethe has
recurring dreams of her boys walking away from
her, unable to hear her as she calls for them to come
back.
29. “Mr. Garner”
The old master of Sweet Home, Mr. Garner was
generous by the standards of slave owners, and
insisted that his slaves were the only male slaves in
Kentucky who were real men. His "enlightened"
slavery, however, proves to be a sham after his death
and was full of contradictions and hypocrisy even in
his life.
30. “Mrs. Garner”
Mr. Garner's sickly wife. She brought schoolteacher
to Sweet Home after Mr. Garner's death. She spent
the last months of her life bed-ridden and very ill.
31. “Sixo”
One of the slaves at Sweet Home, Sixo was one of the
planners behind their flight to the North. He
regularly visited a woman who lived thirty miles
away, dubbed the Thirty-Mile woman. He was close
to Paul D during the time of Sweet Home, but was
killed during their escape attempt.
32. “Paul A, Paul F”
The brothers of Paul D. All three brothers were
at Sweet Home for most of their lives, until
Paul F was sold and Paul A died during the
escape.
33. “Ella”
A woman who was an agent on the Underground
Railroad. She took Sethe on the final leg of her flight
to the North. When Ella was a girl, she was shared by
a white man and his son. After Sethe killed her child,
Ella becomes one of her harshest critics. Later, she
softens her opinion, and organizes the woman to go
and exorcise Beloved from 124.
34. “Stamp Paid”
Born with the name of Joshua, Stamp Paid changed his
name after his wife was taken to the bed of their master's
owner. Stamp felt he had paid all of life's debts in that year.
Stamp worked as an agent for the Underground Railroad for
many years. When schoolteacher came for Sethe, it was
Stamp who saved Denver's life. He is a friend to the family
and also to Paul D.
35. “Lady Jones”
Lady Jones teaches the black children of Cincinatti
how to read and write. She is mixed-race, with
yellow hair that she despises. She was once Denver's
teacher. When Denver flees 124 looking for help, she
turns to Lady Jones.
36. “Nan”
Nan was the one-armed woman who nursed children
back at the plantation where Sethe was born. Sethe
has more memories of Nan than of her own mother.
37. “Janey”
Servant to the Bodwins. She spreads the story of
Beloved's return through the black community. She
was working for the Bodwins when Baby Suggs first
arrived, and she is still working for them when
Denver is looking for work decades later.
38. “Edward Bodwin & Miss Bodwen”
Brother and sister, they are former abolitionists and
try to be helpful to the black community. They own
124, which they allowed Baby Suggs and her family
to use. Edward Bodwin witnesses the exorcism of
Beloved.
40. “Summary”
The novel is based on the true story of a Black slave woman,
Margaret Garner, who in 1856 escaped from a Kentucky
plantation with her husband, Robert, and their children.
They sought refuge in Ohio, but their owner and law officers
soon caught up with the family. Before their recapture,
Margaret killed her young daughter to prevent her return to
slavery. In the novel, Sethe is also a passionately devoted
mother, who flees with her children from an abusive owner
known as “schoolteacher.” They are caught, and, in an act of
supreme love and sacrifice, she too tries to kill her children
to keep them from slavery
41. “Summary”
These events are revealed in flashbacks, as the novel
opens in 1873, with Sethe and her teenage daughter,
Denver, living in Ohio, where their house at 124
Bluestone Road is haunted by the angry ghost of the
child Sethe killed. The hauntings are alleviated by the
arrival of Paul D, a man so ravaged by his slave past
that he keeps his feelings in the “tobacco bin” of his
heart.
42. “Summary”
He worked on the same plantation as Sethe, and the two
begin a relationship. A brief period of relative calm ends with
the appearance of a young woman who says that her name is
Beloved. She knows things that suggest she is the
reincarnation of Sethe’s lost daughter. Sethe is obsessed
with assuaging her guilt and tries to placate the increasingly
demanding and manipulative Beloved. At one point, Beloved
seduces Paul D. After learning that Sethe killed her daughter,
he leaves.
43. “Summary”
The situation at 124 Bluestone worsens, as Sethe loses her
job and becomes completely fixated on Beloved, who is
soon revealed to be pregnant. While the lonely and largely
housebound Denver initially befriends Beloved, she begins
to grow concerned. She finally dares to venture outside in
order to ask the community for help, and she is given food
and a job.
44. “Summary”
As the local women attempt to stage an exorcism, Denver’s
employer arrives to take her to work, and Sethe mistakes
him for “schoolteacher” and tries to attack him with an ice
pick. The other women restrain her, and during the
commotion Beloved disappears. Paul D later returns to the
grieving Sethe, promising to care for her, and Denver
continues to thrive in the outside world.
46. “Dehumanization through Slavery”
Dehumanization of the African American community in the United
States before and shortly after the Civil War is one of the major themes
of the novel, Beloved. Almost all the major characters have gone
through dehumanization from the white community. However, the
instinct to live in honor runs deep in them. Paul D flees to live an
independent life and begins to feel human. Sethe, the protagonist of
the novel, too, runs away and even kills her own daughter to save her
from slavery. Sethe and Halle have gone through severe beatings at
different plantations. For example, the Schoolteacher’s nephews give a
heavy thrashing to Sethe for complaining against them. The use of
different animals to describe this beating show the dehumanization
process.
47. “Naming Process”
Naming process or process of naming individuals for certain
characteristic is another major theme of the novel, Beloved.
The whites used this process to dominate and exploit the
African-American community and make them work under
their domination. The purpose was to identify their slaves
with their personalities. That is why one of the children born
to Baby Suggs is named Paul. As Paul D was an intelligent
one and was aware of his true identity in his slavery. He feels
that they are exchanged and sold like properties
48. “Slavery”
Slavery is another overarching theme of the novel, Beloved. Most of the
characters had to bear the burden of being from the African American
community, a traditional community of slaves with no human rights.
The novel presents the cruelty and barbarism meted out to the slaves.
They were treated even worse than animals. Schoolteacher, the owner
at Sweet Home, abuses them and doesn’t see the community as human
beings but as currency and animals. Paul D is treated like an animal
when he was chained with an iron bit. Schoolteacher physically abuses
Sethe after she complains of his nephews of stealing her breastmilk.
49. “Destruction of Identity”
The novel explores how slavery was institutionalized, which
broke down the personalities and identities of the
individuals. The naming of individuals as Paul D, Baby Suggs
and even Denver point to the fact that individuals lost their
identities due to the slavery and they were also treated like
animals. Because of Schoolteacher’s cruelty, Sethe suffers
and loses her identity. Also, Baby Suggs and Paul D suffer at
his hands. Halle and Aunt Phyllis lose the sense of their
being due to the suffering. Stamp Paid thinks slavery of
having changed them entirely.
50. “Home”
Home is another interesting theme because slavery snatched
away the concept of home from the African Americans until
they were freed. Though they married and produced
children, they did not have a concept of home. When Sethe
reaches 124, she settles down and tries to reconcile with Paul
D to make a home. However, Paul D has become habitual of
living even in difficult situations. Therefore he wanders away
and only returns when he finds the situation convenient.
51. “Moral Ambiguity”
It is truly immoral to mistreat and abuse the black
people because they are slaves. It is also true that it
is not morally right to kill a child. Sethe kills her
daughter, Beloved, on the fear that she would be
enslaved. However, the novel does not resolve
this moral ambiguity anywhere in its storyline to
explain if Sethe’s act was punishable or justifiable.
52. “Concept of Freedom”
The concept of freedom and enjoyment of its fruits is
also another theme of the novel. Sethe wins freedom
by the end of the novel. Halle tries to win freedom for
his mother. Paul D, too, comes to Sethe at 124 after
becoming free. All of them are enjoying freedom
from slavery which makes up another minor theme
of the novel.
54. “Analysis”
Beloved offers a harrowing look at slavery and its lasting
impact. The intensely shocking and moving narrative was
written in a variety of voices and lengthy fragmentary
monologues, which, like the character of Beloved herself,
are sometimes ambiguous. Morrison’s beautiful language
and intense imagery, however, were rightly celebrated in
this classic work. A film adaptation starring Oprah
Winfrey was released in 1998.