Saturday, March 11, 2017
Beloved and Denver
Denver feels a maternal connection to Beloved, but Beloved mostly only cares about Sethe. Denver would do almost anything for Beloved because Denver has been lonely all this time and because she is possessive to the point of obsession in regards to Beloved. Therefore, when Beloved momentarily disappears into thin air in the cold house, Denver freaks out because it is almost like she has lost her self. Denver has committed herself to caring for Beloved's needs to the point that she has lost her own identity. Instead of Denver possessing Beloved, it is quite the opposite in this part of the novel. This development is evident because instead of doing whatever Denver tells Beloved, she starts to argue with Denver and says that Denver cannot control her. Therefore, Denver has lost her power in the situation has lost her self by association.
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Denver has never managed to acquire any friends even when she was in school. It became so bad that she ended up becoming deaf. This was only solved when the baby ghost came around and soothed Denver with its presence. However, without the baby ghost Denver has nobody which is why she is so lonely. This is also why she can latch on to Beloved so quickly because it's almost like she needs someone to connect with. Yet, Belived doesn't share the same passion Denver feels and even yells at her at one point. Denver is just a lonely person who will latch onto anyone who gives her the slightest attention and that happens to be Beloved.
Denver is very territorial over Beloved. However, she's jealous at times when Sethe pays too much attention to her because she hates feeling discluded or alone. We watch as their bond evolves into a codependent relationship that at times is kinda possessive.
In a way, it is Sethe's own fault that Denver is so attached to Beloved. Sethe has kept Denver all to herself for all these years. She's desperate to have someone. I agree with Rickeia when she has Denver craves the slightest attention. She only likes Paul D because at least it is another person to keep her company.
It seems like Denver has never really had any friends and she doesn't really understand how to act around people her own age. Because she is so lonely, she wants to hold onto Beloved to ensure that she won't ever leave. What she doesn't understand is that people do not want to be controlled. I find it odd tat Denver is so possessive ad controlling after knowing what her mom went through in slavery.
When Beloved arrives, it is the first time Denver feels responsible for something. Sethe and Paul D are parental roles for Denver, and she is under their rules. Beloved is the first person who can be equal to Denver. Instead of a superior position, Beloved can be Denvers first friend. When Beloved disappears, Denver has lost the first thing she is responsible for. Denver tries to take a possessive role for Beloved as it is she is cut off from any other meaningful interaction.
When you consider the role model that Denver has, it would make sense that Denver is somewhat possessive and holds onto people she cares about. Sethe went through slavery and she lost her family. She is fiercely protective of her children and sees her primary role as a mother. It's no wonder that Denver latches onto beloved. She wants to hold onto someone she cares about. And she wants to be motherly, just like her mother.
I think Denver's behavior towards beloved is really a manifestation of her longing for companionship that has been present throughout her life. Although she had the blessing of my being born into slavery, she really didn't get to meet many people because of this. In addition, even when she attended school, she focused more on her studies than anything, and as a result made no friends. Through her interactions with other students we can see how truly socially deficient she is.
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