Beloved and the Murder of Dee Dee Blanchard

Our conversation we had this past week about the dangers of overwhelming motherly love made me think of the this show I've been watching called "The Act," which is based on the true story of Gyspy Rose Blanchard, and the murder of her mother, Dee Dee (Also, sorry if I spoil this for some of y'all, but I knew about the whole case before this so it's not much of a spoiler lol). Many professionals believed Dee Dee Blanchard had some type of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, which Wikipedia says is "a condition derived from Munchausen syndrome, a psychiatric factitious disorder wherein those affected feign disease, illness, or psychological trauma to draw attention, sympathy, or reassurance to themselves. However, unlike Munchausen syndrome, in MSbP, the deception involves not themselves, but rather someone under the person's care."

Basically, Dee Dee raised her daughter Gypsy Rose into thinking that she had several severe health problems such as muscular dystrophy and leukemia, and made her live her life in a wheel chair although she was capable of walking. For 24 years, Gypsy was fed through a tube, visited countless doctors, and had taken so many different antibiotics and heavy medicines obviously not meant for healthy kids. She was also treated as a child, as her mother would tell everyone that her brain development was slower than others. This was proven wrong, however, when Gypsy eventually had it with her mother's constant physical and mental abuse when she stabbed her to death on June 14th, 2015. 

The only reason I could think of someone doing this to another human being is the whole "savior" complex some people attain. It was later discovered that Dee Dee isolated herself from her family as well as Gypsy's father, and Hurricane Katrina destroyed most if not all of her belongings. Gypsy it seemed was the only thing she had, and she wanted her to stay loyal and vulnerable towards her mother as long as she could. 

The Popular Topic of Names - Independent Study

Unlike last year's grade requirement of an oral presentation, we don't have the luxury this year of knowing what every single person's independent study book is about! As multiple people have mentioned already, names are quite important in Beloved along with other works we have read too. With multiple blog posts of this topic in the past few weeks, I would like to share a bit of my independent study book with everyone also revolving around this topic. My book is The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston and it is an autobiography but reads like a collection of short stories. One of the short stories is "the Unnamed Woman" who is actually Kingston's paternal aunt that failed to uphold, from Chinese society's viewpoint, her reputation. Spoiler: Kingston's aunt becomes pregnant but not by someone who is her husband and she suffers so much in society from this that she throws herself into a well along with the baby. This story and her existence itself is completely erased from everyone's memory and no one is allowed to speak of it. It was only once as a child that Kingston was even told this story by her mother, knowing she would get in trouble if those words were ever uttered again. Kingston shows great strength in resurrecting this story and giving recognition to her aunt. So I guess this goes to show: names do have significance in one's life but having no name is equally as significant.

Shoes, Beloved, and Independent Reading

For my independent reading, I chose Oliver Twist. In my paper, I wrote about the author's points on social status, and I included a paragraph specifically about the use of clothing. Charles Dickens uses it as a physical symbol of social status to show that social status is only surface-deep and contrived. It is also tied to identity and society's views and expectations of people of different classes. As Oliver is moved around the social ladder, his clothing changes, his treatment changes, but he is still the same person. This has a connection to Beloved in that in Beloved shoes hold significance. We started talking about shoes in class, but didn't fully talk about them yet. I think the fact that feet are what you use to run away is very important. Maybe it is important that Baby Suggs has to fix shoes for white people; she has to help make them comfortable when it is the African Americans who are forced to labor all day on their sore feet. Amy massages Sethe's feet when she meets her, and this is important because it reverses society's expected roles for them. Also, Baby Suggs preached about self love, and I think fixing friends' shoes symbolizes empowering them. There's also that saying about "walking in someone else's shoes". Perhaps that relates; shoes, and one's journey, are tied to identity and experience. Baby Suggs fixes shoes and tries to make them better than before; maybe this relates to improving life for others. I'm curious to hear about y 'all's independent reading books and how they might relate to other things we have read!

Hereditary and Beloved

(Contains some spoilers for the movie Hereditary) In the movie Hereditary, a family's fate is seemingly being controlled by a Paemon, a king of hell. Only at night, in her dreams, is the mother free from his grasp. Unable to protect them by day, she tries, multiple times, to kill them in her sleep. This was a form of protecting them, and it was the only thing in her power that she could do. (She didn't succeed in this.) I was reminded of this last class when we were talking about Sethe's reaction to recognizing the hat and springing into action to kill her children. She too wanted to protect her children. Both characters go to the same solution to protect their children, and both feel it's the only thing they can really do. As the demon controls the lives of the family in hereditary, and tears it apart, Sethe and her family are torn apart and controlled by the slave owners. There is a lack of free will in both situations; even physically, the slave owners try to control and oppress Sethe and her family, and Beloved controls Paul D's actions at one point, while the demon in hereditary controls the family's physical actions and decisions.

The Tragedy of Margaret Garner

As we briefly touched on in class, Toni Morrison's Beloved brought to light a real-life tragedy that occurred in 1856: Margaret Garner's brutal murder of her two-year-old baby girl. I have to admit: I was shocked when I learned that Beloved was based on actual events. How could such a thing transpire?
Margaret Garner worked as a house slave in Kentucky for most of her life. In 1949, she married Robert Garner. They had four kids, but it's unclear if they were all by Robert. Three were suspected to be fathered by Archibald K. Gaines (the slave-owner). "The timing suggests they were each conceived after [Archibald's] wife had become pregnant and was sexually unavailable to him" (Source 2). Gross.
Due to the uptick in Underground Railroad activity, the newlyweds decided to attempt an escape.
In January of 1856, the six Garners took the leap. The first stage of the plan seemed like a victory, as they successfully reached Joseph Kite's Cincinnati house.
However, the Garners' master and Federal marshals "stormed Kite's home with warrants for the Garners" (Source 1). Just as Sethe made the decision to "save" her children from slavery, Margaret did the same. Three of Margaret's children ended up wounded but still alive, but one of them was not so lucky. "When the marshals found Margaret in a back room, she had slit her two-year-old daughter's throat with a butcher knife, killing her."
I would've been more depressed if the exact same thing hadn't happened in Beloved. Still, the whole story is quite disturbing.
I bet y'all are wondering how this real-life incident turned out. Well, the Garners were arrested and tried (for escaping). Overall, it was a long and complicated case (particularly in comparison to other fugitive slave cases). Issues included whether the Garners should be tried as persons or property. Margaret's lawyer wanted her to be charged with murder so that the trial would take place in a free state, as the lawyer thought the governor would pardon Margaret. Their lawyer argued for their freedom, but the Garners were ultimately returned to their former master. Apparently, the new Fugitive Slave Law (federal) took precedent over a (state) murder charge.
In another attempt to free the Garners, the lawyer finally talked officials into arresting Margaret on a murder charge. You might be thinking, what??? But, this strategy was an another attempt to free the Garners.  Unfortunately, the Garners' master realized the plan and sent the Garners to his brother in Arkansas (where federal marshals couldn't arrest Margaret); Margaret remained a slave until her death.

Sources:
1. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/margaret-garner-incident-1856/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Garner

Escaping the Horrors of Slavery

During a Beloved class discussion the other day, I started to wonder...how often did slaves escape slavery? I've heard many accounts of slaves running away and being caught, of course, but I never really pondered the number of them who were successful in escaping.

I decided to do some research, specifically in relation to the Underground Railroad (U.R.). I found a really interesting website that discusses myths and facts about the U.R., and I'll include some of the best facts below.

• So what exactly was the Underground Railroad?
• In case you didn't know, the U.R. was secret organization that helped slaves escape slavery. Both African Americans and whites were involved.
• Were the majority of the members of the U.R. white abolitionists?
• No! Most "workers" were free blacks or escaped slaves themselves. "Many abolitionists, in fact, were against helping slaves escape. They did not believe in breaking the law and wanted to find a legal way to end slavery." That second fact surprised me, but it actually makes sense. Sometimes people can talk the talk, but they can't walk the walk. And when it comes down to it, it's difficult to endanger one's own family just to save someone else's. It takes much courage, as well as planning.  
• Were there U.R. "stops" in the South?
• No. Slaves couldn't really get any help until they got to a free state in the North.
• From where did most slaves escape?
• Not the Deep South. As I previously explained, the U.R. primarily existed in the north. As a result, slaves in the Deep South (AL, LA, etc.) would've had much farther to travel on their own before they received any help. Most of the slaves who were successful in their escapes came from the upper south (Kentucky, Virginia, etc.).
• Did most slaves receive help in their escapes?
• No, most had to rely on their own plans and intuition. Usually, most of the credit goes to them.
• Was "a lantern in a window was a common sign used to identify a safe house along the Underground Railroad?"
• No. This myth came to be because a man named John Rankin used this signal to indicate if "it was safe to cross the Ohio River to his home." Obviously, the signal was not widespread...because slave catchers would've figured that out too quickly.
• Just how many slaves escaped with the help of the U.R.?
• There's not an exact number, but between 1800 and 1865, about 100,000 slaves escaped on it. While this statistic may seem substantial, there were millions of enslaved African Americans who never made it to freedom. Regardless, each life is precious, and the U.R. helped save tens of thousands of them.
• Check out the other facts by clicking on the website!

Source: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/myths.htm

Slavery and Dehumanization

On a physical level, slavery was devastating, but it destroyed people on an emotional and spiritual level as well. Two of the pivotal characters in the novel are truly broken by their experiences. Sethe is originally a very strong woman and mother. She fiercely loves her children, successfully arranges for all of their escapes, and even escapes herself, despite being brutally whipped and injured. However, eventually, she cannot withstand any more torture, and when schoolteacher shows up in Ohio to take Sethe and her children back to Sweet Home, she has a mental breakdown. Once a loving and devoted mother, she now takes it to extremes and maims her children under the impression that she’s protecting them. 

Her mother-in-law, Baby Suggs, was a formidable character as well until the incident. She worked almost her entire life as a slave and bore eight children (and lost all of them). When she finally gains her freedom, she spends her time working with the Underground Railroad and preaching to freed slaves. However, after Sethe’s mental break, Baby Suggs breaks as well. She no longer preaches, despite Stamp Paid’s encouragement, and becomes depressed. She dies in bed, lonely and tired of living.

Did Stamp Paid Make the Right Decision?

After Paul D has been living with Sethe, Denver, and Beloved for some time, Stamp Paid decides to show him the newspaper clipping that tells the story of how Sethe killed her daughter, Beloved, and injured her two sons eighteen years ago. Paul D originally doesn’t believe it, but once he realizes the story is true, he is horrified. He tells Sethe she has two legs, not four, implying that what she had done was animalistic. Paul D leaves the house, and Sethe has lost yet another person she loves. After Paul D leaves, Stamp Paid wrestles with the decision he has already made. He wonders if he should have told Paul D about Sethe’s violent past because it has ruined her happiness in the present, and he feels obligated to be as nice to her as possible because he was friends with Baby Suggs. 

However, I believe that Stamp Paid was right in telling Paul D about Sethe. Paul D has had a very difficult, violent life as well, and he has shared many very personal details about his path with Sethe. In return, she has not been honest with him, and he deserves to know the truth. In addition, Paul D is living with the ghost or the resurrection of her murdered daughter, Beloved, which makes this secret from the past even more important to share. What do y’all think Stamp Paid should have done? 

Names pt3

This blog is in response to the two posts about names in Beloved. Via Ritchie and Lainey. I agree with the both of you that names are a huge significance in Beloved. In fact, names are a huge deal in everything we read, watch and write about. Authors take time to think of specific names with specific allusions or meanings, parents spend 9 months- their whole lives thinking of the perfect name for their even more perfect child, and little kids take about .6 seconds to think of a name for their brand new puppy they got for their birthday. All are significant in their own way. On the bus ride back to the hotel in Austin after one of the days of the conference this weekend, we were discussing the significance of names and their meanings. We talked about names we might name our children one day, our own names and their meanings, and the names we might have been called by our parents otherwise. Lana Day told us about the significance of her picking the name. Lana means “to float” in another language, and she explained that it brings her peace to think of her name and floating when life becomes overwhelming and it feels like she’s drowning. Pretty deep, right? Names are sooo important in our society and how we identify ourselves and our work. What does your name mean to you?

Comment on Jessie's "Sethe's Tree"

(I  couldn't figure out how to post an image with a comment so I'll post my comment as its own post): That's an impactful image, and I wasn't aware there was a movie. I decided to look up more images from the movie and came across illustrations of the book. Here are some of the ones I found!

This image is of Sethe and Paul D. You can see Sethe's scars and the tree pattern they make.

This image is of Beloved coming into Paul D's room at night. The red light shines behind her and she is slightly lifting her dress as he looks worried and scared. 

Here is an image of Sethe and the ghost in the white dress. 

This is an illustration of Sethe being strangled; I think it's interesting we don't see the face of the person strangling her because the characters themselves debate over it being Beloved or Baby Suggs. 

Tobacco Tins

Earlier this week, we analyzed quotes about the character of Paul D. and the metaphor for his tobacco tin heart came up. Mrs. King brought up that she wasn't sure what it was, and I wasn't quite sure either, so I decided to do some research. Usually, they were little metal boxes that could easily be held in your hand, usually having a clasp to keep the lid shut. They would either be used to hold loose tobacco, or to store a couple cigarettes. Since loose tobacco fell out of popularity and the use of cigarettes in general has declined since it was discovered its negative effects on health, their use is almost non existent at this point and would explain why a lot of us have never heard of it. Now, they are actually collectable items and those in mint condition can sell for very high prices. Here are some pictures for reference: 

 

Beloved and Unburying the Past

In class on Friday, we discussed the power that Beloved has over Paul D, as she literally moves him throughout the house and has a level of indescribable control over him. She also causes Sethe to recall old times on Sweet Home, despite the fact that all her memories involve tragedy and pain (recall the quotes on pg. 69). These elements tie into the idea of Beloved as an emblem of the past, as despite all their efforts, she simply has a hold on their lives in the present. This strange way of Beloved mirrors the way in which our past experiences shape and bleed into present moments and decisions.

¿Names?

Names are tremendously important in Toni Morrison’s “the beloved”. You can glean a lot of information about a character based on their name. For example “Denver” has a full backstory associated with her name, that we slowly learn. And also Paul D says a lot just by his name. There are several Paul’s and it shows just how little they think of them based on the fact they names them all the same.

¿Shock factor?

I think one of the most important features of Toni Morrison’s “the beloved” is her willingness to describe anything. She holds nothing back when she writes. She isn’t scared to depict the ugly, the horrific, or the unjust. For example the description about Pail d’s Bit in his mouth is truly horrific. But it sheds some light to the true situation.

Sethe’s Tree

When I first read about Sethe’s tree, I couldn’t picture exactly what it would look like. However, I recently was told that there was a movie based on the novel that stars Oprah Winfrey as Sethe, so I searched the Internet for a picture of Sethe’s “tree”.
I thought the image I found was worth sharing because Sethe’s tree is such a prominent symbol in the novel.
Just as Alana mentioned in her blogpost, there is a plethora of juxtaposition in Beloved. Sethe’s tree is a perfect example of this juxtaposition.
Trees are the life-giving backbones of nature. They’re also associated with temptation and sin (like in Genesis). Specifically in relation to slavery and the Jim Crow Era, trees bring to mind the disgusting, horrifying practice of lynching.
In Beloved, Sethe’s tree is a result of an extremely severe whipping. Although she escapes slavery immediately after her whipping, her owners leave her with a permanent reminder of her enslavement and of the power they had over her.
I’d love to hear what y’all think about the symbolism behind Sethe’s tree because I’m sure there’s more to consider!

Names in Beloved

In any novel, names have significance, but in Beloved, they are particularly important. Names are a source of identity and often offer a connection to one’s family history. In Beloved, characters’ names can symbolize their level of freedom. Sethe, who was born sometime during her mother’s journey on the Middle Passage, was named after her father, which is significant because even though her mother is locked up on a ship, she is not yet a full-time slave and still has the freedom to name her child. Baby Suggs’s owner, Mrs. Garner, calls her “Jenny,” and Baby Suggs has no idea where the name came from. When she finally gains her freedom, the white family who helps her settle into a new house asks her what she would like to be called. Baby Suggs names herself, taking the last name of one of the fathers of her children. Baby Suggs is only able to take a name that she feels is “correct” when she gains her freedom. Finally, three of the slaves at Sweet Home all share the same name, Paul. They are only differentiated by letters, suggesting that they lack individuality in the eyes of their owners. They also take the last name Garner, which symbolizes that they are owned by the Garner family. Morrison chooses the names of her characters wisely, subtly inserting the stories of how their names were chosen, in order to make a larger point about how those subjected to slavery were dehumanized by their owners. 

Go see the movie Us

As we read the chapter of Beloved when Denver, Sethe, and Paul D come back from the carnival and Denver sees behind her a shadow of them holding hands, only for a bunch of creepy stuff to start happening to them, I thought it was only right to correlate it to the new thriller movie, Us. I won't spoil anything for those who have not seen it (to which I HIGHLY recommend you do) but a huge symbol that is a leading plot detail of the movie is the campaign called Hands Across America. It was a national event in 1986 in which over 6 million people made a huge chain holding hands to bring awareness about world hunger and homelessness, however, Jordan Peele effectively conveyed this message in a more twisted way in his movie. So2 points of this blog: 1. when you hold hands creepy stuff happens 2. go see Us!!!

Thank you, Mr. Achebe.

It is clear upon reading just the first few chapters of Morrison's novel that a thematic point in Beloved will include a loss of identity. Slavery has left Sethe, a former slave, in the graveyard of her child and in the absence of her runaway sons. She struggles as a human being to associate herself as one worthy of love and affection as she'd been enslaved, and she attempts to protect her child from her own ugly truth.The first thing I thought of as soon as I began to read the novel was how the identity, culture, and values of enslaved peoples had become lost in the shuffle of horrific trade. This immediately reminded me of Things Fall Apart, and I became overwhelmed with gratitude to have read that novel. Specifically, I'd never understood the complex, technologically sound nature of the communities from which enslaved peoples came. Also, the roots of so many cultural values in America today would be unclear to me, specifically musically as a New Orleanian. I'm so thankful to have made this connection and to understand how literature is built upon itself. This validates for me that conclusions, even those drawn distantly, can lead to understanding and educational growth.

Beautiful Horror in Beloved

As I read Beloved, I am stunned by the haunting language and style that Toni Morrison uses. It almost reminds me of Baudelaire in that the imagery is so immersive and rich that the reader is transported into the unsettling scene. The use of juxtaposition is also prevalent, as we can see from immediately from the second sentence, "Full of a baby's venom." Placing an image with connotations of innocence and purity next to a word that harbors death leaves the reader stunned as they enter the novel. Another line that struck me reads: "boys hanging from the most beautiful sycamores in the world." Sethe goes on to curse her memory for remembering the beauty of the trees instead of the children that hung from it; a chilling thought emblematic of faded history. This writing technique enthralls me as it seems to mirror the emotions pulsating through the farm in an atmospheric way.

Background on Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison, the author of Beloved, has had an incredible career as an author and an interesting life from which she draws inspiration for her books. After her father witnessed the lynching of two black businessmen, he moved to the racially integrated town of Lorain, Ohio, hoping to escape racism and find success. Growing up, Morrison's parent instilled in her a sense of heritage and identity through telling traditional African-American stories and singing songs. When she went to Howard University (seeking the wisdom of fellow African-American intellectuals), she encountered segregated restaurants and buses for the first time. She went on to develop a collection entitled Contemporary African Literature which included work by Chinua Achebe along with other Nigerian writers. These early works and experiences helped shape her interest in history and the horrors behind racism which ultimately led to the novel we are now reading.

Paul D vs Pauly D

This one was inevitable. There’s clearly a relationship between Paul D and Pauly D from Jersey Shore. First relation is obviously their names. I honestly can’t read the book without mentally hearing  “ Pauly D” instead of the characters legitamate name. It keeps me entertained (not that I need to be entertained with this book- clearly there’s a lot going on). Another relation between the two is that I’d say they’re both players. Paul D was pining for Sethe along with multiple other men, just like Pauly D was tryna get with Snooki on the lowkey. Speaking of Pauly D, him and the character from jersey shore “Mike” (I believe) are creating a new reality show... you should check it out.

Trees in Beloved

Out of all the motifs in “Beloved” we have seen and discussed, the tress are my favorite. I appreciate Morrison’s use of trees to symbolize the awful treatment of African Americans. The trees represent this poor treatment, of course, because African Americans were often lynched from the trees. Perhaps the most important scene involving trees we have seen thus far is when Sethe refers to the scars on her back as a tree. One, the scars are the result of several fierce whippings. Secondly, Sethe’s reffering to the scars as a tree, is representative of the way she feels about trees. She, too, views trees as an evil symbol of white cruelty. All in all, I think Morrison does a wonderful job utilizing trees as a motif of cruel treatment towards blacks.

1872 Presidential Election

Toni Morrison’s Beloved took place in 1873, the earlier stages of the Reconstruction Era. In the 1872 presidential election, Republican Ulysses S. Grant easily won re-election over Horace Greeley, who was the only candidate to win electoral votes but die before the votes were officially casted. In addition, one of the most interesting third parties in American history nominated a woman, Victoria Woodhull, even though women could not vote at the time, with an African-American, Fredrick Douglass. I highly suggest that you guys watch this video https://youtu.be/q4Nuoh_cDGE about the election because it is only five minutes but will broaden your knowledge in the state of politics in the novel’s setting.

¿1 + 2 + 4 = 7?

In Toni Morrison’s “Beloved,” Sethe and her daughter live in house 124. 1 + 2 + 4 adds up to 7. There are 7 continents on the this earth. South America is a continent. South America has many countries. One of those countries is Venezuela. Venezuela is in a serious economic crisis right now. There current socialist President, Maduro, is being challenged heavily by the Venezuelan politician and leader, Juan Guaido.

¿#nocollusion?

Toni Morrison one not only the Nobel prize for literature, but also the Pulitzer Prize for her work. John Kennedy Toole also won the Pulitzer Prize for “A Confederacy of Dunces.” “A Confederacy of Dunces” is set in New Orleans. New Orleans has a lot of famous architecture including loads of iron work. Iron is a metal. Steel is a metal. One of Russia’s main exports is steel. There was no Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election. #nocollusion

Colors in Beloved

We haven’t read much of Toni Morrison’s Beloved yet. However, we can already tell that colors are a prominent symbol/motif in the story.

First off, I would say it is very appropriate Afro Morrison to have included such a symbol because this story is clearly about race. More specifically, the story is about the history of African Americans and their ties to slavery. The thing that color is referring to is the color of African American considering that in the Jim Crow Laws era of the United States, African Americans were called “colored” people.

In the first chapter of the book we see color being used as a coping mechanism for Baby Suggs. Baby Suggs, before her death, was very depressed because of a life of slavery. When she was finally set free due to her son buying out her freedom, it did not make her happier considering that her son brought himself into slavery and because she was already too old to celebrate any kind of freedom. To distract herself from her old age and depression, she wishes to look at colored objects. This contrasts with what one usually sees right before death, whiteness (i.e. no color). Therefore, the idea of life vs death is presented with Baby death wanting to see colors because she herself is on the brink of death. She hopes that the colors bring her life but she remains on the fence of life and death.

We also see color when Paul D first enters Sethe’s home. Paul D, upon entering, walks into a red light which doesn’t feel natural to him. Sethe explains that this is due to the ghosts of her dead child and Baby Suggs remaining in the home. Their souls are disturbed and as a result they remain in the home. It is as if, even though the child and Baby Suggs are indeed not alive, they still are there, among the world of the living. It also makes sense that the light is red because the thing that gives us our very lives, blood, is also this color. Thus, once again, we see color presenting the idea of life vs death.

(Lack of) Family in Beloved

For slaves or recently freed slaves in Beloved, family is a luxury most aren't able to have. Out of all the slaves at Sweet Home, Halle is the only one who is still with his mother (Baby Suggs), and he doesn't even get to spend time with her because they both work all day during the week, and he works weekends for five years to buy her freedom. None of the other slaves have their parents with them. Furthermore, the male slaves at Sweet Home have no women to interact with. One of the slaves walks thirty miles just to see his girlfriend, and only Halle is lucky enough to be chosen by Sethe (the only female slave) as her partner. Even when Halle and Sethe want to get married, they can't even have that relationship with the approval of their owners. Mrs. Garner, laughs at them because slaves aren't important enough--or "human" enough--to get married. Unions between slaves are meant to produce children, the future generation of slaves. Finally, slaves weren't even allowed to keep their own children because they would be taken away as soon as they were old enough to become slaves themselves. The only way Sethe ends up keeping Denver is because she is lucky enough to successfully escape while she's still pregnant--but she loses her partner, Halle, in the process, and Denver grows up without a father. The lack of structured families destroys the spirits of the characters who are forced to live without a close emotional support system.

Memories in Beloved

Even though I've only read two chapters of Beloved, I can already tell that memories are going to be a significant part of the novel. Toni Morrison has already introduced scenes from many different parts of Sethe's life. First, she remembers how her two sons, Howard and Buglar, ran away eight years ago...which leads her to think about the death of her baby daughter...which leads her to think about the deal she made with the engraver to have "Beloved" written on her baby's tombstone...which leads her to think about her time as a slave in Kentucky at Sweet Home. Sethe's life has been filled with disappointment, violence, cruel treatment, abandonment, and death. So little of her life has been good or fulfilling that she wishes she could forget all of the sadness she has experienced thus far. Morrison notes that Baby Suggs, who has had eight children and lost all of them, also attempts to forget her past because of how much she has suffered. However, as hard as Sethe and Baby Suggs try, their tragic pasts define who they are in the present, and they can't help but keep remembering their experiences.