Essay On Toni Morrison's Beloved: Sethe

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In Beloved, Morrison tells a tale that brings the unordinary family that is Sethe, Paul D, and Denver together despite tough times. “Beloved” is a ghost that oversees each character individually and challenges them to face their past and move on. The result of Beloved’s actions is that each protagonist learns how to face the past, and is able to look life in the face when it seems pointless. Beloved’s return heals Sethe by bringing the past to the present and helps Sethe move forward as shown by the character’s ability to realize her past mistakes and correct them. Without Beloved’s presence Sethe would not be strong enough to forgive herself for her past mistakes. However with Beloved’s presence Sethe shows persistence as a character to be better, additionally her newly formed family helps Sethe become liberated from her haunting past. …show more content…

Sethe is forced to face her past and instead of breaking down and crying she faces the ghost head on and becomes stronger almost instantly by her presence. “Sethe saw that her feet were like her hands, soft and new”. (62) Morrison only describes Sethe acknowledging Beloved’s presence. Although the baby has been reincarnated as a ghost, Sethe almost seems to be unamused by her return, and this shows substantial growth in her as a character. Previously the name, or even the thought of “Beloved” would cause her to indulge on her horrific past. However, now that Sethe has become stronger she cherishes the challenges Beloved puts before her because she knows she can handle it. “Again she wished for the baby ghost -its anger thrilling her now where it used to wear her out. Wear her out.”

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