Masculinity In Toni Morrison's Beloved

Men are not often acknowledged as victims of rape. Because of this fact, Paul D is left questioning his masculinity and in a sense his identity. Since he is not able to protect himself from being raped, he realizes the lack of control he has in his life, which he extends to love in general. If he cannot protect himself, he will not be able to protect others, especially the ones he cares the most about, his loved ones. Paul D does not allow himself to love fully, which is apparent in his criticism that Sethe’s “love is too thick” (193). As men are traditionally thought to be the providers and protectors of the family, Paul D is insecure about his ability to fulfill this role as a man. This uncertainty causes Paul D to prohibit himself to get too close to anyone and thus prevents himself to love too much as they can be taken away or he will not be able to defend them against harm.

Most notably, the infanticide of Beloved haunts her in the appearance of her dead daughter, Beloved. Beloved figuratively and literally consumes Sethe as Beloved “was getting bigger…[while] the flesh between her mother’s forefinger and thumb [faded]. [Denver] saw Sethe’s eyes bright but dead, alert but vacant, paying attention to everything about Beloved” (285). Sethe becomes smaller and less vibrant and her focus is completely centered on Beloved. This consumption indicates “Sethe will not survive her relationship with Beloved – that is, her struggle with her traumatic past – without help from the larger community and Paul D” (Field 10). Until the community helps Sethe, she will constantly be fixated on providing and atoning for her violent actions toward Beloved. In this fight for forgiveness, Sethe reveals why she had to kill