This book is quite intense. After the first night of reading I felt like I had taken a long journey by the time I finished the thirty pages, but really I had only started. Every night I feel like I am wading through a thick river of sadness, troubles, and confusion, only making small and incoherent steps. That being said, I like the book. I am already understanding why this book has to be last on the syllabus. There is just a whole lot to digest and contemplate, and I believe I have only just barely touched the issues and questions this book will raise. The most enigmatic character so far is Beloved, so I will try and write my thoughts on her down, as jumbled as I'm sure they are.
Beloved seems very nice at first. She is a much-needed friend for Denver, and a sorta scarily devoted admirer of Sethe, but she appears to bring some happiness to 124, dancing with Denver and showing Sethe how to appreciate story-telling. From the start though, Beloved has been strange. with no back story, weird physical features, and (possibly) being Sethe's dead baby, she has always been an enigma. Now, she seemed to be getting along well with everybody, and even making Sethe feel wonderful by massaging her neck after saving her from choking, but there are doubts arising about Beloved's purity. She repeatedly shuns Denver and shouts at Denver for ordering her around. Beloved also constantly picks Sethe over Denver, ignoring and hurting Denver, who sees her as her first and only friend, in order to spend more time with Sethe. Sethe repays this time and care, telling stories and just being near Beloved. However, it seems that this isn't enough. There is some question of whether or not Beloved was the one choking Sethe. Denver thinks she was, and Sethe seems to begin to think that, but Beloved strongly denies it. Then, Beloved walks in on Sethe and Paul D being intimate, and appears to be very upset. Her animosity for Paul D grows beyond what it already was, and she becomes more surly towards Denver as well. Paul D seems to share this feeling of, if not hate, then at least wariness. I think the main question and worry that I have at this point is how far Beloved will go to solidify her relation to Sethe, and make sure no one else (like Denver or especially Paul D) get between her and Sethe. I think that it is pretty clear at this point that Beloved is Sethe's dead daughter, which explains her love and need for Sethe, but would she hurt her own sister for that? And why did she choke Sethe (if she did, and if she didn't then what or who did)? Like everything else in this book, Beloved leaves a trail of questions in her wake wherever she goes, and I can only hope to find out soon what will come of her and the rest of the residents of 124.
I find Beloved to be a really strange character. As you mentioned, she is overly-attached to Sethe (maybe this can be explained by the fact that she still has the dependency a 2-year-old has for its mother?) and yet, she seems to have tried to strangle Sethe which goes against everything we really know about her. I also find it strange how Beloved only has room for Sethe in her life. If she is the reincarnation of the dead baby, then that baby had other figures in her life before she died, including Denver, but Beloved doesn't seem to care about Denver at all. Maybe this will all be explained a little more rationally later, but I guess for now, we just have to suspend some disbelief and keep reading...
ReplyDeleteI agree that Beloved is a very confusing character so far. I have to admit that I was taking Paul D's side of wariness of her from the start. I feel a lot of sympathy for Paul D during this time, because not only is he coming into a strange house (that used to be haunted), but right as he tries to make an effort to make Sethe happy and Denver feel better about him living with them, this strange character comes into the picture and is very attached to Sethe, and she isn't able to see the strangeness in Beloved's character as much as he is. I also feel sympathy for Denver because she is really excited to have a friend in the house who will keep her company, yet all Beloved cares about is Denver's mother, which she admits very obviously to Denver. Beloved doesn't seem to care about other people's feelings, which is somewhat hard to understand considering she is being accepted into their home and they're taking care of her (especially Denver), but I also know there's a lot more to Beloved than I, as the reader, am able to understand right now. I also hope to find out soon what what will happen with Beloved and the rest of the 124 residents.
ReplyDeleteBeloved is a very intricate character. She first sleeps for four days, only waking up to drink, and then says the reason she came was to see Sethe. If Beloved is truly Sethe's baby, Beloved might feel jealous because Denver got to spend a lot more time over the years with Sethe being there for her. Beloved might feel cheated, and want Sethe all to herself. That is the only reason I could think for Beloved trying to choke Sethe, unless it could be due to the fact that overall Beloved has acted very childish, and this is another example.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I initially thought that Beloved came back because she missed Sethe, especially since she had been driven away by Paul D. Having read more of the book, I am starting to think that Beloved has come back because she's angry, considering what happened between her and Paul, and the attempt to choke Sethe. I'm not sure though because, like Beth said, Beloved is an intricate character, and I'm sure my thoughts on her will change later on.
ReplyDeleteGiven tonight's reading regarding how Beloved died, it does seem much more likely that she would be angry at Sethe, but many of her actions seems like that isn't the case, though many also do point to her anger. Basically I have no idea what her thoughts or motivations are.
ReplyDeleteI think Beloved is one of the most complex literary characters I have ever encountered. The very fact that all of her thoughts are hidden to the reader, yet how all of her actions is totally visible is an interesting juxtaposition that in many ways is quite trippy. Like many of you have already voiced in earlier comments, I am also really interested in what Beloved's motive is in returning to the house, particularly in light of finding out about her gruesome death.
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