BeLOVEd
In class this week, we've been slowly trying to digest the scene where the four horsemen come, and trying to analyze what it means. Up until I read the scene, I wasn't exactly sure what the novel was really about, which themes were the most important. We've been "circling" around this event and Sethe's explanation for it. Now that we have both of those, I feel at least like the novel has more direction - it's talking about love and the ways slavery ruins the love felt in interpersonal relationships or even a whole community in a variety of ways.
It seems that every relationship we've run into in the novel between Sethe and her family (or Paul D) has been loving at first, and then becomes distorted either by the rememory of Sweet Home or by the ghost of the baby, both representing the past. First, most potently, we see Sethe's loving relationship with her children absolutely ruined by the traumatic event that happens in their yard. Her relationship with Howard and Buglar, while we never see it play out, is implied to be ruined - they both leave the house as soon as they are capable, and not just because of the ghost. Denver and Sethe have an icy relationship, where Sethe seems not to understand Denver and Denver feels isolated by her mother. Yet, none of these relationships, we're told, lack the characters trying to love each other - or at least, Sethe tries to love her children. Sethe over and over says how much she loves them. Had she been safe from the horrors of her past, she would not have done what she did. But it is because she feels such strong love that she acts in a way which will keep her children from trusting her, or maybe loving her, ever again, purely because she feels she has no other choice in the moment. Other interpersonal relationships destroyed by the past include her relationship with Paul D., which pretty much falls apart as soon as they must confront what Sethe did. But, it isn't for a lack of love. Paul D., tears up when he sees her in the newspaper because he loves her so much, and Sethe sees a father figure in Paul D.'s shadow.
Baby Suggs fits into this narrative of love becoming distorted by the past, but not just interpersonally. Suggs is not only clearly conflicted about how to feel about Sethe, but she also withdraws from the community she loves. Her relationship with the community is destroyed because of the event, not only because she feels there's no point in preaching anymore because of the incident, but also because the community which loved her betrayed her. They felt she was acting out of line because of their pasts - they believed she didn't deserve such a feast, and that they'd gone through more. The past here too ruins a relationship, except it's between a leader and their community. Similarly, Sethe's relationship with Halle (relationship meaning how she thought of him) is ruined when Paul D. clarifies the past for her. Even someone's memory becomes distorted by what Paul D. thought was an act of love by telling Sethe.
Perhaps the character's love for each other, though masked by the trauma of the past, is why the switch to the slave catcher's perspective is so jarring in that chapter - that perspective has no compassion or love for any of the people in the chapter. It is a cold, purely economic perspective, a shock which is made even more potent when contrasted with the love the characters up until then had been trying to feel for each other, both in 1855 and 1878.
Fing always says that love is the most interesting feeling in acting, far more interesting than anger, or even fear. The book's focus on the ways the characters love (or try and fail to love) is what makes it compelling, and heartbreaking. What do you guys think, are my assessments of the theme of love in this novel correct? Do the characters actually love each other? Where do you think Beloved, the character, fits into/will fit into all this, as she seems to have an intense love for her mother, but also does things which appear to be acts of hate towards her?
It seems that every relationship we've run into in the novel between Sethe and her family (or Paul D) has been loving at first, and then becomes distorted either by the rememory of Sweet Home or by the ghost of the baby, both representing the past. First, most potently, we see Sethe's loving relationship with her children absolutely ruined by the traumatic event that happens in their yard. Her relationship with Howard and Buglar, while we never see it play out, is implied to be ruined - they both leave the house as soon as they are capable, and not just because of the ghost. Denver and Sethe have an icy relationship, where Sethe seems not to understand Denver and Denver feels isolated by her mother. Yet, none of these relationships, we're told, lack the characters trying to love each other - or at least, Sethe tries to love her children. Sethe over and over says how much she loves them. Had she been safe from the horrors of her past, she would not have done what she did. But it is because she feels such strong love that she acts in a way which will keep her children from trusting her, or maybe loving her, ever again, purely because she feels she has no other choice in the moment. Other interpersonal relationships destroyed by the past include her relationship with Paul D., which pretty much falls apart as soon as they must confront what Sethe did. But, it isn't for a lack of love. Paul D., tears up when he sees her in the newspaper because he loves her so much, and Sethe sees a father figure in Paul D.'s shadow.
Baby Suggs fits into this narrative of love becoming distorted by the past, but not just interpersonally. Suggs is not only clearly conflicted about how to feel about Sethe, but she also withdraws from the community she loves. Her relationship with the community is destroyed because of the event, not only because she feels there's no point in preaching anymore because of the incident, but also because the community which loved her betrayed her. They felt she was acting out of line because of their pasts - they believed she didn't deserve such a feast, and that they'd gone through more. The past here too ruins a relationship, except it's between a leader and their community. Similarly, Sethe's relationship with Halle (relationship meaning how she thought of him) is ruined when Paul D. clarifies the past for her. Even someone's memory becomes distorted by what Paul D. thought was an act of love by telling Sethe.
Perhaps the character's love for each other, though masked by the trauma of the past, is why the switch to the slave catcher's perspective is so jarring in that chapter - that perspective has no compassion or love for any of the people in the chapter. It is a cold, purely economic perspective, a shock which is made even more potent when contrasted with the love the characters up until then had been trying to feel for each other, both in 1855 and 1878.
Fing always says that love is the most interesting feeling in acting, far more interesting than anger, or even fear. The book's focus on the ways the characters love (or try and fail to love) is what makes it compelling, and heartbreaking. What do you guys think, are my assessments of the theme of love in this novel correct? Do the characters actually love each other? Where do you think Beloved, the character, fits into/will fit into all this, as she seems to have an intense love for her mother, but also does things which appear to be acts of hate towards her?
What an interesting connection. I hadn’t thought about it this way, but you’re right, the motivations of our primary characters seems to be love for one another. This makes me think about the harsh criticism Hurston received for love being the motivator in Their Eyes Were Watching God, and I wonder what Richard Wright and critics like him would have to say about this novel.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great analysis. And guess what... I was thinking about things to write about for the essay and love in the text is one of them. I agree with your ideas about love in the novel. It is a very complicated thing, especially in the context of beloved. I think they love each other, Sethe and her children, Paul D, but because of their circumstances, loving can be hard. In the case of everyone towards Sethe, I feel like there is still love, but fear becomes over powering. Good job Xanthanator :)
ReplyDeleteWow, nice job Xanthe! It's sad that the characters try and try to love, but can't. What Sehre thought would save her children, what she thought was love, turned in the wrong direction as her children were traumatized from seeing their mother try to kill them and hurt them. Sethe tried loving Paul D and he loved her too, but that same incident messed up that love that could've brought a lot more stability to Sethe and Denver, and maybe even Beloved.
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