Beloved

1
Beloved

• Pages 310-324

2
Paul D

• reverse route of his going. (310)
• Recognizes 124 as quiet
• The ghost is gone?
• Here Boy returns

3
Influence of Beloved on Paul D

• in the midst of repulsion and personal shame,
  he was thankful too for having been escorted to
  some ocean-deep place he once belonged to. (311)
• For Paul D, her presence was both negative and
  positive
• How was it positive?
• She returned him to a place he once belonged
• His past

4
What Happened to Beloved?

• Paul D knows Beloved is truly gone. Disappeared,
  some say, exploded right before their eyes.
  (310)
• Could be hiding in the trees waiting for another
  chance. (310)
• Later, a little boy put it out how he had been
  looking for bait back of 124, down by the stream,
  and saw, cutting through the woods, a naked woman
  with fish for hair. (315)

5
Mr. Bodwin

• Will not prosecute
• Beloved, once again, saves the family
• Her death prevented them from going back to Sweet
  Home
• Her presence on the porch distracts Mr. Bodwin,
  allowing him to be unaware of what Sethe was
  trying to do.

6
Denver

• Appears grown-up, mature, confident and
  independent
• When Paul D asks if she wants his opinion, Denver
  says, I dontI have my own (314).

7
Denver

• Mrs. Bodwin is experimenting on her and may
  send her to Oberlin.
• Paul Ds Thought
• Watch out. Watch out. Nothing in the world more
  dangerous than a white schoolteacher. (314)
• Why doesnt he speak this?

8
Was Beloved Denvers Sister?

• At times. At times I think she wasmore. (314)
• How was she more?
• A representation, an embodiment of the past
• Beloved
• Slavery
• Abuse
• Rape
• Murder
• Etc., etc. etc.

9
Denver

• Denver is still the protector of Sethe
• And, Paul D, you dont have to stay way, but be
  careful how you talk to my maam, hear? (314)

10
Sethe

• Appears to be like the defeated Baby Suggs
• Sleeps in the bed of Baby Suggs

11
Is Sethe defeated?

• Theres nothing to rub now regarding Paul Ds
  offer to rub her feet and no reason to. (321)
• Reminds us of Amy rubbing Sethes feet back to
  life
• Anything that comes back to life hurts
• What is coming back to life for Sethe?
• The Past?

12
Sethes Feelings About Beloved

• She left me. (321)
• She was my best thing. (321)
• Paul Ds Response
• Setheme and you, we got more yesterday than
  anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow..You your
  best thing, Sethe. You are.(322)
• Me? Me? (322)

13
What Really Happened to Beloved?

• On page 315, Paul D references Beloved as it
• Loss of humanity?
• Disremembered and unaccounted for, she cannot be
  lost because no one is looking for, and even if
  they were, how can they call her if they dont
  know her name? (323)

14
What Really Happened to Beloved?

• Occasionally, however, the rustle of a skirt
  hushes when they wake, and the knuckles brushing
  a cheek in sleep seem to belong to the sleeper.
  (324)
• Down by the stream in back of 124 her footprints
  come and go, come and go. They are so familiar.
  Should a child, an adult place his feet in them,
  they will fit. Take them out and they disappear
  again as though nobody ever walked there. (324)

15
What Really Happened

• Universal connection to Beloved
• A shared past?
• A shared history??

16
What Really Happened

• It was not a story to pass on. (323, 324)
• Why?
• Difficult and tremendously painful
• Yet it is passed on and dealt with.
• They can touch it if they like, but dont,
  because they know things will never be the same
  if they do. (324)