Toni Morrison’s Beloved

Throughout Toni Morrisons novel near, there are more obvious themes and symbols. The story deals with sla really and the effects that the horrifying treatment of the slaves has on a community. Another major theme, apparent throughout the story, is the supernatural. The notion of haunting is very evident since the characters are not only haunted by costly at 124, but are excessively haunted by their past. The story of Beloved is not only about freeing mavinself of a ghost, but also about releasing ones hold on what happened in the past.Sethe is the closely severely haunted throughout the book, both by her past and by Beloved. Her past haunts her with what happened to her and what she did. She was beaten so badly that her back has a permanent flower scar, one that she calls A chokecherry tree. Trunk, branches, and even leaves. Tiny little chokecherry leaves. But that was eighteen years ago. Could create cherries too now for all I know (pg 16). The great significance of the scar on her back is that it is just one more thing she cannot see, but knows it is always there, similar to her past.Also, the line Could have cherries too now for all I know shows that she understands how she is not only stuck with her past, but that it is growing and affecting her in many different ways. The story revolves some the haunting of 124. Beloveds presence is apparent to Sethe, Baby Suggs and Denver, and they live with it for some cartridge holder. It is not until the day that capital of Minnesota D steps into the house that things change. He wastes little time in antagonizing the spirit to leave. God damn it Hush up Leave the place alone Get the Hell out (18). The spirit leaves, much to Paul Ds delight. This may have occurred because Paul D is not only a figure from Sethes past, but is also the inaugural man to enter 124. Beloved is qualified to play off of Sethes own haunting, that of her past, to get what she wants. Sethes judgment was blurred as she focused primari ly on the daughter she had murdered years ago. Beloved do ridiculous demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire (pg 240). Sethe wound up quitting her job, completely neglecting Denver, and completely neglecting herself as she dwindled away. Beloved, and her past, drained Sethe with their constant nagging. There is also significance to the word choices of the characters when talking of the past. It is clear they will never forget their past and what had happened to them. So rather than forget, they disremember. They push it to he back of their mind where they wont take about it, but it is always there, waiting for them to rememory it. This shows how they will always be haunted by their past. Through the addition of a supernatural dimension in Beloved, Morrison pushes the limits of usual interpretation. The characters settle into believing the supernatural is normal. To them ghosts and premonitions is a way to underst and the world around them and through this, Morrison is able to draw a comparison to ones past and a troublesome ghost. ?Toni Morrisons BelovedIn Toni Morrisons Beloved, Denver is introduced to us as somewhat of a simple child, unnaturally dependent on her mother and unusually immature for a girl of eighteen years. Nevertheless, as the novel submites, she undergoes a great amount of learning and personal growth. However, Denvers procurement of knowl keenness is not attained through her experiences with formal education at Lady Jones school, rather, Denver learns through lifes challenges. It is Denvers eventual entrance into the world of knowledge and maturity that saves Sethes life and rids 124 of Beloveds vengeful spirit.Denvers initial experiences with the conventional education of Lady Jones school are very positive. She finds herself intrigued by learning and looks forward to the two hours she spends every afternoon with Lady Jones. However, Denver extracts more from school ing than just book knowledge. She begins to realize that she can be independent from Sethe and looks forward to school because she does everything on her own and she was joyous and surprised by the pleasure and surprise it created in her mother and her brothers (102).This newfound learning is something that Denver can cherish as her own, thus acting as the impetus of Denvers self-confidence. However, Denvers love for learning does not buy the farm long. Although in the beginning, she was so happy she didnt even know she was being avoided by her classmates, (102) her oblivion does not last forever. Denver finds out the truth about Sethes murderous past, and, as Morrison writes, she never went back (102). Her conventional education is swiftly and effectively squelched. Instead of trying to master this severe loss in her life, Denver reacts to it by drawing back from the world around her.She is not mature enough to face her troubles and instead she walks in a silence too solid for p enetration (103), thus extending her loss of an education to a loss of contact with the outside world. Denvers obvious failure to inhibit her adversities in life show us that her conventional schooling has failed to educate her in the ways of the world. Even though it appears that Denvers education will never progress past the elementary level she reaches in Lady Jones school, she eventually does experience a great amount of growth after the arrival of Beloved. When Beloved first enters 124, Denver is nothing short of obsessed with her.She craves Beloveds attention and companionship and childishly seeks out her approval. But as the novel progresses, the job she started out with, protecting Beloved from Sethe, changed to protecting her mother from Beloved (243). Denver, with the newfound responsibility of acting as the caretaker of 124 and Sethe, rises to the occasion. Denver knew it was on her. She would have to leave the yard step off the edge of the world (243). Morrisons use of the phrase off the edge of the world tells us that Denvers actions are monumental for her. She served them both.Washing, cooking, forcing, cajoling her mother to eat a little now and then, providing clean things for Beloved as often as she could to calm her down (250). Denvers acceptance of her responsibilities signifies an unprecedented amount of growth. She is educated through her experiences, rather than through traditional learning. It is Denvers essay for her internal strength that leads to the eventual exorcism of Beloved and the restoration of Sethes psyche. She is able to overcome the challenges life throws her way and succeeds in saving her life as swell as her mothers. Denvers education is unattainable from traditional learning.She thrives in the face of adversity, showing us that she learns best from experience rather than study. Although it takes the actions of a malicious spirit to force out Denver to her responsibilities in life, her pivotal growth signifies the gr eat power in learning through experience. Denvers unconventional education proves to be much more honourable than her traditional education, especially for the life that she must lead. The stark difference between Denvers original self and the woman she becomes as she emerges in Beloved as the rescuer of both Sethe and 124 shows us just how truly and deeply one can be altered by learning.