Sometimes the idea that we believe or hold onto in our lives is the very thing that brings us down or causes us to lose faith. In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Sethe carries her past like a religion. She is unable to break free from the beliefs of her past which causes her to lose anything she ever was able to control in her life. When she was younger, Sethe was forced to endure the hardships of slavery and abuse through several forms. Her back reveals hideous scars from the whippings she succumbed to while on the plantation and when she was pregnant, two men stole her breast milk. This action not only destroyed the small amount of dignity she had for herself, it also stole her child’s life source. Because of these fragments of her past that Sethe is unable to let go of, she chooses to murder her daughter so she will not have to live the terribe life of a slave. The pain of the events on the plantation, the guilt of taking the life of her own child, and her inability to let these events go is what causes Sethe to become a hermit in her own home and fail at loving her only remaining daughter, Denver.
Sethe’s past has become her belief system. Just like anyone who has firm beliefs, she is unwavering in sticking with it. However, these have negative side effects. Imagine someone who is so consumed by their own beliefs that they are unable to hear, let alone respect, another perspective. Their only truth is their identity, and they forget to experience what this whole world has to offer. Sethe was caught in this trap by never allowing herself to move on from the horrors of her past in order to have a happier future. Morrison does create an image of hope by the end of Beloved, though. Once Sethe accepts and breaks from her past, she is able to move forward to a life filled with love. The past always stays with her, but she is no longer a “slave” to the memories. Morrison’s message could potentially be this: though what you believe will always be a part of your identity, we have the choice to break from our demons and move forward.
Sethe’s past has become her belief system. Just like anyone who has firm beliefs, she is unwavering in sticking with it. However, these have negative side effects. Imagine someone who is so consumed by their own beliefs that they are unable to hear, let alone respect, another perspective. Their only truth is their identity, and they forget to experience what this whole world has to offer. Sethe was caught in this trap by never allowing herself to move on from the horrors of her past in order to have a happier future. Morrison does create an image of hope by the end of Beloved, though. Once Sethe accepts and breaks from her past, she is able to move forward to a life filled with love. The past always stays with her, but she is no longer a “slave” to the memories. Morrison’s message could potentially be this: though what you believe will always be a part of your identity, we have the choice to break from our demons and move forward.
