Beloved Blog Post

My big blog question is: In a culture where media and other people tend to shape us, how do we define our character and allow our true self to shine? This question applies to Beloved by Toni Morrison, because Sethe allows her past and Beloved to keep her from finding her true, free self. Sethe is a slave to her past, specifically to the ghost of her third child Beloved. Beloved defines Sethe, by keeping her from accepting her past and moving forward. For example, Beloved runs Paul D out of 124. Paul D is a symbol for a hopeful future, and Beloved takes complete control after he is gone. We find though, that near the end of the novel, Sethe’s community helps exercise 124, riding it of Beloved. With Denver’s help, Sethe begins to recover and Paul D returns to assure Sethe that she must love and forgiver herself. This is important because we finally feel that Sethe is free of her past, and can learn to trust and love again. Acceptance of the past or oneself may be the answer to my big blog question. Maybe we can allow our true self to shine after we accept who we are and are ready to move on in a positive direction.