Slavery and Identity in Beloved

This is such an interesting novel; I have read the whole book already, and I am astonished at how deep this book really is. Discussions of death and spirits, slavery and violence all tied together in one telling story. I knew this book was known to be really strong and significant in the time period it came out within... now I know why!

Slavery obviously has the main role within this book, as almost all of the characters discussed had some experience personally with slavery, and all the other characters are affected by it because of everyone around them who were forced to endure slavery. The devastation of slavery affects Sethe very heavily: with her children, her husband, her mother, and her "friend" Paul D. Sethe desperately tries to keep her past in slavery away from Denver, noting that "as for Denver, the job Sethe had of keeping her from the past that was still waiting for her was all that mattered" (42).

Paul D in particular has incredible difficulties with his history in slavery, as he eventually shuts down large parts of his head and heart, as his traumatizing experience as a slave, and subsequent prison experience horribly affects how he sees the world around him, and the people around him as well. He even tries to help Sethe recover from the past, and says he’ll catch her if she falls (46). He questions his own manhood as well at some points in the novel (128) and looks to Sethe to help him feel more whole again, as he asks her to have a baby with him to justify his manhood.

The entire concept of identity is just trampled upon in this novel, as almost every single character has issues with his or her identity, and have some sort of self-loathing or regret about something going on in their life or in their past. Denver always has a strange relationship with Beloved, where she can’t stand being away from her, but often feels lonely and rejected by her because "When her mother was around, Beloved has eyes only for Sethe" (121). Oftentimes, while characters are striving to find themselves in this book, they look to communities and others in their family for help, as Sethe always looks to her children for reassurance, Paul D. looks for reassurance from Sethe, and Baby Suggs helps the community with her preachings on the rock… community seems to help characters feel more whole and give them somewhat of a better understanding of themselves, as well.