Morrison’s Beloved: A ReviewEverything in a novel is there only because the author chooses it to bethere: characters, plot devices, structure and pacing, tone, etc.
all are waysin which the author says what he/she has to say. Morrison implements differentcharacters and ideas to enhance the slavery of the time and its lastingaffects. While the story is of heartbreak there are various representations ofconcepts. Which can be seen through realism and the characters of Mr. Bodwin andBaby Suggs. Mr.
Bodwin is a white abolitionist and has high hopes for blacks in thefuture. He spends the happiest years of his life struggling for emancipation ofblacks. Mr. Bodwin represents a time in history where slavery starts to comeinto question.
People (white) started to realize this travesty and begin tospeak up and act towards the abolition of slavery. The abolitionists begin aprocess which will eventually end in the 60’s where blacks will attain completefreedom. They begin a legacy of freedom fighters that will not stop till blacksreceive the right they so deserved. Future leaders of known fame will be MalcolmX and Martin Luther King which will carry on this battle begun by theabolitionists. Baby Suggs, is Halle’s mother and Sethe’s mother – in – law, and is animportant character in the story in that she brings about many aspects of self-pride and versatility. Suggs lived through the “slavery” and came out of theordeal with strength of her character alone.
Slavery at the time broke down theslaves making them have low self- esteem and low worth. But Suggs brings aboutthe part of resiliency that was needed to beat the “system. ” Her faith in Godand self makes her the prominent legacy. As she rose above slavery so haveother individual rose above persecution and hardship across the years.
Forinstance, World Wars, Holocaust, and the depression to name a few. Morrison throughout Beloved offers realism of the times and consequencesthat occurred with the slaves. Morrison paints a picture post -Civil War lifethat leaves many black people lost in America. Blacks after the civil Waremerged all across the South with no place to go. The South was in ruins inevery sense and the Black freed slaves were confused.
They had been separatedfrom their families, lost any property they may have had, they wandered insearch of a better life. Just because Slavery was abolished didn’t mean all wasright in their lives of the former slaves. Slavery in the South left a lastingeffect on the country and those inside it especially the Southerners and slaves. Even today it still has its effect, with peoples till trying to trace thereheritage and the some southern economies still recovering completely. Morrison makes effective use of the characters and elements of realismto make comments on slavery and interpret various legacies.
Each make areference to various parts of slavery thus offering a selection of perspectives. Although there are only three mentioned there are many more to be found in thestory.
