"Beloved"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved", about the terrible consequences that ensure when the mother-daughter bond is fractured by the horrible and inhumane forces of slavery. It discusses how the main characters Sethe and Beloved are deeply joined by the closeness of the mother-daughter relationship, as well as the terrible and violent losses and betrayals that they endure over the course of their lives. It illustrates the universality of the mother-daughter bond and the terrible sadness and fragmentation that can result when society interferes in this profound and instinctual connection.

From the Paper:

"Sethe's loss of her own mother greatly influenced her own attitudes toward her children. Sethe was taken from her mother as an infant, and Sethe only saw her own mother a handful of times in her life. As a child, Sethe was hurt and confused by her mother's absence. This profound sense of abandonment and loss continued even into adulthood, and likely influenced Sethe's strong desire to love and care for her own children. Aware of her own mother's inability to protect and love her children, Sethe still struggles to love and care for her children, despite the horrible realities of slavery. "

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