"Kindred" Versus "Beloved"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, in recent works of historical fiction by Toni Morrison ("Beloved") and Octavia E. Butler ("Kindred"), common themes of black literature are explored. It examines how principally through circular narrative, recall of memory and the pervasive theme of human bondage, Morrison demonstrates a powerful, varied, and incisive style in the portrayal of how humanity can be stolen from those who are victimized. In comparison, it looks at how based on first hand, factual experiences researched by Butler, "Kindred" presents a unique perspective on the sacrifices that a slave had to make to secure his or her freedom. It concludes that both these works bear testimony to the profound impact that this tragic period in history has had on the black literature of today.

From the Paper:

"The use of paradox is evident from the beginning of the novel as the narrator describes the house at 124 Bluestone Road as being "Full of a baby's venom" (Morrison 3), in direct contradiction to the usual attribute of innocence associated with an infant. As the plot develops, the audience begins to understand the true meaning of this phrase in regard to the murder of the baby, Beloved, by its mother, Sethe. Rather than condemning her child to a morbid life filled with the torment of slavery, Sethe is driven to this heinous act in the belief that she will give her child a better alternative than a life of slavery. For a strong mother to commit such a shocking and outrageous act, it can be concluded that Sethe's life was nothing short of sheer hell and torture. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Butler, Octavia E. Kindred. Boston, MA: Beacon P, 1979.
• Franklin, John Hope. "Slave Resistance." Revelation. Ed. Teresa M. Redd. Boston: Pearson Custom, 2002. 95-101.
• Logan, Paul E., and Barbara W. Williams. A Howard Reader: an Intellectual and Cultural Quilt of the African-American Experience. Vol. II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996.
• Morrison, T. Beloved. New York: Plume, 1988.
• Sylvester, Melvin R. "The African-American: a Journey From Slavery to Freedom." B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library. 1988. Long Island University. 22 Nov. 2006 <http://www.liu.edu/cwis/CWP/library/aaslavry.htm>.

More papers on "Kindred" Versus "Beloved":

• Analytical Essay # 144691 : "Feminism in "Kindred" by Octavia Butler"
• Analytical Essay # 83578 : "Toni Morrison's "Beloved"
• Analytical Essay # 2871 : "Beloved: A Lesson in Numbers"

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