The Haunting Effects of Slavery
Inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, who escaped slavery, Toni Morrison
wrote the book Beloved in 1987. The book tells the story of formerly enslaved Sethe
and her daughter Denver; and takes place primarily after the American Civil War.
After Sethe escapes from ‘Sweet home’, the plantation, she is captured again on the
authority of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. To protect her children from a life as a
slave she kills her two-year-old daughter, whose ghost now haunts the house where
Seth and her family live.
One of the main themes in the book is how slavery can destroy a person. Not only
does slavery affect the slaves and freed slaves, but also their children Although it
appears slavery ended after the Civil War, its effects are not gone yet. So in other
words, the book Beloved shows how slavery affects the children of freed slaves
after the abolishment of slavery.
First of all, Denver is scared to leave the house for most of her life. It appears that
something happened which has resulted in her abnormal behaviour. She only leaves
for short periods of time, in order to go to school, and once with Paul D and her
mother to go to the carnival. “She would have to leave the yard; step off the edge of
the world, leave the two behind and go ask somebody for help” (Morrison, 1987,
286). The example shows Denver's view of the world as she is about to leave the
house. She does not leave, because she is scared and sees the world as a scary
place. The main reason is because her mother told a lot of stories which scared her.
The picture is still there and what’s more, if you go there---you who never was
there---if you go there and stand in the place where it was, it will happen
again; it will be there for you, waiting for you. So, Denver, you can’t never go
there. Never. Because even though it’s all over--- over and done with---it’s
going to always be there waiting for you. (Morrison, 1987, 44)
This illustrates the effect of the past on the characters. Sethe tells Denver about how
the past never really leaves and traumas maintain and will always be there waiting
for you. She also believes that, even if you were not there yourself, the past will still
be there, so you can come across someone else's trauma. That really scares Denver
and results in her not going her own way. Her mother’s past has a huge influence on
Inspired by the true story of Margaret Garner, who escaped slavery, Toni Morrison
wrote the book Beloved in 1987. The book tells the story of formerly enslaved Sethe
and her daughter Denver; and takes place primarily after the American Civil War.
After Sethe escapes from ‘Sweet home’, the plantation, she is captured again on the
authority of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. To protect her children from a life as a
slave she kills her two-year-old daughter, whose ghost now haunts the house where
Seth and her family live.
One of the main themes in the book is how slavery can destroy a person. Not only
does slavery affect the slaves and freed slaves, but also their children Although it
appears slavery ended after the Civil War, its effects are not gone yet. So in other
words, the book Beloved shows how slavery affects the children of freed slaves
after the abolishment of slavery.
First of all, Denver is scared to leave the house for most of her life. It appears that
something happened which has resulted in her abnormal behaviour. She only leaves
for short periods of time, in order to go to school, and once with Paul D and her
mother to go to the carnival. “She would have to leave the yard; step off the edge of
the world, leave the two behind and go ask somebody for help” (Morrison, 1987,
286). The example shows Denver's view of the world as she is about to leave the
house. She does not leave, because she is scared and sees the world as a scary
place. The main reason is because her mother told a lot of stories which scared her.
The picture is still there and what’s more, if you go there---you who never was
there---if you go there and stand in the place where it was, it will happen
again; it will be there for you, waiting for you. So, Denver, you can’t never go
there. Never. Because even though it’s all over--- over and done with---it’s
going to always be there waiting for you. (Morrison, 1987, 44)
This illustrates the effect of the past on the characters. Sethe tells Denver about how
the past never really leaves and traumas maintain and will always be there waiting
for you. She also believes that, even if you were not there yourself, the past will still
be there, so you can come across someone else's trauma. That really scares Denver
and results in her not going her own way. Her mother’s past has a huge influence on
