Death and Revival
Toni Morrison’s Beloved is a tale of subliminal messages, explicit themes, and physical hints to the reader regarding the central meaning of the book, in all it’s eeriness. However, as I continue to read through the book, I follow a trail of ingenious irony, regarding one of the book’s many messages. Beloved is a ghost tale with the overarching theme of letting go of the past by facing one’s trauma. However, I believe it is just as much a tale of death and loss as it is a tale of resurrection, as ironic as that may sound. The spirit of Beloved enters the lives of Sethe, Denver, and Paul D. just as the trio are beginning to see themselves as a family. As they are finally beginning to look into the future from a period of destitution (in terms of social life and love), we see Beloved sitting outside 124, waiting for them. Though Beloved is resurrected and physically present, her spirit reinforces the losses experienced by Sethe, Paul D., and Denver. She pushes them to face their p