Beloved Final Essay Essays

Beloved Final Essay Essays Beloved Final Essay Essay Beloved Final Essay Essay Essay Topic: Beloved People can have more than one role in their lives; they can be a student, daughter, and an employee all at the same time. These different roles people play have various effects on the society and people around them. In the novel, Beloved, by Toni Morrison, a mysterious girl, Beloved, suddenly appears and changes the main characters, Sethes and Denver’s, lives. Although Beloved’s role in the novel seems ambiguous, it becomes apparent that she is Sethe’s reincarnated daughter because of her uncanny knowledge of past events and physical  appearance; she is also a healer who nurses Sethe’s physical wounds and Denver’s emotional wounds, and because of Beloved, Denver and Sethe learn to love themselves. In Sethe’s past, many traumatic and painful events occurred. Because of the guilt that these events carry, Sethe forces them to the back of her mind. When Beloved appears, Sethe’s process of â€Å"re-memory† and healing begins. Although the identity of Beloved is unknown, many events and occurrences in the novel support that Beloved is Sethe’s reincarnated daughter who  Sethe had killed. When Sethe first sees Beloved, her â€Å"bladder filled to capacity†¦[and] the water she voided was endless† (61). Sethe’s uncontrollable urge to urinate can be related to her experience while giving birth to Denver, â€Å"†¦there was no stopping the water breaking from a breaking womb† (61). Sethe’s urge to urinate represents her water breaking when she was pregnant with Beloved. Beloved also possesses knowledge that is only known to Sethe and her children. Beloved asks Sethe, â€Å"Where your diamonds? † (69). Beloved was referring to the  crystal earrings Sethe entertained her late daughter, Beloved, with. The only reason Beloved would know about these earring is for her to be Sethe’s reincarnated daughter. Finally, the physical appearance of Beloved is baby-like, with her â€Å"new skin, lineless and smooth, including the knuckles of her hands† (61), and â€Å"her neck no wider than a parlor service saucer, kept bending† (60). Her soft and smooth skin and her trouble holding up her head are both characteristics of babies. Finally, the scar on Beloved’s neck is the most apparent evidence of  Beloved being Sethe’s daughter. When Sethe killed her daughter, she slit her throat, and Beloved has a scar on her throat. This physical evidence further proves that Beloved is Sethe’s reincarnated daughter. Beloved’s role in the novel is not only as Sethe’s daughter, but also as a healer. Sethe physically heals Sethe and emotionally heals Denver. When Sethe is sitting out on the porch one day, she prays to feel the touch of Baby Suggs fingers on her neck. Soon, the ghost of Baby Suggs is massaging her neck and Sethe feels comforted. However, soon thereafter the â€Å"fingers  touching the back of [Sethe’s] neck were stronger† (113), and they soon â€Å"had a grip on [Sethe] that would not let her breathe† (113). Denver and Beloved rush over to save Sethe and Beloved beings to soothe Sethe’s bruised neck. Beloved â€Å"strok[ed] [Sethe’s] damp skin that felt like chamois and looked like taffeta† (114). According to Sethe â€Å"Beloved’s fingers were heavenly. Under them and breathing evenly, the anguish rolled down. The peace Sethe had come there to find crept into her† (114). The peace Sethe felt because of Beloved’s soothing touch is a result of  Beloved’s actions as a healer. Beloved also acts as an indirect emotional healer for Denver. Beloved becomes increasingly possessive and sucks the life out of Sethe. Soon, Denver can no longer tell the difference between them. Beloved’s violent behavior forces Denver to venture outside of 124 for help. Denver has to go â€Å"out there were there were places in which things so bad had happened that when you went near them it would happen again†¦[where] small things scratched and sometimes touched† (286-287). Stepping out of 124 and into the community was  a huge part of Denver’s emotional healing process. Denver’s emotional healing process is the start to her journey to loving herself. Beloved serves as a catalyst for both Sethe and Denver to begin their process of self-love and acceptance. When Beloved entered Sethe’s life, Sethe was overcome with guilt and tried to redeem herself by sacrificing everything she had, including her own identity, to please Beloved. After Beloved leaves, Sethe becomes depressed and tells Paul D that â€Å"[Beloved] was my best thing† (321). Paul D disagrees and tells Sethe, â€Å"You your best thing, Sethe. You are† (322). Paul D telling Sethe this began her on her path to redemption and loving and accepting herself. Denver was able to start on this path because Beloved forced her to unite with the community. In the novel, Beloved performs many roles. She is a reincarnation of Sethe’s daughter and heals Sethe and Denver emotionally. Most importantly, she serves as a catalyst for Sethe and Denver’s path onto self-love and acceptance. This self-love and acceptance gives Sethe and Denver hope and the ability to finally move on from their past and escape their painful memories.

Courage

Courage In this, the last newsletter of 2015, the best gift I would give you for 2016 is courage. The most common concern I receive from writers is how to weather the insecurity and fear of putting yourself out there in the world. I dare say it stops many from submitting, and many others from submitting seriously. Lack of courage keeps us writing for free (or two cents per word). Lack of courage keeps us from attending a conference and asking questions. Lack of courage keeps us from joining a critique group. Lack of courage keeps us from pitching an agent. Lack of courage keeps us from entering contests. Lack of courage keeps us from speaking to groups. Lack of courage keeps us from writing daily, for fear the investment is for naught. In making your plans for 2016, set a plan for becoming courageous. Decide to step out with your writing. I know. It sounds easier than it is. I understand. Having written The Shy Writer Reborn from personal experiences, fears, and misgivings, I have experienced most anything you can throw at me. Speaking stumbles, pitch embarrassments, submissions rejected with debasing phrases. List some steps youll take to be courageous with your writing next year, such as: Pitching a local magazine. Speaking locally to a small group. Submitting to presses in your town or state. Entering a small contest once a month instead of the national big ones. Reviewing someone elses book on Amazon in a serious, thought out manner (shows your writing skills without being direct). Joining a writers group. Introducing yourself to the librarians in your area. Attending a one-day writers conference or retreat locally. You dont have to go national with your work. Selling 5,000 books within thirty miles of your house is just as great as selling across the country. The number is the same. Less travel, less stress, less stranger-danger feeling. Can you imagine how creative wed be if we were fearless? That gives me shivers just thinking about it. But thats what I wish for you . . . more courage in 2016. Im not asking you to tackle the universe; just be bolder doing little things, so that you then become bolder about the middle-sized things. Ba Take a moment to listen to the podcast interview I did with Dorit Sasson about this very subject. It was a fun session and might help you in your journey. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. Giving Voice to Your Story podcast How to Overcome Fear. blogtalkradio.com/givingvoicetoyourstory/2015/12/10/the-courage-to-promote-your-book-with-c-hope-clark