Beloved is a novel written by Tony Morrison and is based on the American Civil War. The plot of the novel is based on the effects, consequences and the results of the Civil War. The author uses characters that would effectively bring out the Civil War theme in terms of social circles and occupations in the society. The novel is based on the characters regarded as slaves or have undergone capture, slavery and escaped from their masters (Haskins & Haskins 13). The main character in the novel, Sethe is a former slave and she underwent cruel times under her master. She manages to escape but the escape was not smooth as she lost one of her daughters in the process
The significance of the plot was to highlight the plight of individuals who underwent the practice. However, the plot of the novel seeks to highlight the consequences experienced by a person regardless of their reason behind a deed. Other factors such as religion and social ties are effectively highlighted in the novel. In an argument by Koolish the plot is based on the tribulations and the society setting before and after the civil war (45). The author also recognizes the steps slaves have taken to ensure they establish a society that appreciates their existence in society. The relationship between the author and the characters is created out of the feeling of pity and concern over the practice of slavery. Koolish recognizes the vice of parenthood and good parenting (52). Parenting is however, highlighted unusually in the context of the novel as the author highlights the extreme parenting steps that parents take to save their families or children. Additionally, the author adapts the theme of supernatural acts and beings as part of characters in the novel. One character in the novel is fictional and supernatural thus creating a horror like plot device that the author uses to base their plot (Andrews & McKay, 66).
The paper will analyze the literary skills in the novel. The literary styles will be analyzed in the context of their significance in influencing the plot and characters. The literary analysis will include review of the major literature styles the author uses and the characteristics of characters in regards to adapting the requirements of the specific literature styles. Additionally, the review will also include a perspective of the importance of style used by the author.
The novel beloved is based on the livelihood of slaves after their time in slavery and reinstatement back in society. The novel revolves around the maternal relationship between a mother and daughter, Sethe and Denver. The relationship is however, distracted by the introduction of Paul D, Sethe’s husband and beloved a supernatural being or ghost haunting the family.
The novel commences with the introduction of this particular family setting. Sethe initially had two daughters and two sons. During their escape from their slave master, she lost one of her daughters as her two sons went away from home. Sethe is married to Paul D who is the father figure in the family setting. After their escape from slavery they settled in 124 Bluestone Road, Cincinnati (Koolish 67). The society in this area is mostly slaves who escaped from their masters. The neighborhood is however, good for settlement as both Sethe and Paul D felt comfortable in the region.
After their settlement in 124, Paul D showed up in their lives and he was a significant figure in the family as he vowed to make the family forget their past lives as slaves. For the first time, Denver goes out of the house after she was convinced by Paul D (Koolish 88). One day after Paul made Denver come out of the house they encountered a young woman sited at their door step. She introduces herself as Beloved but Paul becomes weary of her and warns Sethe against interacting with her. However, Sethe was charmed by the girl and she ignored Paul’s warnings. Paul is then forced out of the house by a supernatural power. While sleeping in the shed, Paul is confronted by Beloved and their interaction made him remember bad memories of his times as a slave (Andrews & McKay 78)
Paul then approaches Sethe after which they decided to start a new family and Sethe told Paul what really happened and the cause of Beloved’s interference in their lives. Sethe remembered the day they escaped from their master and she went to live with her mother-in-law. Her master then showed up and they wanted to take away her children. She took all her children to a shed and planned to kill of them to protect them from slave masters. However, she only managed to kill her eldest daughter, Beloved. Paul could not handle all the revelation and goes away. After his departure the feeling of moving forward and forgetting bad memories disappeared (Koolish 89). After a long time of torment, Sethe sort help from community members. Community members practiced exorcism and Beloved departs 124 and Paul moves back home and declares his love for Sethe.
The use of plot device
A plot device is literary style that authors use to base their plot on. A plot device can be described as a person, object or factor that is most significance in the continuity of plot. In this case, the author uses numerous plot devices to base their story lie and create their plot. In the novel, the author uses Sethe, Paul D and Beloved as his main plot devices.
In analyzing the appropriateness of Sethe as a plot device, one must recognize her role as a parent, wife and as a mother who killed her child to protect them. Sethe creates and completes the maternal relationship the author had a motive of creating. The creation of her character was based on the fact that the author had to create a significance relationship between Sethe and her daughters. This relationship forms the base of the creation of the entire plot. Sethe at first kills her daughter. This is seen as the most controversial and significant practice in the novel. The murder of Beloved both creates a character judgment on Sethe and also creates a base from where the entire supernatural theme is created on. Minus the inclusion of Sethe in the plot the murder of Beloved would not be significant. When beloved comes back as a supernatural being, she torments Sethe for her actions. Additionally, Beloved’s only interest in the novel is to punish Sethe for her death. The significance of Sethe in the novel is highlighted by the analysis of her contribution in the above acts. As a plot device, Sethe is used to ensure the continuity on the plot considering the facts she invited Beloved back to the real life. In an argument by Koolish, her role as a plot device is the most significant in the literature piece since she initiates all the controversial practices in the plot (98).
Paul D as a device was used an agent of change. His introduction in the plot of the novel was based on the assumption that the author wanted to create a neutral character that is different from all the existing characters. Regardless of his status, a former slave, Paul has a lot of hope and believes in restoration and that is what Sethe lacked in her home. His introduction in the novel, initiates the feeling of change as the character of Denver is changed from boring to fun and interesting. Additionally, Paul is used to ensure continuity of the plot in terms of creating a notion on the importance of family ties and love. His relationship with Sethe was significant in the plot. He makes Sethe confess on her actions about Beloved a fact the audience were looking forward to. Minus his presence a feeling of hope and restoration in the novel could not have effectively portrayed as Sethe would be left alone to fight for a bright future a feature she lacked.
Beloved can also be referred as plot device considering the fact the title of the novel is derived from her character. Beloved creates the direction of the plot. She dictates the direction of the plot and the author uses her presence to initiate a direction that would effectively enable the audience to understand his motive. Beloved is first introduced as a supernatural being before the audience is introduced to her as the eldest daughter of Sethe. This transition is also significant as it creates a proper character from which a plot can be derived from. In an argument by Koolish minus the character Beloved in the novel, it is an obvious assumption that the novel could not have been developed to completion (102). The author further points out that the character by Beloved is created to ensure the development supernatural theme adapted by the author (Haskins & Haskins 94). As the only supernatural factor in the novel her perception as a plot device cannot be overlooked.
Symbolism
The introduction of Beloved was also a symbolism style by the author to show the bad memories slavery had brought on the people who experienced it (Koolish 133). According to Sethe, Beloved was long gone and she had forgotten about her and the events that transpired between them. However, this was not to be as the author introduces her as supernatural being in the novel. She torments Sethe and she makes her reminisce on her deeds and her times as a slave. Additionally, her presence only brought up the negative memories from the slave period. The spiritual form of Beloved also seeks to symbolize the superiority in characters bad memories from the slavery era had on human beings. Her form torments Sethe and she cannot fight back since she did not have enough courage and power to fight and defeat her.
The use of flashbacks
Works cited
The sources for this paper will be used to cite the introduction and the plot of the novel. The sources have a review of the plot of the novel. Additionally, the sources have analyzed several aspects of the novel and this would be cited in this particular believe. The sources were also helpful in realizing the literary skills used by the author in the novel.
Andrews, Williams and McKay, Nelly. Toni Morrison's Beloved: A Casebook. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1999. Print.
Haskins, Jim and Haskins, James. Toni Morrison: Telling a tale untold. New York: 21st Century Books. 2002. Print.
Koolish, Lynda. To be loved and cry shame: A psychological reading of Toni Morrison’s Beloved. Connecticut: MELUS, University of Connecticut. 2001. Print.
