Beloved: The Hardships of Sethe

Toni Morrison's post-slavery novel Beloved takes place in a time of hardship for all blacks living in the south. However, one character truly stands out as truly having a hard life. As a mother, Sethe's case of the blues roots in her deceased daughter Beloved who returns to visit her.

From early in the novel, it is clear that Sethe has not lived an easy life. Ever since she live in Sweet Home, her life has been filled with troubles. She tries to forget her past, but it keeps returning to haunt her. While Baby Suggs points out that "not a house in the country ain't packed to its rafters with some dead Negro's grief,(5)" Sethe has additional burdens on top of the average black woman's problems. The ghost of her baby constantly returns to her house to haunt her and make her life difficult. The haunting disturbs & attacks visitors such as Sethe's aquaintance Paul D. The ghost was even frightening enough that her sons Buglar and Howard were "chased off by the dead one(6)." The ghost's presence truly puts stress on her life.

However, Beloved, the ghost who haunted the house, returns to human form and comes to live with Sethe. Although they get along, Beloved begins to wear away at Sethe as time goes on. Sethe gives Beloved all the food while going hungry herself, creates fancy outfids for her and "when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire. She wanted Sethe's company for hours...(241)" A violent storm is invoked form Beloved whenever Sethe attempts to regain her motherly control, so Beloved continues to drain Sethe's resources. It is through this tormenting that Sethe approaches the point where others need to help her. The love for her own child coupled with the fear of the wrath she may bring prevents Sethe from squelching the torture Beloved brings to Sethe.

The return of Beloved not only brings issues between her and Sethe, but it also adds tension between Sethe and others. With her attention fixed upon Beloved, Denver becomes an afterthought in the eyes of Sethe. Although once close with Beloved, Denver struggles without her mother or sister. Although the three occationaly do things like ice skating together, however "When it became clear that they were only interested in each other, Denver began to drift from the play." The return of beloved sparks the discussion of why Sethe killed Beloved. As one might expect, Paul D is shocked to learn about the brutal murder, proclaiming "You got two feet, Sethe, not four." By uttering this simple comparison, the closest man to Sethe devides himself from her, "a forest sprang up between them; trackless and quiet." After Paul D quietly exits, Sethe is solemn by this sad turn. Out of all the troubles piled up in front of Sethe, she now no longer has him to ease them.