Approaching The Thing Of Slavery: A Lacanian Analysis

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Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, explores the trauma of Sethe’s past life as a slave, which ironically allows her daughter Denver, to find her true identity; representing the historical effects of slavery upon two generations of African Americans. Throughout the novel, Sethe struggles to become a free woman, not physically, but mentally, from the tortures she suffered as a slave. Though during the beginning of the novel, Denver is portrayed as rather childish and immature in order to reflect her mother’s dismay, though later, she is able to find her true identity after the arrival of Beloved, as her presence devastates the household.
Though Sethe believes her arrival in Cincinnati will allow her to escape the suffering she endured at the Sweet …show more content…

“Approaching the Thing of Slavery: A Lacanian Analysis of Toni Morrison's Beloved.” African Studies Review, Cambridge University Press, 19 Mar. 2013, muse.jhu.edu/article/502550/pdf. George Sheldon’s analysis of the impacts of slavery within Beloved describes the insignificance of time. Though even after years have passed, Sethe struggles to have the ability to truly free herself from the tortures she endured as a slave. Sethe’s inability to free herself from those tortures, as well as Beloved, continues to haunt Denver. Sheldon describes Sethe’s emotional destruction after Beloved’s arrival at her home enslaves her yet again, representing the true nature of slavery.
Mathews, Aradhana. “An Analysis on Slavery and Motherhood in Toni Morrison's ‘Beloved.’” Academia.edu, 25 Sept. 2014, www.academia.edu/8808332/An_Analysis_on_Slavery_and_Motherhood_in_Toni_Morrisons_Beloved_.
Aradhana’s analysis provides insight regarding the maternal relationship between Sethe and Beloved. Despite Sethe’s real daughter is left to mature as a result of her own mother’s isolation. Sethe’s continues to live with the guilt of killing her baby, thus when Beloved arrives, she destroys Sethe’s ability to see the truth. Sethe’s guilt and feelings of a motherly bond consume her emotions, bringing back all her memories of desperation and suffering as a slave. Sethe’s emotions overwhelms her ability to care for her real daughter, Denver, as the presence of Beloved consumes her …show more content…

Sethe’s reasoning to kill her own child was based on her belief in morality; believing allowing Beloved to continue to live in world of pain and suffering would be crueler than killing her. Sethe’s murder of her own child serves to depict he physiological impacts slavery had on African Americans. After the arrival of Beloved, Sethe’s memories of the Sweet Home plantation come to the surface, as do the deplorable memories of her life as a slave.
DiMatteo, Tiffany. “12.02.08: Beloved: A Case Study in Storytelling Analysis.” 00.01.05: Understanding Ethnic Labels and Puerto Rican Identity, 2 Dec. 2008, teachersinstitute.yale.edu/nationalcurriculum/units/2012/2/12.02.08.x.html.
Tiffany DiMatteo’s analysis of Beloved describes the structure of the novel, as well as Denver's growth into womanhood. DiMatteo provides further insight regarding Beloved's influence on African American slavery which impacts the cultural essence of the novel. DiMatteo discusses the contrast between the truth Morrison conveys within the novel, as the historical truth. The influence of slavery and the cycle of slavery can be seen within the arrival of Beloved, as her presence enslaves Sethe, yet ironically frees Denver, allowing her to search for her own identity as she enters

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