Beloved

Toni Morrison uses a variety of literary techniques in the novel Beloved, however, the most dominant technique is that of magical realism. The term magical realism was created in the early twentieth-century and originally described a new painting style, but was later applied to fiction (Faris 1). This technique blends realistic narrative with supernatural elements in such a way that the reader does not question the impossibility of these events. Magical realism in the novel Beloved demonstrates three major concepts: the concept of love; the destructive impact of slavery; and the impact of traumatic memory on the human psyche.

Beloved is written using nonlinear narrative style to tell the story of Sethe, an escaped slave woman, who is literally haunted by her past after she attempts to kill her children with a hacksaw. Sethe only succeeds in murdering Beloved, her infant daughter. Beloved’s spirit haunts Sethe’s home until Paul D, a friend from the plantation, arrives unexpectedly and successfully exorcises the spirit. Later, when a young woman baring the name Beloved physically appears in the lives of Sethe, Paul D, and Sethe’s other daughter Denver, magical realism enables the reader to recognize that this woman is the reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered daughter who has returned from death as an adult. Beloved appears to be innocent and vulnerable in the beginning, but proves to be powerful and malicious by the novel’s conclusion.

Not only does Morrison’s use of magical realism enable the reader to become immediately familiarized with the ghost Beloved, it also provides a framework for the paranormal activity occurs throughout the story. Morrison opens the story by describing 124, the home Sethe lives in with her daughter De...

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...ed, it seems that she never existed. Her life is unrecorded and unacknowledged once she is forgotten. As painful as memories often are, they act as a record of life, a mark of existence, and make people and events immortal. Because Beloved is not remembered, she never existed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Morison’s novel shares the message of how significant the past is on our lives in the present. Moreover, the author speaks to the negative impact of unresolved grief and trauma.

In conclusion magical realism is used throughout the novel in such a way that Morrison’s universal message of unconditional love and the detrimental impact of trauma have on human concousness.

Morrison’s use of magical realism regarding the concept of love shares the message that love takes many forms and that most people do what they can to protect themselves when love is their motivation.