Examples Of Motherhood In Beloved

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In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Sethe’s experiences illuminate the theme of motherhood and its impact. Sethe escapes Sweet Home because of the determination she has to reach her children. However within the novel slavery disturbs the strength of motherhood. Sethe struggles as a mother because slavery does not allow for motherhood. Slavery separates the relationship between a mother and a child. Therefore the stability of Sethe, Beloved, and Denver’s connection is identified throughout the book. Sethe is a protagonist in Beloved because of her strong devotion to her children. “What she called the nastiness of life was the shock she received upon learning that nobody stopped playing checkers just because the pieces included her children”(Morrison).
It is centralized when Sethe killed her own daughter. Sethe saved her baby from torture and pain of slavery. On the other hand she did this extreme act because she refused to be a mother under the conditions of slavery. Sethe didn’t want to be the mother her mother was. If she was going to be a devoted mother she would have to free. Although for Sethe death was a better option than enduring slavery. "It ain't my job to know what's worse. It's my job to know what is and to keep them away from what I know is terrible. I did that"(Morrison). Sethe defended her decision. She stood still knowing maternal love didn’t have ethical limits. It isn’t for lightweights. Not only is maternal love imediate, it is something a man cannot understand. Paul D plays an insightful role by saying her love is too thick. "'Love is or it ain't. Thin love ain't love at all'"(Morrison). Sethe’s perception of motherhood influences Paul D. He takes her actions as behavior of an animal. Furthermore, Sethe’s past experiences influence her conduct towards Beloved and Denver. By telling Beloved stories of her past and taking them ice skating, Sethe shows actions as of a present mother. She continues to grow close to Beloved and

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