October+17+-+Toni+Morrison,+Beloved

Th 10/

As Beloved ask Sethe questions regarding her pasts, do you think Beloved asked those question to help Sethe to conquer her pasts or is Beloved hoping the past can hurt and punish Sethe as revenge?

17: Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987), pages 60-173 in my edition Begins with: "A fully dressed woman walked out of the water." Ends with: "that she didn't like the look of at all. At all."
 * →Response Papers:** Group 2 (3/4)
 * →Response Papers:** G roup 3 (3/4)

Catalina Velez

Do you feel that Beloved serves a deeper purpose beyond haunting Sethe and her family?

Callie Friedman

Do you think Toni Morrison is countering the character's flashbacks with the presence of a more grown up Beloved?

Melissa Cook Discussion question: How much do you believe your past impacts your identity?

Do you believe that it was Beloved who choked her mother in the clearing?

Roxanne Eugene

Why is that slavery had the ability to take one’s true identity away?



Why does the subject of the supernatural play such a large role in this novel?

If you were in Beloved's position, would you rather have lived or been happy with Sethe's choice of protection?

Alex Farmand

Putting yourself in Denver's shoes, would you want to get rid of Beloved or would you become attached to her? For what reason? (i.e. out of fear or spite)

Do the after-effects of slavery (e.g. being treated as sub-human) give the cast any more insight or ability to understand or deal with these supernatural entities? Not just Beloved, but any "rememory"?

What factors caused Beloved to take human form as oppose to her phantom being form before?