Hellscape In Beloved

During the novel Beloved, there is a heavy, repetitive theme of past events and how to deal with them and what happens if they are left uncorrected or unnoticed. Every chapter concerns the past in either a physical or mental embodiment. Sethe has to deal with Beloved, her murdered daughter returned from the grave, and at the same time has to manage her trauma left over from her life in slavery. Throughout the story, Sethe is trapped in her own personal hellscape that almost tears her apart. Toni Morrison wrote this novel specifically about slavery. She could have chosen any other form of mass cruelty - the Holocaust for example. But, she chose slavery to create her purpose and have that purpose be directed towards those affected by slavery

The only way to advance is through acceptance and closure.
When faced with something challenging or uncomfortable, the easiest response is to ignore it and go on the defense. If there is a wall between a negative force and your psyche, you will not be damaged. One of the hardest things to do as a mature person, is to give in to bad feelings. Sethe chooses the common tactic, as most do, and tries to fight away the painful memories of her past by simply not thinking about it. When Sethe returns from her prison sentence, she shows no regret at Beloved’s funeral and avoids all other attendees. The community members are obviously off put by this display and it is then that they decide to abandon her. Because Sethe did not let her true feelings show, she was seen as ruthless and was hurt by this in the end by her own behavior. As time goes on, Sethe continues this pattern and will not speak of her past ever. Not even when Denver, her daughter and only companion, asks her to. Paul D is another character that does the same thing as Sethe. Locked away in the rusty tin can where his heart should be is where he hides all of his painful memories. Never to be opened, everything he’s ever been through is a dirty

When Paul D arrived at 124, there was a brief moment of pure happiness coming home from the carnival where he, Denver, and Sethe were all united as one happy family. Even though everyone in the unconventional group has had a challenging life, they are able to find comfort in each other and bond over their pain. A better future was in sight even though it seemed impossible. Unfortunately, the good times don’t last a mysterious girl comes out of the river that ends up torturing the family to the point of driving both Paul D and Denver out of their home. Unanimously, the community comes together to help one of their own and promises to rid 124 of the evil presence, whatever it may really be. No matter what the individual person thought of the rumored Beloved, the group agreed that they must go, “The future was sunset; the past something to leave behind. And if it didn’t stay behind, well, you might have to stomp it out,” (302). Beloved is a manifestation of the past that has the sole purpose of wearing down Sethe. Collectively, this is seen as unacceptable. The past should be just that; that past. No matter what you did or what happened, there is always the possibility of recovery and redemption. If the future is a sunset, it is a beautiful thing that draws the curtains on events long forgotten. Furthermore, if the past decides to try and sneak its way back into the present, it is