Reflection on What Has Happened So Far

I haven't gotten as far into the book as I'd like, but I have gotten far enough to understand some of the struggles of almost every character in my own way. There have been many events that had happened between the first chapter and now. To begin, and I hope I do not spoil anything for anyone, Beloved the ghost child that haunts 124 has either reincarnated, is still a ghost, or her spirit took over someones body. There are many reasons to why I believe Beloved has reincarnated, like the fact that she has "new skin, lineless and smooth, including the knuckles of her hands" (61), almost like a baby but she is in a women's body. We are unsure of how old Beloved is, but it seems that she is about 18 years old. This is extremely important because if we think back to how long ago Beloved was born, we know that if she were alive she would be 18 years old. So if she has the same name and age, then we can infer that Beloved is truly Sethe's daughter in a new form. 

In regards to who has opened up to Beloved, both Sethe and Denver have opened up to her. It was easy for Denver to open up to Beloved, because she has been isolated all her life from other people in general. But it was surprising to me when I realized that Denver was so open to Beloved even after she found that she is supernatural and Sethe's dead daughter. Sethe opening up to Beloved also surprised me, because as far as Sethe knows Beloved is a stranger to her. Sethe has tried her hardest to keep her memories dug deep inside her, but as soon as Beloved comes into her life she is happily telling her the stories of her past that she has been running from her whole life. Since I am looking at this book through a psychoanalytic lens, I have been constantly wondering what about Beloved makes her so intriguing and charming to Sethe and Denver. Could it be because of her mysteriousness, Sethe's motherly instincts, Denver's loneliness, or because she is African?

The only person that has not fallen to Beloved's charm is Paul D. He has no relation to Beloved, which is why I believe Sethe and Denver don't mind Beloved living with them. When looking back for another reason as to why Paul D dislikes Beloved being there is most likely because he was just starting to feel accepted by Denver and Sethe, like the time when they all held each others hands and their shadows depicted them as a family. So when Beloved came and disrupted this family he instantly tries to find all that is wrong with her.

Overall Beloved's arrival has brought up many different feelings and memories of all the characters. So I'm anxious to find out more.

Thanks for reading!

-Halemah Shuman