Reflection of Beloved-Erin

We all learned about the horrible tragedies of slavery and that many were desperate to escape. We saw the pictures of whipped slaves and heard stories about the brutality and dehumanization of slaves in our many history classes. But Toni Morrison's Beloved brings the trauma and aftereffects of slavery. When I read it I see how important freedom is for previous slaves and why so many were unwilling to go back to slavery. But Morrison does not make every slave owner a monster to their slaves. My point of view on slavery was that it already was horrible but this book showed me how truly horrifying it was.

Morrison does not show that every plantation was hell on earth for slaves but that doesn't mean that it was right. When we are introduced to Sweet Home it seems to be a good plantation. Slaves are treated as men, educated and cared for. But no matter what they were still someone else's property. The plantation showed two extremes of plantations and owners. But we also see how important freedom is because no matter how good the owner they are still slaves. Robert Falls, a former slave, says that “If I had my life to live over I would die fighting rather than be a slave again. I want no man’s yoke on my shoulders no more.” 

We are shown the fear and horror of slavery and we experience the fear of being sent back through Sethe. When the Schoolteacher comes for her and describes her eyes as having become completely black from fear of her and her children being sent back to slavery. How Schoolteacher describes Sethe sickens me as we see that he only sees her as cattle.

Beloved shows us the horrors, tragedy, and trauma of slavery. Sethe brings to life a side of slavery that is not embellished upon in our history textbooks. The book is a great historical novel for anyone that wants to know more about the adverse effects of slavery.