#7: The Final One

Beloved was one of the hardest pieces of literature I have read. Reading the book through the psychoanalytic lens made it even more challenging in a very different way. The psychoanalytic lens analyzes the motives and reasons why certain characters chose to take certain actions. Morrison uses flashbacks and memories to describe and give more insight of the characters in the novel. One of the most important flashbacks in the novel is in Chapter 16 when Sethe attempts to to murder her own children. After analyzing Sethe and her ulterior motives in the situation  it was out of sheer weakness she attempted to murder her own children. For her, she believed it would be the only way her children would be safe; if they were not living on Earth.

The novel provides a very different yet real view on the familial structure at the time. From Africa, these people came in hordes, some with their existing families but many alone. Families were torn and broken but these people had no choice but to come to the New World. Many of these people had to start a new life and families on the fields. In Sethe’s case, she could choose from 5 men at Sweet Home, the plantation of the Garner Family. Sethe did not have a chance to look out and find who to marry. She did not have choice. Just like this is the Indian culture. Most marriages in India are arranged by the parents. Parents in India believe that they know what is better for their children. They believe they have more knowledge on what would be the right marriage. With this in mind, comes a very harsh reality. Since parents are choosing the spouses without consent from their children, many brides and grooms do not meet each other for the first time until the time of marriage. It is so sad to see this happen in such a modern day and age.

Although the topic of marriage does not relate directly to the story Beloved, it does somewhat to relate to the position Sethe has been put in. She does not have a choice the way she wants to live. One wrong move can cost her her life and her family.

All in all, reading this book through the psychoanalytic lens has provided me with an insight view of the characters that I feel I would not have gotten had I read the book through a different lens. This lens really made me dive deeper into the text. I had to re-read paragraphs, passages, and pages just to gain a better understanding of the motives behind the characters. It was a very challenging read for me since I am not much of a reader but it was definitely well worth the effort.