Were Paul D.'s actions appropriate?

I honestly do believe that Paul D’s reactions toward the killing of Beloved were very appropriate. Who wouldn’t feel horrified and disturbed by this gruesome murder? It was no surprise to all when the first line of Chapter 17 read, “That ain’t her mouth” (Beloved 154), referring to Paul’s disbelief that Sethe could do such a ghastly thing. Even after Stamp Raid continued to read the article out loud, Paul just kept shaking his head "No way", this is not the Sethe he used to know.

What’s interesting is the fact that the only person who truly didn’t understand the motive for what Sethe did is a man. In fact, Paul D. is the only male character in the novel that Toni Morison explores in depth. After all, he does move into the 124 household. After coming in terms with reality of Sethe’s murder in Chapter 18, Paul’s previous image of her quickly deteriorates in his eyes. He mentions, “This here Sethe talked about safety with a handsaw. She didn’t know where the world stopped and she began” (Beloved 164). Paul D. just can't grasp the obvious contradiction between Sethe's want to save her children and murder. But the interesting thing is, it makes perfect sense to Sethe and only Sethe. But to Paul, Sethe's problem is in the fact that she cannot realize that her actions are not justifiable.

I have to disagree with you, Rachel, because his actions were appropriate indeed. Just because they connect through sharing Sweet Home memories together does not mean that Paul D. will automatically understand Sethe's motive for commiting infanticide. He did in fact try to understand by keep asking her the sole reason for the murder, but Sethe just kept pushing him away. However, she kept refusing to see herself from an outside point of view, and just defending her motive by repeating the same thing over and over again, “They ain’t at Sweet Home. School teacher ain’t got them” (Beloved 165). Of course Paul never gave birth and does not possess that maternal instinct, how in the world is he expected to feel Sethe? He’s just a man who sees a mother as a protector, one who does everything in her ability to keep her children alive, not cut their throat with a handsaw. To him, murder of children is a violation of the code of ethics. For Paul. D, being a mother means loving you children in moderation, which is what he means when he says, “ You love it too thick” (Beloved 164). This is the reason why he cannot calmly agree with Sethe and tell her she's justified in murder. Paul D.'s intial reaction is appropriate to the horrid act Sethe commited.
~Eugenia

Does Sethe have any other options besides killing her children?

With the schoolteacher fast approaching, Sethe has to make a quick decision about what to do with her children to prevent them from being put into the tortures of slavery. Sethe loves her children greatly and wants to keep them out of the demanding and dangerous aspects of slavery. In the beginning of this book we learn of Sethe's past at Sweet Home. We learn of "the tree on her back" which refers to the scars from the whipping she endured while being in slavery at Sweet Home. The scars still exist, years later, as a constant reminder of what to stay away from. By running away, Sethe attempts to create a better life for herself and her children. This dream of creating a better life is hindered when the schoolteacher comes to take Sethe and now her children back to Sweet Home. I believe that Sethe has two options in this situation.

The first being obvious is the one Sethe chooses. She decides that killing her children is better then having them go into slavery. In the wood shed behind the house, Sethe kills her daughter Beloved, and severely injures her other three children, another daughter and two sons. By injuring her children she ensures that they will not have to go into slavery. They will avoid the hard work, the ill treatment, and the memories that will forever follow them. Sethe is hurt, everyday by the memories of her time in slavery. Everyday she has to remember the sufferings that she went through. The tree on her back is a constant reminder not only to her, but also to the rest of the world. Paul D. notices her scars and also relives his past in slavery. The memory of slavery haunts Sethe everyday and it would be her worst nightmare to go back into it. Choice number one for Sethe was killing her children to keep them out of slavery and although it seems like a harsh decision it worked. But it was too much for one child because Beloved is murdered. So did Sethe have any other reasonable options? I believe so because a death shouldn’t have occurred. Death is always the worse thing that can happen because it can’t be reversed. Once life is taken you can’t get it back. I believe that Sethe could have picked a better option in order to save the life of her daughter Beloved

The second option would be to allow the schoolteacher to take her and her children back into slavery. Although this option is not ideal especially because of Sethe’s past in slavery, it is better than death. When the schoolteacher approached Sethe could have come to the realization that she would go back into slavery and prepared her children for what they were about to experience instead of killing them. Although it would be hard for Sethe to go back into slavery and the thought that her children would have to go through the pain and whippings that she had already would haunt her at least they would be alive. This option has two paths. The first being that Sethe and her children could be taken into slavery and they, without complaints or arguments follow through with what they are demanded to do. This obviously is unwanted and would be horrible to endure. The second option would be to go into slavery but fight to survive and escape. Although this wounds better than the other options it would probably be the hardest. The benefit of escaping would be to have freedom, however if Sethe or her kids were caught they could face severe consequences. These consequences include amputation of the feet, lynching, whipping, and other severe forms of beating. Was the risk worth it? I believe so. This option seems like the most reasonable because it keeps, hopefully, everyone alive. As long as the family is alive they still have a chance because as stated before at least they still have their lives.

Ultimately the decision comes down to whether Sethe believes that death or slavery is worse. To Sethe, she believes slavery is worse. Personally, I would have picked the second option and fought as hard as possible to get myself and my children out of slavery. To me death is the worse thing that can happen just because it can’t be reversed. So does Sethe have other options? Yes, she does.

-Priyanka

Was Sethe justified in her attempt to kill her children (and being successful with the murder of Beloved)?

If you would have asked me this question three weeks ago, I would have firmly answered- NO! Sethe has no right to take a life of an innocent baby by slicing her throat with a handsaw. How can a mother even think about murdering her own flesh and blood? But then again what do I, a white female know about being a slave and a mother?

It was very hard to understand the motive behind Sethe’s action at first (even though Mrs. Mahon did talk about a similar situation that a runaway slave, Margaret Garner had faced) because I did not get a glimpse of Sethe’s life, which is the key to understanding this novel. However, through Toni Morison’s recount of painful experiences that Sethe faced as a slave while at Sweet Home made me realize that the reason for the murder lies in understanding maternal instinct and how it leads a mom to protect her offspring by any necessary means. When babies are born, mothers have full control of their children, right? Yes, but not in Sethe’s case. As soon as Beloved entered the world, she was considered a slave just because Sethe was a slave. And Sethe knew that once she was captured she would lose her control over the innocent baby, and that would morally kill her. In Chapter 26, Sethe explains what she thinks is supposedly the worst thing that could happen in her life, “That anybody white could take your whole self for anything that came to mind. Not just work, kill, or maim you, but dirty you“(Beloved 251). This shows that even though Sethe survived being whipped while pregnant, having been milked by the school teacher’s nephews, and having to pay for Beloved’s tombstone with intercourse, she did not want to see her children being treated as animals. While Sethe became “dirty” after Sweet Home, her children never experienced slavery first hand so they remained the only pure, “clean” thing in her life. Her oldest daughter (Beloved) did not even have a name until she died, signifying how Sethe wanted to keep a blank slate for her daughter, wanted her to be free and live her own life, something that Sethe never got a chance to do since the memories of Sweet Home continued to torment her years after. The only reason she attempted to kill her children was to keep them from being degraded, or “dirtied” by the whites who did that same to her. And this is why Sethe committed of infanticide, she felt obligated to protect her children at any cost. When she’s talking to Paul D, she justified her actions by saying, “It’s my job to know what is and to keep them away from what I know is terrible. I did that.” (Beloved 165).

One might call her act of infanticide animalistic and heartless, but Sethe sacrificed herself for the betterment of her daughter. After the murder she spent her entire life overridden with guilt and despair at what she did. When the reincarnation of the baby ghost showed up at her doo step, Sethe became so obsessed with Beloved that she has given up everything she had to make her happy, putting up with Beloved’s unreasonable demands. When Paul D. came back to visit her in Chapter 27, she replied “She was my best thing” (Beloved 272). She never meant to hurt her, it was out of unconditional love. In my opinion that’s an ultimate gesture of a loving mother and is completely justifiable.
~Eugenia

Do you think Sethe's actions were heroic?

The other day my friend asked me to think about whom I would take a bullet for. Obvious answer: my sister. I would automatically jump in front of a fatal shot in order to save her life. But had I known that I couldn’t jump in front of that bullet, would I have killed her in order to save her from a painful, long, suffering death? My answer, no. Under no circumstance would I be able to kill my sister. The guilt would never go away and the thought that by some miracle she could survive would keep me from becoming a murderer. Although this situation is extreme it is similar to the one that Sethe finds herself in. Having escaped the tortures of slavery at Sweet Home and the schoolteacher Sethe is determined to have a better, safer, and happier life. She has four children that she loves dearly and like any good mother she wants to protect them from harm. Sethe knows the struggles of being a slave and fears everyday that she will have to go back. Yes, Sethe is protecting her children from the schoolteacher and slavery when she attempts to murder all four children and successfully murders the second youngest, Beloved, however was it a heroic action?

According to dictionary.com a hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hero). So someone that completes a heroic action displays the character or attributes of a hero: extraordinarily courageous, bold, and determined (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/heroic). Along with the above definitions, Sethe’s actions would be considered heroic. Her children meant the world to her; she went through so much in order to keep them safe. From the moment she decided to kill them to after she attempted to murder them her mind was only on their well-being. She wanted to keep her children out of the same pain and agony that she experienced in slavery. I believe that a hero is someone who sacrifices the most important things to them in order to keep others out of future harm. Many believe that the most important thing is one’s own life but Sethe loves her kids so much that they are the most important things to her. Sacrificing their lives was like taking her own life. Her actions were extremely heroic which was confirmed by the sufferings that came after it. Not only did Sethe lose her daughter Beloved, but her two oldest sons ran away from home and her youngest daughter Denver distanced herself from Sethe. She loses everything she has in one moment.

Although I will never be able to understand the exact situation that Sethe is in because I have never been in slavery or ever physically harmed in any way, I believe that Sethe’s actions were heroic. I could never imagine killing my own children, another human being that I gave life to, but I could imagine doing anything to keep them from harm. Many slaves die while working, the conditions are unimaginable from the whippings to unbelievable work hours to the amount of food they are given. The nutrients are low and the work is hard. I would never wish slavery upon anyone and neither does Sethe. She tries to keep her kids out of it by running away from Sweet Home. And with the schoolteacher quickly approaching she had to make a quick decision. I cannot say that that would have been my decision but I do respect her for making such a rash but self-sacrificing decision.

In an essay written by James Phelan (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2342/is_2_32/ai_54637198/), he describes that Sethe’s decision is stunning and could be the most important moment of the book. This single decision shapes the rest of Sethe’s life; isolation, guilt and doubt are bound to follow a major decision like this. Phelan states that Morrison establishes slavery as an abstract of evil. The reader is given enough information to understand what could happen to Sethe and her children if she is taken back to Sweet Home. As a reader, I sympathize with Sethe’s situation and her fear of having to go back into slavery. The single image of the whipped back that we viewed in the beginning of this unit was enough for me to realize that slavery wasn’t an easy journey. Once freed, I could never imagine Sethe ever wanting to go back into slavery. I believe that although it’s not the decision I would have made it was heroic. A hero sacrifices everything she has, and Sethe does exactly that by killing her child.

-Priyanka

Were Paul D.'s reactions to hearing that Sethe attempted to kill her children (and succeeding in killing one) appropriate?

I think Paul D.'s reaction upon hearing that Sethe killed/tried to kill her children was very appropriate. Who wouldn't be in denial, and disgusted, and even make up alternative solutions (as impossible as they might be) upon hearing that someone they loved was a murderer - of their own children, no less. What surprised me was that, even after he had gone through the abuses slavery just like Sethe had, he still wasn't able to comprehend that rationality behind killing one's own children to prevent them from going through the same thing.

I had thought that Paul D. and Sethe had a special connection because they had both been slaves together, and they had both felt Mr. Garner's 'kindness' and then schoolteacher's wrath. So it made me think that perhaps he of all people would understand why Sethe tried to kill her children to save them from a worse fate. But then I was reminded of the essay that I referred to in my previous post, that emphasized the significance of the rape scene to the book and to Sethe's life. The rape, and the beatings Sethe received afterwards, were not something Paul D had ever experienced. Certainly he had been beaten before, and in Alfred, Georgia he was almost forced to commit sexual acts with the guards (but was spared) - but nothing to the intensity of abuse Sethe received. He does not carry a constant reminder of the pain schoolteacher and his nephews on his back, puffed out and raw for all to see. And, until after he had moved out of 124, he had never considered death a kinder option than being a slave. Though it was horrific, it wasn't nearly as bad for him as it was for Sethe, and that's where the difference lies. It was easier for him to keep all those memories locked up in the tin tobacco box in his heart, which is perhaps why he didn't prefer death over slavery - because he repressed how bad slavery truly was. But since Sethe had a constant reminder, in her scars and in her dead baby daughter reincarnated, killing her children seemed like the better option. It wasn't until after Paul D had left Sethe and 124, after he had shared with Sethe all the memories they had in common, that his tin tobacco box became a beating, red heart. In chapter 24, it even says, "He couldn't figure out why it took so long. He may as well have jumped in the fire with Sixo and they both could have had a good laugh." (Beloved 218-219) Now that his tin tobacco box was open, and all his memories came flooding back, with help from Sethe and Beloved, he began to think that death might have been a better option. However, that doesn't stop him from being upset at Sethe for doing it.

At first, when Stamp Paid showed him the newspaper clipping, Paul D was in denial claiming, "That ain't her mouth" (Beloved 154). He probably believed it in the back of his mind, but he didn't want to - and so he made up any excuse he could to convince himself that the woman in the newspaper clipping was not Sethe. After Sethe admitted that she tried to kill her children to protect them, he was disgusted and frightened. It wasn't merely the act of killing her children that scared him, but the reason behind it - that it was for their safety. He realized that "this here Sethe talked about safety with a handsaw." (Beloved 164). He was frightened and upset that safety from slavery meant death. And he was even more upset because he had known Sethe since she was a girl, and he would have never expected her to do something like this. And finally, he tried to come up with (vague) other alternatives to killing her own children, saying, "Maybe there's worse." and "There could have been a way. Some other way." (Beloved 165). All in all, I'd say Paul D.'s reaction was very appropriate, it was just like any other person would react upon hearing such news. However, I was still somewhat surprised that he would react like 'any other person'. I thought he'd show more understanding to Sethe's situation, but upon taking a closer look, I saw that he could not.

-Rachel H.

Was Sethe's attempt to kill her children (and her success in killing Beloved) to save them from the horrors of slavery 'heroic'?

When Mrs. Mahon read us an excerpt from The Black Book, about Margaret Garner, the runaway slave woman who attempted to kill her children so they wouldn't be taken from her and put into slavery, and the inspiration for Morrison's book Beloved, I won't lie - I was pretty horrified. Could it be that something existed at one point that was so horrible, it made it okay for mothers to murder their children, as a way out? I didn't think it possible. And then she went on to read that abolitionists hailed Garner a hero - I couldn't believe it. And now that I've read a majority of Beloved, though I by no means consider Sethe 'heroic' for doing it, I have a better understanding of why she did.

I'll admit it - the fact that I'm white, and because I have never gone through an experience even remotely like it (thank goodness), makes me pretty ignorant to the horrors of slavery. A history textbook can only describe so much. So one could understand how it might be difficult for me to sympathize with Sethe for feeling it necessary to kill her children to 'protect them'. But as I got through more of the book, more of the truth came out. Sethe had been brutally beaten and raped - the cuts from the whip so deep in her back that even 18 years later, the scar reminds her everyday of what schoolteacher and his nephews did to her. And this was all while she was pregnant with Denver, right after sending her kids off to Baby Suggs, to escape schoolteacher's harsh rule. The tree-like scar on her back is a constant reminder of how they abused her, and for that, she is constantly living in her horrific past - something she never wants any of her children to go through. So when schoolteacher and the others come to 124 to take her children, to Sethe, killing them seemed like the only way to save them. It wasn't something she thought about, it was completely impulsive. "And if she thought anything, it was No. No. Nono. Nonono. Simple. She just flew." (Beloved, 163). If she had left any time for thinking, she wouldn't have been able to go through with it. She just "dragged them through the veil, out, away, over there where no one could hurt them." (163). If anything, I would call it an act of desperateness, not heroism.

In an essay written by Shelby Larrick, from the English Department at Millikin University in Illinois (link here: http://faculty.millikin.edu/~moconner/beloved/essays/Larrick-Psychological-essay2.pdf), Larrick explains how important the rape scene in Beloved truly is, to gain an insight into the mind of Sethe and her rationalization for trying to kill her children. Larrick quotes another source that says, "For Sethe, being brutally overworked, maimed, or killed is subordinate to the overarching horror of being raped and 'dirtied' by whites; even dying at the hands of one's mother is subordinate to rape" (Larrick 2). Another source Larrick cites supports that claim, saying "Sethe believes death to be a kinder alternative than rape" (Larrick 2). So in Sethe's mentality, she believes she was saving her daughter from a fate worse than death. Again, though I do understand that Sethe felt her actions were necessary, I have trouble accepting these actions as 'heroic'.

Merriam-Webster defines 'heroic' as 'supremely noble or self-sacrificing'. Yes, murdering your child to keep them safe from a greater evil is extremely difficult - a sacrifice, even. I am not doubting or questioning Sethe's love for her children in the least. But I have the belief that killing one's children is not noble, no matter the circumstances. Again, maybe it goes back to the fact that I have no real idea of how awful slavery really was. But I just cannot accept Sethe's actions as 'self-sacrificing'. Someone who sacrifices oneself for the good of others is self-sacrificing. I'm not sure what to call someone who sacrifices someone else to try to save them, but calling them a hero is going a little too far, in my opinion. So in conclusion, reading Beloved has given me a better understanding that slavery was so horrible that it drove a mother, like Margaret Garner or Sethe, to kill their children, feeling they had no other way out. Though I don't see it as heroic, I do see it as a necessity out of desperateness.

-Rachel H.