Answer in Opposites
Throughout the course of Toni Morrisons, Beloved, a shift occurs between mother and daughter, a complete reversal of roles if you will. Denver, starting out as a very dependent girl lacking purpose is transformed from the sheltered to the protector. She in the end must take care of and watch over her once strong and independent mother, Sethe who was at the beginning of the novel a strong and fiercely independent woman is reduced to a person more like a child herself than the daughter that looks after her. She has becomes completely dependent and lost. However, each in their own way matures along this journey, and gains a better understanding, or knowledge of their lives and themselves.
The main character, Sethe appears first as an extremely independent and strong woman, she refuses to accept help from anyone. Which the black community sees as her being stuck up, trying to do it all alone with her nose in the air (Morrison 299). As soon as Paul D. arrives on her doorstep, bringing her past with him, her resolve to block out the past at all costs begin to crumble, as do her hardened exterior actions. When Paul D. first arrives, Denver, Sethes daughter notices that she is, Looking in fact acting like a girl, instead of the quiet, queenly woman Denver had known all her life. The one who never looked away (Morrison 14).
If Paul D. introduced Sethe to unwanted feelings of her past, then Beloveds appearance at 124 flooded her with them. Beloved, Sethes murdered babys ghost supposedly back from the dead, brings with her memories of two boys [bleeding] in the sawdust and dirt at the feet of a nigger woman holding a blood soaked child to her chest( Morrison 175). The bloodied child Sethe was holding was Beloved, her own daughter whom she killed just so that she would not have to live a life of slavery like her mother. Sethe feels extreme guilt about what she has done to Beloved, so she begins to try and redeem herself, she gives everything to Beloved, starving herself and going without, practically going mad just to try and make Beloved understand that everything she did she did because she loved her, Sethe sat around all day like a rag doll, broke down, finally, for trying to take care of and make up for (Morrison 286). Beloved devours this praise and attention, yet gives no sign of forgiveness what so ever. She simply demands more.
Beloveds constant hunger for more and refusal to forgive break Sethe down; she becomes desperate, and focuses on Beloved with a feverish intensity. She practically gets down on her knees to beg Beloved for forgiveness, when Beloved is driven away, leaving her for a second time Sethe completely breaks down. She acts like a small insecure child. Sethe feels that Beloved was her best thing, and now that she is gone she really doesnt have anything to live for. Paul D. is there to tell her that she does, saying Sethe, me and you got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrowYou your best thing Sethe, you are. (Morrison 322). After going through hell and back because of Beloved, Sethe finally realizes that she does have some self worth, that she need not be indebted to Beloved anymore. She also sheds her childlike notion of having to do everything by herself, she finally accepts Paul D. and Denvers help, she lets them take care of her for a change.
This is a complete reversal of roles, for in the beginning of the novel, Denver relies on Sethe for everything, basic needs, companionship, and even strength, she has absolutely no sense of independence. This begins to change as soon as Beloved arrives, Patience, something that Denver had never know overtook her. As long as her mother didnt interfere , she was a model of compassion, turning waspish only when Sethe tried to help (Morrison 65). Denver is given somebody to love and care for, a companion when Beloved arrives. It gives her something to protect, for she feels that Sethe might try to kill Beloved again. It gives purpose to her life, that somebody needs her.
As time progresses, both Beloved and Sethe begin to shut Denver out. As Denvers outside life improved, her home life deteriorated (Morrison 294). As Denver sees Sethe slipping, she realizes that if she doesnt go out and get help her mother will die She would have to leave the yard; step off the edge of the world, leave the two behind and go ask somebody for help (Morrison 286). In doing so, letting the community back into her life, they let her into theirs; she secures a good job and makes friends. She becomes a person to be proud of instead of ashamed of, Thinner and steady in the eyes, looking more like Halle every day (Morrison 313). Aw no, lay off of Denver, Paul D. thats my heart. Im proud of that girl (Morrison 313) says Stamp Paid of Denver.
Each of the women matures as a result of Beloveds occupation of 124. Interestingly enough, mother and daughter in fact switched roles as the novel progressed. Denver coming to realize that she could not rely on Sethe for everything, and that it was on her to go out into the world and make something of herself, to seek out the help of her community. By taking care of Beloved, and eventually Sethe, Denver became a more compassionate, patient and stable individual. She grew up, and became a woman, somebody to be proud of and went from being the sheltered and protected to the protector. Sethe on the other hand, started out as a queenly woman who was almost completely separated from the community to a person completely dependent and childlike. Though already an adult, Sethe too matured, she shed the immature notion that she didnt need any help and could do everything on her own. As well as developed some self worth, and came to the understanding that she no longer needed Beloved or owed her anything.
In their own way, each woman did come of age due to the events caused by Beloveds arrival, and departing. Denver more clearly, as she really became an adult instead of a needy child through caring for her mother and becoming a guardian. Sethe had less of a coming of age, and more of a coming of reason, she matured and shed some childlike ideals, ironically through becoming more of a child.
Work Cited List
Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: Vintage International, 1987. Print
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