Table of Contents
Introduction:
The given excerpt is taken from the novel ‘Beloved’. Written by Toni Morrison, it is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book.
About the Author:
Chloe Anthony Morrison a.k.a Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a notable American novelist. Her books are the recipient of several awards, including the Nobel Prize for Literature. Famous works of hers are ‘The Bluest Eye’, ‘Song of Solomon’, and ‘Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination’.
Unsatisfied:
Despite having long desired Sethe, Paul D finds their sexual encounter dissatisfying at best. He finds her ‘tree’ on her back nothing but a ‘clump of stars’ in the present. Him being revolted by her back is suggestive of the brutal life slaves faced. Like him, Sethe also finds herself dissatisfied and instead thinks about her husband of six years.
The Selection:
Sethe recalls how she had to choose a husband out of 5 fellow slaves in Sweet Home. She had chosen Halle for his gentleness after witnessing him saving Baby Suggs. Although describing their love to be more of a brother-sister relationship, she remembers how their first union was celebrated with a feast of corn taken from the same field they consummated their love.
Conclusion:
This section reveals the condition of slaves. The beauty of nature is contrasted with the ugliness in the lives of slaves in this chapter.
