As Paul D begins
to question Beloved’s shady character, he confronts Sethe about Beloved faking
weakness and asks Denver to validate his evidence, yet Denver denies Paul D, covering
for Beloved and lying to Sethe. In this scene, Toni Morrison’s intense tone and
language of deceit and metaphoric imagery display the strain of Denver and Paul
D’s relationship as a cause of Beloved’s untimely arrival. Before Denver
answers Sethe about Beloved, Pal D noticed that her “eyes seemed busier than
they were” (67). Throughout Beloved,
“eyes” often tell thoughts, stories, or emotions and by examining the
appearance of Denver’s “eyes” and finding that they are “busier” than normal, a
tone of suspicion forms and gives a sense that Denver is thinking about her
answer more than just giving a quick reply. Paul D then identifies her eyes as
“deceptive” furthering his distrust in Denver (67). The term “deceptive”
portrays Denver in a negative connotation as having a sly trickster persona not
usually seen. After Denver lies to Sethe about Beloved, discrediting Paul D,
tension rose as “if there had been an open latch between them, it would have
closed” (67). This metaphor of an “open latch” symbolized the possibility of
communication and a relationship between Denver and Paul D like an open door.
By stating that “it would have closed,” Morrison identifies Denver closing off
Paul D from her life, leaving Paul D unable to enter the family dynamic and
Paul D’s reciprocated distrust of Denver. This emotional and psychological
shattering of the hope for Denver and Paul bonding foreshadows the trouble
Beloved brings to 124.
I agree with all your points. Just on a side note, adding to your last point about latches, we've seen this theme of Paul D. closing people out of his life appear many times in the novel thus far. Earlier on, Paul D.'s refusal to stay in one location for too long is, in a way, a method for him to shut people out-they can't get attached and neither can he. Also, we saw in tonight's reading that he compares his heart to a rusted-shut tobacco tin that he doesn't wish to open to Sethe; partly to protect her but also to protect himself from Sethe's reactions. And then in this scene, the use of "if" to describe Denver and Paul D.'s relationship seems to suggest there was little to no chance of a relationship even occurring. So could we infer that perhaps the blame not only lies with Beloved, but also in Paul D.'s reluctance to form relationships at all because of the pain they might cause? Might be too much of a leap.
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