Beloved in Beloved

In Beloved, when a woman named Beloved appears near Sethe’s house, she is welcomed inside and tended by Denver. Through Paul D’s ambiguous vocabulary, Beloved’s simple language, and her striking physical similarities to the baby Beloved, Toni Morrison suggests that Beloved might either be a ghost or even a reincarnation of the baby Beloved. After Beloved has fallen asleep on the chair, Paul D says: “‘You want to lay down a spell?’” (64). The word “spell” could both signify the verb to sleep or to cast a spell. Paul D’s ambiguous language might show that Beloved has supernatural power. Although Beloved might have some kind of supernatural power, she also has close similarities to the baby Beloved. When Paul D asks Beloved if she wants to sleep, Beloved “stood up on her soft new feet which, barely capable of their job, slowly bore her to the keeping room” (64). Beloved’s “soft new feet” are just like those of a baby. Also, her weak legs further unveil her baby-like features. Even her continuous sleeping is like that of an infant. Finally, her simple and limited talk resembles that of a baby. When she arrives at Sethe’s home, the only words she says are her name, and later when Denver asks “what is it,” she responds “‘Heavy… This place is heavy’” (65). Therefore, Beloved’s few words mirror those of a baby, and Beloved’s resemblance to the baby Beloved might denote that she is a reincarnation of the baby Beloved or a ghost.