Enzo Wiener
Kody Partridge
AP Lang/Comp,
Period 3
26 March 2013
Second Beloved Analysis: Who is the New
Girl?
In
Beloved, after 124’s new found
visitor, Beloved, recuperates from her unknown endeavors and tribulations, she
becomes intrigued with Sethe and continuously requests stories from Sethe’s past.
In a particular scene, Toni Morrison couples personification and figurative
language in order to demonstrate the ominous and mysterious nature of Beloved
and her fascination with Sethe. While Beloved watches Sethe around the house,
Morrison writes, “Sethe was licked, tasted, eaten by Beloved’s eyes” (68). Morrison
personifies “Beloved’s eyes”–while employing asyndeton– to illustrate Beloved’s
careful inspection of Sethe. Using strong verbs in a chronological order of
“licked,” “tasted,” and “eaten” play an imperative role in demonstrating
Beloved’s almost obsession with Sethe and Beloved’s strangeness, for “licked”
implies that Beloved at first seemed hesitant, but then surveyed Sethe, “tasted”
perhaps suggests that Beloved learned about Sethe and her past, which adds to
her fondness of Sethe, and “eaten” provides an ominous and almost creepy
sentiment about Beloved and her studying of Sethe. On the contrary, when
standing in the kitchen “[Beloved and Sethe’s shadows] clashed and crossed…
like black swords” (68). Using a simile, Morrison creates a haunting image by
comparing Beloved and Sethe to “black swords,” which does not suggest a sense
of harmony, but possibly a feeling that Beloved’s examinations of Sethe are
pestering Sethe. To demonstrate this bothersome scrutiny, Morrison uses the
verbs “clashed” and “crossed” which further suggest a disparity or perhaps a
subtle conflict between Sethe and Beloved. Moreover, Beloved follows Sethe and
“was in the window… when Sethe returned, or the doorway; then the porch, its
steps, the path, the road” (68). Once more, Morrison incorporates asyndeton in
order to describe the ongoing, unending plethora of places that Beloved waits
for Sethe, which further develops Beloved’s odd obsession with Sethe.
Ultimately, through Beloved’s interactions with Sethe, Morrison crafts an
ominous character with an unknown past that Paul D questions, and eventually
those questions will be answered.
Enzo, you establish a strong context for your analysis. You demonstrate clear knowledge of the AP literary terms (eg. asyndeton and simile) and aptly you use them to support your analysis. I especially liked your insight on the "chronological order of 'licked,' 'tasted,' and 'eaten' which displays the curious and naïve mindset of Beloved. With this said, Morrison does contextualize the childlike qualities that Beloved displays, and I think that you could use this idea to abet your analysis of Beloved's "fascination" with Sethe. In addition, entertaining the motif of appetite might also help your analysis because Sethe's attention and stories feeds the hunger of Beloved. Lastly, you conclude by stating Paul D questions Beloved's "unknown past," which is correct, but the tone seems as if you are criticizing Paul D's motives. Altogether, I appreciate the care you took and I think you provided compelling evidence of Beloved's "fascination." With small revisions and additions you could add the depth and clarity to your piece making it an outstanding analysis.
ReplyDeleteInteresting analysis, but I wonder whether the third point of evidence would be better as the second, giving more resonance to the idea that the swords show Beloved is pestering Sethe because right now this point might dead end. Your allusion to Paul D might need more context. The ominous nature of Beloved's intentions could definitely be expanded further with the choking scene. With some clarification this analysis makes a very interesting point.
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