Born From Love: Beloved Analysis 4

Born from Love: Beloved Analysis 4

In Beloved, after confronting Beloved, Denver reminiscences about her experiences at Lady Jones’ school and the revelations that accompanied them – namely, the secrets that Sethe’s past may hold. Morrison employs Denver’s refusal to learn about Sethe’s past to reveal an irony that permeates the novel – love, although usually believed to be a uniting force, frequently pushes people apart. Denver reveals that there had been a “thing …lying there all along” between her and Sethe, brought up by Nelson Lord’s questions (121). The “thing” is revealed in the novel to be referring to Sethe’s attempt to kill Denver in order to prevent Denver from being captured and taken back into slavery. But rather than the actual content of the secret being the factor that divides them, Morrison’s use of “lying” and modifying it with “all along” suggest that the secret has always been lying stagnant in between Denver and Sethe, and it is the distance caused by its existence that has already separated Denver and Sethe, even before the secret was mentioned. Similarly, Denver states she “did not agree” with Sethe when she claimed the ghost was responsible for the departure of Howard and Buglar, instead claiming, “if Nelson Lord was right” then Howard and Buglar were justified in leaving (121). Denver’s refusal to “agree” with Sethe demonstrates she blames Sethe and in doing so distances herself from what she views as the guilty party. However, Morrison counters this extreme view by claiming “if Nelson Lord was right”, the “if,” a conditional, indicating that Denver may still be willing to believe in Sethe’s innocence.  But when Denver attempts to learn the truth, she finds she “could not hear Sethe’s answer” (121). The use of “could not” implies Denver was actually physically unable to hear Sethe’s words – she cannot take the chance that Sethe’s secret may be as terrible as it is suggested to be. Morrison reveals that Denver has assumed that Sethe is guilty, and rather than hear Sethe’s side of the story chooses to ignore it. Ironically, it is a secret born out of love that pushes Denver from Sethe, rather than providing an opportunity for forgiveness and understanding in an already cold relationship.