Ha Med asked this question about Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1):
hey guys! I am not a native, but I'm not new to novels....... I cant quite understand the text in this book, Am I the only one??? should I read another book prior to this one in ortherto understand??? (the literary books I had read and came across with no problem at all: pride and prejudice, Frankenstein etc,,, ) thanks in advance
Amber I think Morrison is using this style to show us how the trauma of slavery fragments the minds and personalities of those who lived through it. Both Se…moreI think Morrison is using this style to show us how the trauma of slavery fragments the minds and personalities of those who lived through it. Both Sethe and Paul D. are trying to repress the memories of what happened to them and separate those past selves from the free, fully realized selves that they are trying to be now, for their own survival, but the past is haunting them both psychologically and literally. In modern terms, they have PTSD and they're suffering flashbacks. If it's hard to read, imagine how awful it must be to try to live like that.

But they can never be fully free and fully realized until they can get it out and exorcise it, so to speak. I think the exorcism of Beloved is an allegory for this psychological process of cleansing and healing.(less)
Image for Beloved
Rate this book
Clear rating

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more