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There are reasons why Toni Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. Beloved may be the biggest one. The structure is a ghost story about a woman who killed her own children rather than see them be dragged back from freedom to live a life of slavery, and how the guilt of that act comes back to haunt her. But the real payload here is a portrayal of the slave existence, how it seeps into every pore, affects every emotion, defines one鈥檚 world view, how one values education, how willing one can be to love another human being. It is a triumph, a masterwork by one of the world鈥檚 great writers, working so well at several levels.


Toni Morrison - image fr0m The New Yorker

Sethe is the main character. Having already sent her children ahead, this pregnant woman flees slavery in the south and takes up residence with her grandmother, Baby Suggs. But when a posse comes to bring her back, she kills her children rather than allow them to become slaves.

There is a lot here about identity, defining oneself in one鈥檚 own terms and not the owner鈥檚 for example. Also, there is commentary on the need for and value of community. Sethe鈥檚 daughter Denver never strays from their home, but when she finally does, she finds that there is help to be had. When Paul D is in need the community of free blacks is more than willing to help.

The story is based on a real case, on in which Margaret Garner (remembered in this book as the family name given to the less horrendous slave owners) in 1856 killed her children for the same reason.

Most men in this book are oppressors, but a few rise above. Mister Garner, although a slave owner, shows at least some signs of humanity. Paul D is the most developed male character, struggling with his fears and weaknesses, but in search of truth and peace.

Morrison utilizes expected literary devices like foreshadowing (an early image of a white-clad figure hovering over Sethe), flipping back and forth among several time lines, changing from third person to first, classic references (p 174 When the four horsemen came鈥攕choolteacher, one nephew, one slave catcher and a sherrif鈥攖he hours on Bluestone Road was so quiet they thought they were too late.) to great effect.

More than just a great ghost story or an outstanding tale of slavery, Morrison has written a classic of 20th century American literature. It will be read forever.


=============================EXTRA STUFF

惭辞谤谤颈蝉辞苍鈥檚 page - Morrison passed in 2019. The page is maintained by Knopf.

Reviews of other Morrison work
-----2014 - God Help the Child
-----2011 - Home
-----2008 - A Mercy

Read but not reviewed
-----1977 - Song of Solomon
-----1973 - Sula