Sunday, November 15, 2015

Beloved and Sula

In an article from the academic journal African American Review, author Carolyn Jones attempts to find a connection between the two Toni Morrison novels, Sula and Beloved.  She eventually finds a connection in the biblical figure Cain.  In Sula, the main character kills, whether or not voluntarily, both the little boy dubbed "Chicken Little" as well as her mother Hannah, who she supposedly watched burn to death.  At this point in Beloved, it is hinted at that Beloved has come back from the dead in order to enact some sort of revenge onto her mother, Sethe.  It is not known at this point for what reason Beloved wishes to seek vengeance, however following the connection with the biblical story of Cain, Sethe must have committed an act of murder against someone.  But who?

[Click HERE for article excerpt]

1 comment:

  1. I might be wrong, because I remember very little about the bible, but doesn't Cain murder his brother out of jealousy? That seems like a weird connection because I can't see that same motivation behind any killings in beloved at the moment. Maybe it'll all be revealed later...

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