It has not yet been established in the book whether Beloved is a ghost or not. However, there is plenty of evidence that points to the conclusion that she is in fact a ghost. The book introduces Beloved as a fully dressed woman who walks out of a body of water. This is the first bit of evidence that makes us believe there is something definitely off about Beloved. Her skin is also described to be perfectly smooth despite a few scratches on her forehead. Beloved continues to act weirdly by drinking glass after glass of water. Paul D and Denver even claim to have seen Beloved lift a rocking chair with one hand even though she claims to be feeling weak all the time.
I think all of this evidence points to Beloved being a ghost. She has many ghostly characteristics. Also let's not forget the fact that she has the same name as what is written on the tombstone of Sethe's baby. Coincidence? I think not.
I thought that Beloved admitted to Denver that she was a ghost (and then Denver told her not to tell Sethe). However, if I read that wrong I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteShe never directly tells Denver that she's a ghost, but they have a conversation on page 88 about where Beloved was before she came out of the water. Denver asks if she saw Jesus or Baby Suggs where she was, which heavily implies that Denver knows exactly who Beloved is and that she was previously dead, but it's still never explicitly stated that Beloved is a ghost.
DeleteI thought that Beloved admitted to Denver that she was a ghost (and then Denver told her not to tell Sethe). However, if I read that wrong I agree with you.
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