Sunday, November 22, 2015
Morrison's Effective Writing Style
Toni Morrison's writing is unique and different from typical authors. We already know her that she uses flashbacks in the middle of her writing, which can be confusing, but also very effective. However, after reading Part II of Beloved, she also uses another method that is unusual. She devotes a chapter each to Sethe, Denver and Beloved. I think this goes back to her use of point of view, except she can really emphasize her ideas because she has an entire chapter to explain it. Also, the reader is pleased because it is much easier to fully understand Morrison's ideas and that character because it is all neatly put together in a single chapter. The individual chapters also allow the reader to distinguish between the major differences in the character's personalities. Sethe is tender and sweet, Denver is jealous and in disbelief, and Beloved is a little self absorbed, but anxious. I think that the changing point of view in between paragraphs and chapters makes Beloved a special and interesting read.
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Morrison is definitely a master of perspective. I've read a lot of books that switch perspective, but a lot of the time it ends up messy and the point of view switches for no apparent reason. In Beloved, every time the perspective switches, it's for a very clear reason and it flows seamlessly.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The end of Part 2 also prepares the reader for Part 3 by revealing each of their mindsets more clearly. I thought a common idea between Sethe, Beloved, and Denver were their senses of ownership over one another. Beloved belongs to Sethe and Denver, and Sethe belongs to Beloved. The usage of ownership upholds what Paul D said about Sethe loving too thick, which I think carries over to Beloved and Denver as well. Their love for each other is binding and will do a lot of damage later on, which the different points of view help establish.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the three chapters with the changing viewpoints between Denver, Sethe, and Beloved. At first when we started reading Beloved it was often confusing but I definitely have gotten used to it and enjoy the flashbacks and intricate writing style.
ReplyDeleteGood point! Part Two's change in perspective among the different characters is indeed effective because it allows the reader to better understand the book's ideas through the point of views of people who are actually going through the story.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that the changing viewpoints throughout the three chapters between Sethe, Denver, and Beloved. I did not understand what was the point of having both character changes as well as time changes throughout each chapter, but I later began to appreciate it as the flashbacks began to illustrate more about each character.
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