Re-Memory and Identity

The idea and essence of identity is a tricky thing to define, and is, of course, the basis for many philosophical questions. Is our identity comprised of a soul inside of us or does our sense of self come from our experiences and memories that we gather over our lives? Throughout Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, both the ideas of soul and memory and how they can compromise identity are discussed, and perhaps even an intersection between both of these ideas. 

The idea of the soul becomes apparent with the discussion of ghosts and spirits throughout the novel. The characters in Beloved clearly believe there is some sort of "life after death." Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the emergence of the character Beloved. Although it is unclear where exactly Beloved came from, she did move from being a ghost to becoming a physical being once more. This transition signals that there is something other than just a physical body that compromises a person, but perhaps something intangible. However, what is it that gives shape to Beloved? It is here where the ideas of a soul and memory intersect. Beloved is greatly characterized by her memories when she was young such as the knowledge of Sethe's earrings, the song she hums that Sethe recognizes and even her awful memories of when she was in the "other place." 

In addition to that of the soul, the idea of memory is especially important, in particular the idea of re-memory. Sethe remarks poignantly about how re-memory causes something to be transfixed in time, trapped no only in the mind of the person who experienced that memory, but also permanent for anyone else to see. This idea of re-memory demonstrates how our experiences are truly beacons of ourselves, and while they might seem mere shadows in the present, they will always linger on, defining us. The haunting ability of memory has a great effect on Sethe especially, as she is constantly being drawn back to the awful and traumatic experiences at Sweet Home. In many ways, Sethe is attempting to flee her memory, although it seems in vain. This does not mean to say that Sethe's identity is trapped within the confines of her past, but rather, there is of course another side to the coin. When Sethe begins to acknowledge the past instead of running away from it, there are moments of true, sometimes hidden, happiness that demonstrate the beginning of an process. These moments include when Sethe spoke to Paul D on the front porch, or when Sethe finally realizes Beloved's true identity. In this moments, Sethe and others can work through the past, leading to new memories and experiences.