Sunday, November 5, 2017

Beloved Discussion of Slavery

I am satisfied by the fact that Beloved is a novel that touches basis with the issue of slavery. I'm indifferent to the idea that the novel talks about the issues of slavery in a more indirect way. I think it can be an effective way of discussing slavery because it can be a difficult topic to discuss but conversation does needs to happen. I personally believe being more direct when discussing slavery is more powerful. When you get the blatant details, it makes you critically think about what the text is trying to say. For example, reading a text like The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or Copper Sun, texts that talk about slavery by telling gruesome details, impacted me. Before, I would just think the typical thing most of us believe: "Slavery is bad". However it is deeper than that. Slavery was degrading, dehumanizing and getting the details of events that occurred during this time can reveal so many things from why slavery began to the effects it has on black community today.

1 comment:

  1. I agree that being more direct in talking about slavery is more powerful, but I do think Beloved has good aspects of portraying it in a more direct way. Like when Paul D talks about the bit in his mouth and seeing the roosters. The story is told as like a giant flashback constantly shifting views and when Beloved comes in, she brings slavery and the memories back into the present view. A lot of the dialogue is powerful especially in the flashbacks. I do agree though that with a more direct writing the conversations needed about slavery would be better set.

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