Rememory

After reading a few blog posts, I've started to think a lot about why Beloved has come to 124. I think Beloved's "return" or appearance is a symbol for Sethe, and other characters, not being able to escape the past. Many times throughout the first 8 chapters of Beloved, flashbacks and memories are seamlessly woven into character's thoughts, conversations, and storytelling. Although Sethe is careful to not think about a memory for too long, afraid to get too deep into her past, it is clear that she is already entrenched in it.

Although Denver was born while Sethe was running from Sweet Home, she is still heavily influenced by her mom's past. Denver can tell the story of her own birth as if she were there. Sethe even says that she believes nothing ever dies. Although it is clear that Beloved is from the past, something that never died, whether she is a ghost or not, she isn't the first person to return from the past.

Paul D. foreshadows Beloved's return. Sethe and Denver, along with Baby Suggs and Sethe's sons, had lived in 124 for a decent amount of time. Suddenly Paul D shows up. Paul D has a tendency to bring Sethe back to her past, as well as into his. After Paul D and Sethe have sex, their memories about corn are intertwined, suggesting that they are both now "in" each other's memories. Sethe seems to be getting deeper and deeper into her past, and then Beloved shows up. For me, Beloved symbolizes Sethe's inescapable past.