Introduce: In the novel Beloved written by Toni Morrison, the character Sethe develops as a person after realizing the girl she found after the carnival is a reincarnation of daughter who she had killed to save from slavery because she thought that was the best decision. So many years later, Sethe learns that her daughter has return.
Quote: Flies beat me to you. I would have known right away who you was when the sun blotted out your face the way it did when I took you to the grape arbor. I would have known at once when my water broke. The minute I saw you sitting on the stump, it broke. And when I did see your face it had more than a hint of what you would look like after all these years. I would have known who you were right away because the cup after cup of water you drank proved and connected to the fact that you dribbled clear spit on my face the day I got to 124. I would have known right off, but Paul D distracted me. Otherwise I would have seen my fingernail prints right there on your forehead for all the world to see. From when I held your head up, out in the shed. And later on, when you asked me about the earrings I used to dangle for you to play with, I would have recognized you right off, except for Paul D. Seems to me he wanted you out from the beginning, but I wouldn’t let him. What you think? And look how he ran when he found out about me and you in the shed.
Interpetation: In other words, Sethe took a long time to figure out that the girl they found after the carnival was her daughter who she killed. Sethe should have realize who her started was ever since the day she has given birth to her. She should have at least had a thought of what she should look like as Beloved got older. Sethe should have realized who Beloved was from the little things she had done, when she was younger when she said she dribbled clear spit on her face. However she was distracted by Paul D convincing her that Beloved was her daughter. If it wasn’t for him,she would of been figured it out by putting the clues together. Especially when it came down to Beloved asking Sethe about the earring she had in the past, on what she used as a toy to play with. She felt that Paul D knew who she was and probably didn’t wanted Sethe to know, so she came become closer and catch feelings for Beloved. But after he realized that Sethe killed Beloved purposely, he wanted to be out and not be part of the family again.
Analyze: When the author states “flies beat me to you’, the author uses imagery on how long it took Sethe to realize the girl they found Beloved was her daughter who she had killed. This quote shows a symbol of death with Beloved and Sethe. When Sethe killed her daughter due to slavery, there was a part of Sethe that had died too. With Beloved coming back into the picture, all the thoughts that Sethe push to the back of her head is coming out into reality. Beloved reincarnated is driving Sethe to face reality. Sethe should have realize who Beloved was from the very beginning, ever since the day she was born. The author shows a memory where Sethe has given birth to Beloved and reminiscing the things she has done when she was younger. As if Sethe is giving another chance to live again and be the mother she would have been.
Apply: If Beloved would of never came back into Sethe’s live, Sethe would not be able to have the second chance of playing a mother role to Beloved. With Beloved returning, Sethe is force to remember her past. There’s a slight chance of her having less guilt because she is able to explain to her daughter what she had done, even though Beloved never questioned her about the situation once. When Beloved was gone, it was like she was dead, Sethe wanted to be where Beloved, however she knew she had kids that she need to be there for too. Now with Beloved reappearance, this is like a new life and new beginning to Sethe to make for everything she had missed or lost.
