Project 2 Beloved by Keith Smith Project-2-Beloved-by-Keith-SmithProject 2 Beloved by Keith Smith
I am going to E-mail you my presentation of Project Two. It is too large for Open Lab (34 Mb)
Project 2 Beloved by Keith Smith
I chose the topic Freedom for the meanings of not only the song, but also the book. It is also my theme of what would have happened if Halle and Seethe would have gotten away. I am going to the book and talk about what would have happened if Halle had hidden somewhere other than the loft of the barn. He would not have seen Seethe being molested by the two Nephews. She may have told him later when they left, and maybe his protective nature would have been stronger. So my version is that they escape together. In the book she sends the kids ahead and I think that would still happen. I will explain the story of what happens after that later on. First though I want to talk about the theme of the song. It is quite clear Freedom in the song means death to avoid the persecutions of slavery and abuse. I personally feel it is better to be with the Lord instead of being with the abusive masters and other whites during that time. This is also the belief that Seethe had, as she tried to kill her children so that they would not be exposed to the cruelty of what she knew. In my presentation I show how my storyline evolves beginning with the abuse of slaves, the desire to leave, and the actual escape. Reunited with Halle’s mother Baby Suggs, they feel free and life becomes a joy. Until the schoolteacher tracks them down. As Halle tries to stop them, he is probably subdued and Seethe who is very scared runs to the shed with her children. She goes crazy and tries to kill them (to give them Freedom). Stamp Paid and Baby Suggs are able to stop her but not before she kills the infant (Beloved). As the story goes she is whisked off to jail. 18 years later Halle is never heard from again. Thus enters Paul D. who wants to settle down, and takes Seethe and Denver under his wing. They begin to enjoy life together and live happy and free putting behind their remembrances of pain and suffering. I cannot change the way the rest of the book goes. But I can remember another retelling of Freedom. Sixo who got caught with Paul D. in their escape, chose to antagonize the schoolteacher and his posse. They tie him up and set fire to the wood around him, but as he burns he sings because he knows his seed will live on, and he is ready to be with his Lord. More upset than ever the men in the posse decide to shoot him just to shut him up. The song really sounds like a joyous song, that really shows the true feelings of how African American who were persecuted really wanted to die before going back to the abuse and discrimination that the white man dealt thinking it was justified and they deserved it.
