Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, explores the trauma of Sethe’s past life as a slave, which ironically allows her daughter Denver, to find her true identity; representing the historical effects of slavery upon two generations of African Americans. Throughout the novel, Sethe struggles to become a free woman, not physically, but mentally, from the tortures she suffered as a slave. Though during the beginning of the novel, Denver is portrayed as rather childish and immature in order to reflect her mother’s dismay, she is able to find her true identity after the arrival of Beloved, as her presence devastates the household.
Though Sethe believes her arrival in Cincinnati will allow her to escape the suffering she endured at the Sweet Home plantation, her desire for freedom is destroyed when her daughter haunts her home. DiMatteo describes these elements of magical realism as “A way to signify the difference between culturally imposed ways of seeing”. Even before Beloved physically arrives, her presence tortures Sethe as she haunts her home. Denver’s isolated character…show more content… Sethe’s weakening character inflicts pressure upon Denver to become the adult in the home, Morrison describes Sethe’s predilection, “Her brain was not interested in the future [...] loaded with the past and hungry for more” (83). As Sethe’s mind begins to utterly deteriorate, Denver must embody everything her mother once was, and enter womanhood. Denver’s obligation to become an adult is portrayed as a result of Beloved’s presence as she comes to realize her mother’s mind and soul are becoming weakened, she can no longer be a child. In many aspects, Denver’s path to womanhood can be viewed as a result of slavery for generations, “The historical truth is so strongly intertwined with the narrative truth that the impact is compounded” (DiMatteo
