“Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another”(112). After reading this book, this quote really stood out to me. Like I have said in my earlier blog, it was one thing to be free, but to be able to own yourself and your emotions, and struggles is something else. Throughout the story, characters struggle to bring up the past, and have a hard time dealing with the traumatic experiences. In Sethe’s case, she fears that bringing it up, will bring herself and her children back to Sweet Farm, where she had no freedom, where it was so demeaning. A recurring theme I saw in the book is facing the past head on instead of hiding it and being fearful of it, because that is when it can be troubling. A message that I interpreted, that I believe Morrison was trying to convey is as a society, we cannot forget our mistakes and we have to change for the better. Slavery will forever haunt our society, but we have to learn from the past mistakes and not forget what millions of people suffered through.
This also really stood out to me because after her escape, she believed she would be able to live out her life in peace. But even after she escaped, she was almost constrained in a way. After she killed her daughter, she still lived a life of trauma, and is always haunted by Beloved. As a result of this she lived a life of completely isolated, and though she had her freedom, she was an outcast in her own community, wasn't necessarily “free”.
Throughout the book, Morrison conveys the message that in order to be completely free, you have to let the past in and “own it”. Sethe never truly “owns” the experiences she went through which is understandable. She tries and hides from it which causes her more fear in her present.
I also think that when Morrison says, “claiming” she is saying that with freedom also means claiming our mistakes. After Sethe kills her baby, it haunts for the rest of her life. In 124, she is alone, and doesn't seem to except what she did to her baby. When Denver starts to ask questions about the past, this brings up the guilt Sethe pushed away, and brings Beloved back. Morrisons underlying messages of in order to find freedom, you have to own yourself, your emotions, and your past to be completely free.
I completely agree with you. Morrison showcases the struggle of people like Sethe and Paul D who are haunted by their pasts. But in the end they finally accept their past and learn to love again.
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