Beloved Ending

The beinging of the final pages of Beloved definitely felt as though things were coming undone. At the start of chapter 26, I couldn't help but feel just so sorry for Denver. Her whole life has been about Beloved. Everything she had lost was because of Beloved, and now that Beloved is back, Sethe, the only thing Denver ever had, begins slipping away too. I feel as though Denver often goes unnoticed because her pain and trauma isn't as visible as the scar on Beloved's throat.

Sethe and Beloved have begun to unravel. I always thought their lovely relationship would take a turn for the worst because Sethe did kill Beloved and when we first saw Beloved, there was violence in the shadows. It feels like in chapter 26 the feelings hidden in the shadows are coming to light. I'm glad Beloved is expressing the pain and trauma she felt being murdered and left behind by her mother. This whole time Sethe has allowed herself to justify her actions but now she must face the consequences of them in a much more real way. She cannot reason away the pain Beloved felt. 

Having gone into this chapter feeling sorry for Denver, it brought me so much joy to see her finally venture out into the world. After being lonely for so long, she bumps into strangers in the road and exchanges pleasantries and gets to see what is beyond 124 once again. More so, her time with Lady Jones feels like the beginning of the end, as Denver begins to step up. I also love how the community comes together in such a relaxed way to help Denver out. She has finally been able to re-enter a community and find people, something she cannot receive at home where Beloved and Sethe are seemingly going mad whilst ignoring Denver. I am also so happy she found what I would imagine to be love. I like to imagine it as an easy love, not one as overpowering as her mother's, but easy and kind and pure.

“This Sethe has finally lost her wits” (299).

Sethe has finally come undone. The torment and tragedy of her past has finally caught up with her and she can no longer ignore it. When the women come to send Beloved away and Sethe attacks the “man without skin” it is clear that this is it. With her past at sweet home and school teacher and Beloved, seeing Mr. Bodwin is too much and Sethe fights one more time. Sethe thus gives herself up to the colors leaving Denver to note “I think I've lost my mother” (314). I loved the final words in her exchange with Paul D just being “Me? Me?” I’m not sure what it was, but to me it felt like finally Sethe was able to claim her identity. With no plans and nothing to do, Sethe can finally breathe.

The main question on my mind was the significance of my Beloved being pregnant and this passing on of motherhood. What do you think was the message and importance of this detail? Also, how do you feel that Sethe’s last moments in the book are with Paul D?