Jessica Polina

AP Literature
March 23, 2019

In this novel, Toni Morrison emphasized her use of figurative language and diction to
give this story meaning to her audience. So much was added all during the time when slavery
was occuring, such as how this tragic time affected the characters and their relationships during
and after. Sethe played a main factor in this novel as she was affected by slavery and continued
to live her life with the scars and painful memories she had to carry with her. Even though, she
was able to give birth to her children, Sethe would have to live with the risk that her kids can be
taken from her at any point and all be brought back in to slavery.

In the beginning of this story, Sethe is in her own home with her only living daughter and
the sick mother in law after her two other boys ran off, her other baby had died. Once the sick
mother in law had passed, it was only Sethe and Denver left in the lonely home being haunted by
the dead baby’s ghost. Suddenly when Paul D arrives, things get more hectic between Sethe and
Denver. “At it again, thought Denver. Her back to them, she jostled the kindlin and almost lost
the fire. “Why don’t you spend the night, Mr. Garner? You and Ma’am can talk about Sweet
Home all night long.” Sethe took two swift steps to the store, but before she could yank Denver’s
collar, the girl leaned forward and began to cry.” This demonstrates how Sethe and Denver’s
mother daughter relationship is. All for the reason that Denver is not too fond of this new man
that has appeared in her home.

Denver has hung on to this sort of grudge with her mother because of how tired she is
being in this haunted home where others such as Paul D have been scared to enter. “I can’t live
here. I don’t know where to go or what to do, but I can’t live here. Nobody speaks to us. Nobody
comes by. Boys don’t like me. Girls don’t either.” This quote demonstrates how Denver’s anger
has affected her relationship with her mother. She is frustrated with the fact that this house is
what’s ruining her social life. Sethe just wants her daughter to be safe and her protection is
taking over her need to make sure that Denver is doing fine emotionally and demonstrating to her
that she truly does care about her feelings and loves her.

When Beloved appeared in the story, the relationship seemed to have gotten better since
Denver had someone to be with as her sister and Sethe had another girl to take care of. “Denver
is a strategist now and has to keep Beloved by her side from the minute Sethe leaves for work
until the hour of her return when Beloved begins to hover at the window…” Since Sethe was
busy out working for quite some time, that gave Denver a lot of time to be with Beloved and
bond with her. Throughout that time Denver didn’t seem to feel so alone anymore and there
relationship only looked to have grown stronger.
 Even after the hard times when slavery seemed to ruin people’s lives and left them with
little hope, some seemed to overcome from their struggles. Sethe was definitely able to and make
a life for herself and her children no matter what struggles she went through. Sethe and Denver
were able to fix their mother daughter relationship with how any other mother or daughter could
fix them by actually spending time with each other and being able to communicate but with
things that can actually make them, for example, being around Beloved and caring for her.