Chapter 20
34. Who is the narrator in this chapter? Who is she talking to? How does this narrator feel about Beloved’s return?
34) Chapter 20 is written half as a stream of consciousness half as Sethe telling Beloved a story. Sethe is trying to explain to Beloved how she, as a mother, could kill her own child. Sethe is conflicted by her daughter's return. She is regretful. She is sorry she killed her daughter. She is happy to have her back, to have the opportunity to explain. She doesn't understand why she didn't recognize Beloved immediately.
Sethe is also thoughtful about how a mother loves. She saw her own mother hanged, but doesn't know why. She thinks perhaps she tried to run, but she ran without Sethe. Sethe would like to believe that she wouldn't dare leave Sethe behind. We do however know that Sethe's mother threw away the half black half white children she had as she didn't want them. Being able to throw one's children away, even if they are the product of rape is an intense emotional detachment. We also know that when Baby Suggs' Husband ran away, he left her, and she would have left him and their children if she had to. This further promotes the animalistic existence slaves were forced into. All of this leads to Sethe's feelings of hope that perhaps Beloved understands that she didn't abandon her. She was protecting her at all costs.
34. Who is the narrator in this chapter? Who is she talking to? How does this narrator feel about Beloved’s return?
34) Chapter 20 is written half as a stream of consciousness half as Sethe telling Beloved a story. Sethe is trying to explain to Beloved how she, as a mother, could kill her own child. Sethe is conflicted by her daughter's return. She is regretful. She is sorry she killed her daughter. She is happy to have her back, to have the opportunity to explain. She doesn't understand why she didn't recognize Beloved immediately.
Sethe is also thoughtful about how a mother loves. She saw her own mother hanged, but doesn't know why. She thinks perhaps she tried to run, but she ran without Sethe. Sethe would like to believe that she wouldn't dare leave Sethe behind. We do however know that Sethe's mother threw away the half black half white children she had as she didn't want them. Being able to throw one's children away, even if they are the product of rape is an intense emotional detachment. We also know that when Baby Suggs' Husband ran away, he left her, and she would have left him and their children if she had to. This further promotes the animalistic existence slaves were forced into. All of this leads to Sethe's feelings of hope that perhaps Beloved understands that she didn't abandon her. She was protecting her at all costs.
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