In Beloved , Toni Morrison has colors play a role throughout the book. Describe the role of each color and discuss its significance throug...
Friday, April 8, 2016
Flashback in narrative
Morrison uses a series of flashback as a dominant narrative technique in Beloved. What is the effect of such spiral storytellings and repeated images that interweave the stories of past and present?
Morrison's idea to include flashbacks has contributed to the novel's brilliance. The constant switch between past and the present conveys the idea that for slaves, such as Sethe, it is almost impossible to forget the past. Sethe's past haunts her, even in the present. Sethe cannot forget being raped, witnessing death, being abused, and having to kill her own daughter. These dark memories follow her through her life and effect the person she is in the present. Repeated images of life as a slave are a constant reminder to Sethe of the pain she has endured. Morrison chooses to interweave stories of past and the present to show that the pain of the past cannot be forgotten and it will still effect the victim years later. Even though Sethe has escaped life as a slave, memories of being a slave cannot leave her. She can't let go of her past and she carries it as a burden with her as she moves forward in her life. Lastly, I believe that the constant switch back and forth from past and present causes intentional confusion and chaos to demonstrate the chaos that the characters have endured.
The usage of flashbacks in the novel is a way the author allows readers to experience the same recollection and emotions of Sethe and other characters. Constantly bringing memories of the past back to the forefront shows readers how Sethe can never forget her past life and agony as a slave. Although she tries to live in the present, the flashbacks make it evident that her life will always be filled with things and people reminding her of her harsh past in slavery. She was abused, raped, and suffered the loss of killing her own child. As each flashback occurs. Sethe is constantly brought back to those terrible times in the past, effecting her current life. For example, Paul Ds arrival to 124 sets off Sethe’s brain back to her past. This constant switch between past and present allows readers to feels Sethe’s agony of the past forever haunt8ng her present life.
Having the novel be told in such a disjointed way allows for the reader to experience the story as they would if it were being recounted to them in person. Often in novels there is some foreshadowing and allusions, but typically more than in "Beloved". In Beloved, the only real sense of foreshadowing we have is that it is alluded to that there is a major character death that drives the story. With this such story-telling, we can feel the emotions that Sethe has. Much like an in-person story, the death is held back for a really long time. In trying to hold back on the death memory, we experience everything else first, Sweet Home, Sethe's memories as a slave, and how the people of Cincinnati treat Sethe, Denver and Baby Suggs, like someone who tries to justify what they've done before the come out and tell you the crime. The flashbacks also contribute to one of the novel's themes, that the past will always affect the present.
The flashbacks contribute strongly to the message trying to be sent in the novel. Flashbacks Morrison focuses on are the ones that really scarred Sethe, which tend to be very dark. These flashbacks are used to inform the reader of the terrible treatment slaves faced. Going back in time helps the reader understand why Sethe and other former slaves in the novel, such as Paul D, have the feelings they do. Sethe went through things that are impossible for a person to forget such as rape and abuse. Going through such traumatic events would lead any person to become sheltered and protective of the people they love the most. Knowing what was out there, lead Sethe to the decision that death was better than the things slavery would force on her children. Morrison not only uses these flashbacks to give the reader more background on the Sethe, but also to stress the idea that slavery will never be forgotten. I agree with Madison D that the flashbacks are deeper than just background and the spiraling storytelling contributes to the troubling experiences that the characters in the novel had to endure.
Morrison's use of flashbacks are very unique. She does this in a way that is not familiar to most readers and because of this it forces them to actually read the novel and understand the deeper meaning of it all. Morrison allows us to travel down this path that connects all the puzzles of Sethe's life to create the story of "Beloved". At first I hated that the flashbacks were scattered all over the novel but because of it, it helped me discover who Sethe actually is and how each character plays or played a part in her life. I think that reason why Morrison does this is so that she can tie together Sethe's relationships of today because each time a new character is introduced, a flashback comes with the person. However I also agree with the others who commented above me about this question. Most of the flashbacks in the novel are dark and twisty because they expose the reader about the horrid life of a slave and because Morrison continues to address Sethe's and Paul D's life of a slave, she does this to convey the message that the pain and suffering they endured during that time period will live on with them. It is a part of who they are and it is what made them the people that they are today. Morrison stresses the past in this novel and I don't think she does it on purpose. She informs reader that no matter how hard you try to forget the past, it will always catch up with you one way or another, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing.
Morrison's utilization of flashbacks is a very important literary device that is used in her novel. This is because is interweaves the past and the present. She does so by telling the story in the present but quickly switches the novel back into the past. The reason for this is to show that the past is forever linked with the present. This is evident in Sethe's case. As the story progresses, Morrison uses flashbacks to show that Sethe's past will constantly be with her and as much as she would like to shut all her memories of slavery out, she cannot. Morrison portrays the idea that no matter how hard someone will try to forget what was done in the past, you just can't. It will always follow you.
Morrisons use of flashbacks create a backbone for the novel which helps cultivate the true meaning of the novel; without flashbacks there would be no story. Sethe’s past is what drives the future of her life to be. If we never knew of her time at Sweet Home as a slave, her journey to Ohio to escape the life she was living, the loss of her husband, the murder of her child, or the ghost that haunts her house, Morrison’s novel would be ineffective. We would never be able to decipher that the main focus of this novel was to show the horrors of slavery and how they affect people. Morrison used these flashbacks in order to express the profound effect slavery had on Sethe’s entire life while containing the story in a span of time that didn’t include her entire life. The flashbacks point of meaningful parts of Sethe's life that emphasizes how slavery affected her.
The purpose for the flashback structure can be very confusing to readers at first. Between flashbacks and the present, it connects how her past has truly effected her. As the story goes on, the more the terrible flashbacks enfold and show how Sethe and her life deteriorates. Her past really comes back to haunt her, and as hard as it is for her to try and forget the past, she truly never will. The past reflects just how terrible being owned was and how dehumanizing it truly is. It effected Sethe for the rest of her life, which led her to further ruin her life, by killing Beloved. With the presence of Beloved, her past comes to life, and the more the flashbacks flood Sethe’s mind.
Throughout "Beloved," Morrison's use of flashbacks can be picked up on easily. In each chapter, she usually goes back to the past to reflect on events that effect her present circumstance. Like Ben said, Sethe's past drives her future. Without these flashbacks, the reader would not understand how all of this happened to her. Her past will always be with her and this was shown through the emergence of Beloved, her dead daughter. Her past will always be linked to her present and the memory of slavery will be impossible to get rid of.
Morrison reveals pieces to the story through flashbacks that the characters Sethe, Denver and Paul D have. The different perspectives are helpful in shaping each of the character’s stories because they offer insight into the events that shape each into the person they are in the present. Sethe’s own flashbacks show her painful past, like when she was raped and milked by Schoolteacher’s boys, when she almost died escaping slavery but was saved by Amy, and when she slit Beloved’s throat twenty-eight days after her arrival at 124 Bluestone Road. Paul D’s flashbacks paint Sethe in a different light, depicting her as the desirable young woman she used to be at Sweet Home. His flashbacks contrast with Sethe’s and show how her bad experiences have closed her off from emotions. He also has flashbacks of his own past, failing to escape, put into a bit, being chained with fellow slaves, etc. Denver’s flashbacks show how Sethe omits parts of her past from Denver when retelling her stories. They also reveal how Sethe’s decision to kill Beloved impacts her childhood; she never has any friends, Baby Suggs left her, her brothers left her. That’s why she is so desperate to keep Beloved around - for the first time, she has a sister, someone that fills that void in her life. Morrison utilizes flashbacks to illustrate how Sethe, Paul D and Denver are haunted by their pasts. In this way, Morrison is making the statement that the “rememory” of slavery, even after gaining freedom, continues to haunt former slaves in the present, taking form in the character Beloved.
Morrison uses flashbacks to show how the past and present intertwine. The torture of slavery lives within a slaves mind forever, its never forgotten. Sethe cannot get the images of being raped out of her head which is why the flashbacks are used as well as a lot of repetition. These scenes are written with vivid detail to make the reader feel like it's going on in the present not the past. Morrison also uses flashbacks to show the importance of Beloved's death and her character. If we had not known what had happened to Sethe, Beloved wouldn't be as symbolic as she is, representing the pain slaves never forget. Like Beth said, "rememory" wraps this whole idea up because it emphasizes that Sethe and Paul D and Baby Suggs will always remember the pain.
The effect of spiral storytellings in a novel gives the illusion of recalling memories as one would normally do. However, what is being recalled is not exactly very pleasant memories. Much of the flashbacks are negative and traumatic. Sethe is recalling such traumatic memories because she can’t escape them. Her life as a slave brings about these harsh memories and plays as a constant reminder for her horrible past. The flashbacks weave their way into the story the way they do to show that the pain of the past of slavery will never be forgotten and still have a significant impact on their life years and years later. It goes back from past to present to show that her past struggles are still affecting her life years later.
Morrison’s use of flashbacks is extremely important to the story. For the reader to understand what is happening in the present and why Sethe behaves in the way that she does, they need the flashbacks. The flashbacks are placed so cleverly that you are always wondering about the past, and then when you need it , Morrison delivers you that knowledge. Since so much of the story revolves around Sethe’s past and how it is affecting her future, Morrison needed to use a device that would help the reader to understand the meaning of the novel.
Morrison's use of flashbacks help to show how conflicted Sethe is with living in the present while still letting so much of the past lurk in her mind. There are some scenarios that happen in the present that trigger a memory for Sethe and Morrison then switches her writing to the past and that moment. This device is used purposely to play significance on certain events that happened that give insight into why Sethe is the way she is in the present. The most telling flashback is when Morrison starts off a new chapter saying "When the four horsemen came...the house on Bluestone Road was so quiet they thought they were too late." (174) because this is when we learn about the day Sethe killed Beloved.
Morrison’s flashbacks contribute to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. For example, flashbacks are used as attention grabbers which begin immediately in the novel when the narrator discusses Howard and Buglar’s escape from 124. Another component of flashbacks is they better describe the past which is important because all of the main characters in the novel are connected to the past in some way. Flashbacks keep the reader engaged with the past. For example, when Paul D remembers his experience at Sweet Home, the tense shifts from past to present emphasizing the importance of his memories. Essentially, flashbacks contribute greatly to the idea of rememory as the reader is able to truly understand the importance of the past and now it still has a grip on most of the characters.
Morrison’s use of flashbacks are crucial for readers in order to gain a strong understanding of Sethe’s character. For instance, without knowing the hardships she endured as a slave, readers could easily jump to the conclusion that killing her daughter was purely evil, when she only meant good by it. In addition, they unfold the struggles that millions of African Americans experienced and the impact it left. Although granted freedom, slaves were never able to recover from what they battled. Using flashbacks, she was allowing readers to grasp the feelings slaves had during the time Sethe was experiencing it firsthand.
Toni Morrison's use of flashbacks through the novel is critical to the main idea. She uses these flashbacks to connect the past to the future, particularly for Sethe. Without the flashbacks, the reader would not be able to understand Sethe’s situation or be able to interpret her thoughts and actions. Without this information the main idea of the work would become lost. The use of these flashbacks gives the reader insight into Sethe and helps them understand her actions and thoughts. This will then allow them to interpret situations like Sethe murdering her daughter and they will be able decipher the main idea of slavery.
Morrison's use of flashbacks is vital to the story. This is because through these flashbacks Morrison is able to convey the central message of the story. Morrison is really able to emphasize the fact that the effects of slavery never leave Sethe's life. The flashbacks in the novel also help the reader better understand the past events of the novel and connect them to the present events of the novel. Also the flashbacks allow for the reader to understand Sethe's reasoning for killing Beloved as the flashbacks provide insight as to what Sethe endured as a slave.
The flashbacks that Morrison implemented into the novel show the images of horror that occured in Sethe’s past and how vividly they are still remembered in her mind. This shows the reader how these memories never fade when the acts are as cruel as these. Slavery is something that can never be forgotten and will always be present in the ones who had to suffer. The flashbacks that interrupt the story show how the memories are walsy fading in and out of Sethe’s thoughts. She is constantly having flashbacks when she is triggered by a present action or item such as Paul D or Beloved’s stories about earrings. Morrison allows the reader to feel the pain that Sethe struggles with everyday of her life.
The author uses flashbacks since it is an effective way to let the readers experience the same emotions that Sethe, or any of the characters, felt during that time. The flashbacks that Sethe experiences shows that she cannot forget her past as a slave and her killing Beloved. As Sethe lives her present life, she is constantly reminded of things from her past which shows the reader that she cannot forget her past. This constant switching of past to present, and vice versa, is crucial to the overall meaning of the passage since a slave also experiences flashbacks to unpleasant memories.
The flashbacks included in the story are a way for readers to experience Sethe's life, and how she has not forgotten her past as a slave. Sethe almost seems to live in the past and is haunted by the trauma. These flashbacks give readers insight into Sethe's mind and what haunts her. This use of the past and present adds to the idea of slavery in the novel.
Morrison’s skillful use of flashbacks contribute to what makes the novel so powerful. The fragmented string of events bouncing from present to past in a matter of pages could be confusing for the reader to follow. This style mimics the mindset of those who were enslaved and how their past will always come back to haunt them. The tragic events that once occurred will never dissipate, and their hideousness lives on through traumatizing memories of the past. The feeling of confusion that inhabits the reader can also possibly be seen as a representation for the chaotic life that slaves were forced to live.
Flashbacks are used to show how Sethe’s past and slavery affected her. The story indeed spirals with the timeline and repeated imagery. This is meant to express what is going on in Sethe’s head. She is constantly tormented when thinking about her past. This showcases the idea that our past lives within us.
Morrison uses spiral story tellings and repeated images to interweave past and present stories. Morrison would introduce a story in the present then transition to the past or vice versa. The use of flashbacks is to emphasize the meaning that the past does not simply disappear and will always have some coorelation to the present. This is shown through the character of Sethe as her past life of slavery continuously affects her present actions. This ties into the central purpose of the novel as nonlinear storytelling highlights that the devastations of slavery have an lasting affect. The effect of such spiral storytellings give the reader insight into the past and provides us with reasoning on why Sethe acts the way she does. Whenever I think of the use of flashbacks, I think of the television show Lost. Throughout the show, each character's past is revealed through flashbacks and the viewer learns how the character developed, why they were on the plane and provided reasoning on why they are who they are today. This directly correlates to Morrison’s use of flashback as they serve the same purpose. Morrison uses her characters dwelling of the past and flashbacks to urge her readers to keep the dark period of slavery in memory.
Morrison tells the story of Beloved by frequently switching between the present and past events. The transition between time periods is rapid and seamless and often times the reader can become confused as to where and when the events are occurring. Morrison purposely weaves the past memories into the present to show that even though they are distant events, they still have a profound effect on the characters in the present. Sethe’s “rememory” shows that she has been permanently scarred by slavery and the memories are still brought back to her day after day. The same thing occurs with Paul D as he cannot possibly forget and move on from all the things he has been through. This is part of Morrison’s message that although slavery is in the past, it will always be remembered and still terrorizes people through their memories.
Within literature, flashbacks are used are effect story telling techniques in which writers can provide more information about the story, without just listing information. Morrison uses them to show how slavery has impacted her life and even though she’s been free of slavery for many years, the memories still haunt her. Flashing from present to past can be confusing at times, but Morrison did this deliberately. They represent the confusing past of slavery and even though Sethe tries to take control of her life, her past will always haunt her and she can not find the control that she needs.
By using flashbacks and memories, Morrison is able to only include in the novel what is necessary to tell the story. By doing this, she did not have to start from the very beginning when Sethe was at sweet home, and she could include background information as it was needed. It also allowed for more suspense and satisfactory moments for the reader when two pieces of the story finally fit together. However what is probably the main reason Morrison did this is because it is very similar to if not exactly replicates the way someone's mind actually works. She is able to use this to show how vivid and painful the "rememories" of slavery were for Sethe by showing what triggered these memories and deciding how and when the most powerful time for them to occur was. This allows Morrison to show how much Sethe's past truly haunted her for years after certain events occured.
Morrisons use of flashbacks are confusing, and because of this, it enhances the plot of the story. The flashbacks come in and out at random times, which helps to show how easily triggered Sethe is. When showing how messed up Sethe is after being a slave on Sweet Home for all those years. Or Paul D's brutal journey on the chain gang to prison, and how it affected him. Without the flashbacks we would have no understanding of why the people were the way they are in the present.
Switching from past and present in order to use flashbacks is an artistic choice that makes this novel so good. Every character is reminded of their past due to flashbacks. Sethe, in particular, has many flashbacks including the beating and abuse she received as a slave, the killing of her own daughter, and the more pleasant life before the community viewed her as a "crazy" person being gone forever. Sethe' flashbacks and her past will always haunt her. Though she isn't being beaten anymore and her heart has had time to cope with her actions to kill her daughter (and so on) this novel makes me question the statement that time heals all wounds. For Seth and everyone in the novel, time does not heal. The past will always be there, always haunting them.
The use of flashbacks by Morrison does indeed have a dramatic effect on the reader. Like Madi Demelo said, switching back and forth between the past and the present explains that Sethe cannot move on from her past, without actually saying those words. Knowing the trauma Sethe has been through, it is very understandable on why she can't move past it. Including the literary technique of flashbacks, Morrison portrays the fact that Sethe will never be able to forget the past, even many years later. I also agree with the point Sarah E made about the past catching up to you. Due to all the flashbacks, Sethe shows that she is the perfect example of just that. The flashbacks are what make up a lot of the story, showing the readers that not only can Sethe not move on from the past but it gives them an in depth visual of Sethe’s character and explains why she makes the actions she does in the present time.
Throughout the novel, Morrison includes flashbacks to enhance the significance of Sethe’s trauma. The flashbacks give the reader more insight into what Sethe and the fellow slaves endured, but also exemplifies that slavery did not end when a slave gained freedom - the lasting effects of slavery were almost worse than slavery itself. For Sethe, her past and present are meshed together. The scars she obtained physically and emotionally from slavery carried with her throughout her life. Also, Sethe never fully recovered from murdering her child, and once Beloved comes back as the reincarnation as Sethe’s dead child, all Sethe can do is devote all of her attention to Beloved. She is burdened by her past and cannot seem to shake it off. Also, Morrison uses the technique of flashbacks to effectively portray to the reader what Sethe and the other slaves experienced during their time on the plantations. Immersing the past with the present in her writing allows Morrison to mirror how Sethe’s past and present are intertwined.
Morrison use of flashback, spiral storytellings and repeated images that interweave the stories of past and present do more than just make for a confusing read. The constant back and forth between Sethe's present and flashbacks to her past is a metaphor for how slavery, although abolished, remains intertwined into the lives of ex-slaves. It is not something that they just forget or move on from; the emotional and psychological effects of being owned as a piece of property are deeply carved in to the lives of freed slaves. I think Morrison is specifically trying to convey how hard it was for the generation of slaves who lived as both slaves and as freed people. and how the transition into a new life was constantly interrupted by the ghosts of their past. Also, especially towards the end, the confusion that the reader feels as the story switches from present to past and from Sethe's voice to Denver's voice to Beloved's voice to all of them together must be the same kind of head rattling feeling that Sethe feels when she experiences re-memory.
Morrison's idea to include flashbacks has contributed to the novel's brilliance. The constant switch between past and the present conveys the idea that for slaves, such as Sethe, it is almost impossible to forget the past. Sethe's past haunts her, even in the present. Sethe cannot forget being raped, witnessing death, being abused, and having to kill her own daughter. These dark memories follow her through her life and effect the person she is in the present. Repeated images of life as a slave are a constant reminder to Sethe of the pain she has endured.
ReplyDeleteMorrison chooses to interweave stories of past and the present to show that the pain of the past cannot be forgotten and it will still effect the victim years later. Even though Sethe has escaped life as a slave, memories of being a slave cannot leave her. She can't let go of her past and she carries it as a burden with her as she moves forward in her life.
Lastly, I believe that the constant switch back and forth from past and present causes intentional confusion and chaos to demonstrate the chaos that the characters have endured.
The usage of flashbacks in the novel is a way the author allows readers to experience the same recollection and emotions of Sethe and other characters. Constantly bringing memories of the past back to the forefront shows readers how Sethe can never forget her past life and agony as a slave. Although she tries to live in the present, the flashbacks make it evident that her life will always be filled with things and people reminding her of her harsh past in slavery. She was abused, raped, and suffered the loss of killing her own child. As each flashback occurs. Sethe is constantly brought back to those terrible times in the past, effecting her current life. For example, Paul Ds arrival to 124 sets off Sethe’s brain back to her past. This constant switch between past and present allows readers to feels Sethe’s agony of the past forever haunt8ng her present life.
ReplyDeleteHaving the novel be told in such a disjointed way allows for the reader to experience the story as they would if it were being recounted to them in person. Often in novels there is some foreshadowing and allusions, but typically more than in "Beloved". In Beloved, the only real sense of foreshadowing we have is that it is alluded to that there is a major character death that drives the story. With this such story-telling, we can feel the emotions that Sethe has. Much like an in-person story, the death is held back for a really long time. In trying to hold back on the death memory, we experience everything else first, Sweet Home, Sethe's memories as a slave, and how the people of Cincinnati treat Sethe, Denver and Baby Suggs, like someone who tries to justify what they've done before the come out and tell you the crime. The flashbacks also contribute to one of the novel's themes, that the past will always affect the present.
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks contribute strongly to the message trying to be sent in the novel. Flashbacks Morrison focuses on are the ones that really scarred Sethe, which tend to be very dark. These flashbacks are used to inform the reader of the terrible treatment slaves faced. Going back in time helps the reader understand why Sethe and other former slaves in the novel, such as Paul D, have the feelings they do. Sethe went through things that are impossible for a person to forget such as rape and abuse. Going through such traumatic events would lead any person to become sheltered and protective of the people they love the most. Knowing what was out there, lead Sethe to the decision that death was better than the things slavery would force on her children. Morrison not only uses these flashbacks to give the reader more background on the Sethe, but also to stress the idea that slavery will never be forgotten. I agree with Madison D that the flashbacks are deeper than just background and the spiraling storytelling contributes to the troubling experiences that the characters in the novel had to endure.
ReplyDeleteMorrison's use of flashbacks are very unique. She does this in a way that is not familiar to most readers and because of this it forces them to actually read the novel and understand the deeper meaning of it all. Morrison allows us to travel down this path that connects all the puzzles of Sethe's life to create the story of "Beloved". At first I hated that the flashbacks were scattered all over the novel but because of it, it helped me discover who Sethe actually is and how each character plays or played a part in her life. I think that reason why Morrison does this is so that she can tie together Sethe's relationships of today because each time a new character is introduced, a flashback comes with the person. However I also agree with the others who commented above me about this question. Most of the flashbacks in the novel are dark and twisty because they expose the reader about the horrid life of a slave and because Morrison continues to address Sethe's and Paul D's life of a slave, she does this to convey the message that the pain and suffering they endured during that time period will live on with them. It is a part of who they are and it is what made them the people that they are today. Morrison stresses the past in this novel and I don't think she does it on purpose. She informs reader that no matter how hard you try to forget the past, it will always catch up with you one way or another, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteMorrison's utilization of flashbacks is a very important literary device that is used in her novel. This is because is interweaves the past and the present. She does so by telling the story in the present but quickly switches the novel back into the past. The reason for this is to show that the past is forever linked with the present. This is evident in Sethe's case. As the story progresses, Morrison uses flashbacks to show that Sethe's past will constantly be with her and as much as she would like to shut all her memories of slavery out, she cannot. Morrison portrays the idea that no matter how hard someone will try to forget what was done in the past, you just can't. It will always follow you.
ReplyDeleteMorrisons use of flashbacks create a backbone for the novel which helps cultivate the true meaning of the novel; without flashbacks there would be no story. Sethe’s past is what drives the future of her life to be. If we never knew of her time at Sweet Home as a slave, her journey to Ohio to escape the life she was living, the loss of her husband, the murder of her child, or the ghost that haunts her house, Morrison’s novel would be ineffective. We would never be able to decipher that the main focus of this novel was to show the horrors of slavery and how they affect people. Morrison used these flashbacks in order to express the profound effect slavery had on Sethe’s entire life while containing the story in a span of time that didn’t include her entire life. The flashbacks point of meaningful parts of Sethe's life that emphasizes how slavery affected her.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose for the flashback structure can be very confusing to readers at first. Between flashbacks and the present, it connects how her past has truly effected her. As the story goes on, the more the terrible flashbacks enfold and show how Sethe and her life deteriorates. Her past really comes back to haunt her, and as hard as it is for her to try and forget the past, she truly never will. The past reflects just how terrible being owned was and how dehumanizing it truly is. It effected Sethe for the rest of her life, which led her to further ruin her life, by killing Beloved. With the presence of Beloved, her past comes to life, and the more the flashbacks flood Sethe’s mind.
ReplyDeleteThroughout "Beloved," Morrison's use of flashbacks can be picked up on easily. In each chapter, she usually goes back to the past to reflect on events that effect her present circumstance. Like Ben said, Sethe's past drives her future. Without these flashbacks, the reader would not understand how all of this happened to her. Her past will always be with her and this was shown through the emergence of Beloved, her dead daughter. Her past will always be linked to her present and the memory of slavery will be impossible to get rid of.
ReplyDeleteMorrison reveals pieces to the story through flashbacks that the characters Sethe, Denver and Paul D have. The different perspectives are helpful in shaping each of the character’s stories because they offer insight into the events that shape each into the person they are in the present. Sethe’s own flashbacks show her painful past, like when she was raped and milked by Schoolteacher’s boys, when she almost died escaping slavery but was saved by Amy, and when she slit Beloved’s throat twenty-eight days after her arrival at 124 Bluestone Road. Paul D’s flashbacks paint Sethe in a different light, depicting her as the desirable young woman she used to be at Sweet Home. His flashbacks contrast with Sethe’s and show how her bad experiences have closed her off from emotions. He also has flashbacks of his own past, failing to escape, put into a bit, being chained with fellow slaves, etc. Denver’s flashbacks show how Sethe omits parts of her past from Denver when retelling her stories. They also reveal how Sethe’s decision to kill Beloved impacts her childhood; she never has any friends, Baby Suggs left her, her brothers left her. That’s why she is so desperate to keep Beloved around - for the first time, she has a sister, someone that fills that void in her life. Morrison utilizes flashbacks to illustrate how Sethe, Paul D and Denver are haunted by their pasts. In this way, Morrison is making the statement that the “rememory” of slavery, even after gaining freedom, continues to haunt former slaves in the present, taking form in the character Beloved.
ReplyDeleteMorrison uses flashbacks to show how the past and present intertwine. The torture of slavery lives within a slaves mind forever, its never forgotten. Sethe cannot get the images of being raped out of her head which is why the flashbacks are used as well as a lot of repetition. These scenes are written with vivid detail to make the reader feel like it's going on in the present not the past. Morrison also uses flashbacks to show the importance of Beloved's death and her character. If we had not known what had happened to Sethe, Beloved wouldn't be as symbolic as she is, representing the pain slaves never forget. Like Beth said, "rememory" wraps this whole idea up because it emphasizes that Sethe and Paul D and Baby Suggs will always remember the pain.
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ReplyDeleteThe effect of spiral storytellings in a novel gives the illusion of recalling memories as one would normally do. However, what is being recalled is not exactly very pleasant memories. Much of the flashbacks are negative and traumatic. Sethe is recalling such traumatic memories because she can’t escape them. Her life as a slave brings about these harsh memories and plays as a constant reminder for her horrible past. The flashbacks weave their way into the story the way they do to show that the pain of the past of slavery will never be forgotten and still have a significant impact on their life years and years later. It goes back from past to present to show that her past struggles are still affecting her life years later.
ReplyDeleteMorrison’s use of flashbacks is extremely important to the story. For the reader to understand what is happening in the present and why Sethe behaves in the way that she does, they need the flashbacks. The flashbacks are placed so cleverly that you are always wondering about the past, and then when you need it , Morrison delivers you that knowledge. Since so much of the story revolves around Sethe’s past and how it is affecting her future, Morrison needed to use a device that would help the reader to understand the meaning of the novel.
ReplyDeleteMorrison's use of flashbacks help to show how conflicted Sethe is with living in the present while still letting so much of the past lurk in her mind. There are some scenarios that happen in the present that trigger a memory for Sethe and Morrison then switches her writing to the past and that moment. This device is used purposely to play significance on certain events that happened that give insight into why Sethe is the way she is in the present. The most telling flashback is when Morrison starts off a new chapter saying "When the four horsemen came...the house on Bluestone Road was so quiet they thought they were too late." (174) because this is when we learn about the day Sethe killed Beloved.
ReplyDeleteMorrison’s flashbacks contribute to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. For example, flashbacks are used as attention grabbers which begin immediately in the novel when the narrator discusses Howard and Buglar’s escape from 124. Another component of flashbacks is they better describe the past which is important because all of the main characters in the novel are connected to the past in some way. Flashbacks keep the reader engaged with the past. For example, when Paul D remembers his experience at Sweet Home, the tense shifts from past to present emphasizing the importance of his memories. Essentially, flashbacks contribute greatly to the idea of rememory as the reader is able to truly understand the importance of the past and now it still has a grip on most of the characters.
ReplyDeleteMorrison’s use of flashbacks are crucial for readers in order to gain a strong understanding of Sethe’s character. For instance, without knowing the hardships she endured as a slave, readers could easily jump to the conclusion that killing her daughter was purely evil, when she only meant good by it. In addition, they unfold the struggles that millions of African Americans experienced and the impact it left. Although granted freedom, slaves were never able to recover from what they battled. Using flashbacks, she was allowing readers to grasp the feelings slaves had during the time Sethe was experiencing it firsthand.
ReplyDeleteToni Morrison's use of flashbacks through the novel is critical to the main idea. She uses these flashbacks to connect the past to the future, particularly for Sethe. Without the flashbacks, the reader would not be able to understand Sethe’s situation or be able to interpret her thoughts and actions. Without this information the main idea of the work would become lost. The use of these flashbacks gives the reader insight into Sethe and helps them understand her actions and thoughts. This will then allow them to interpret situations like Sethe murdering her daughter and they will be able decipher the main idea of slavery.
ReplyDeleteMorrison's use of flashbacks is vital to the story. This is because through these flashbacks Morrison is able to convey the central message of the story. Morrison is really able to emphasize the fact that the effects of slavery never leave Sethe's life. The flashbacks in the novel also help the reader better understand the past events of the novel and connect them to the present events of the novel. Also the flashbacks allow for the reader to understand Sethe's reasoning for killing Beloved as the flashbacks provide insight as to what Sethe endured as a slave.
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks that Morrison implemented into the novel show the images of horror that occured in Sethe’s past and how vividly they are still remembered in her mind. This shows the reader how these memories never fade when the acts are as cruel as these. Slavery is something that can never be forgotten and will always be present in the ones who had to suffer. The flashbacks that interrupt the story show how the memories are walsy fading in and out of Sethe’s thoughts. She is constantly having flashbacks when she is triggered by a present action or item such as Paul D or Beloved’s stories about earrings. Morrison allows the reader to feel the pain that Sethe struggles with everyday of her life.
ReplyDeleteThe author uses flashbacks since it is an effective way to let the readers experience the same emotions that Sethe, or any of the characters, felt during that time. The flashbacks that Sethe experiences shows that she cannot forget her past as a slave and her killing Beloved. As Sethe lives her present life, she is constantly reminded of things from her past which shows the reader that she cannot forget her past. This constant switching of past to present, and vice versa, is crucial to the overall meaning of the passage since a slave also experiences flashbacks to unpleasant memories.
ReplyDeleteThe flashbacks included in the story are a way for readers to experience Sethe's life, and how she has not forgotten her past as a slave. Sethe almost seems to live in the past and is haunted by the trauma. These flashbacks give readers insight into Sethe's mind and what haunts her. This use of the past and present adds to the idea of slavery in the novel.
ReplyDeleteMorrison’s skillful use of flashbacks contribute to what makes the novel so powerful. The fragmented string of events bouncing from present to past in a matter of pages could be confusing for the reader to follow. This style mimics the mindset of those who were enslaved and how their past will always come back to haunt them. The tragic events that once occurred will never dissipate, and their hideousness lives on through traumatizing memories of the past. The feeling of confusion that inhabits the reader can also possibly be seen as a representation for the chaotic life that slaves were forced to live.
ReplyDeleteFlashbacks are used to show how Sethe’s past and slavery affected her. The story indeed spirals with the timeline and repeated imagery. This is meant to express what is going on in Sethe’s head. She is constantly tormented when thinking about her past. This showcases the idea that our past lives within us.
ReplyDeleteMorrison uses spiral story tellings and repeated images to interweave past and present stories. Morrison would introduce a story in the present then transition to the past or vice versa. The use of flashbacks is to emphasize the meaning that the past does not simply disappear and will always have some coorelation to the present. This is shown through the character of Sethe as her past life of slavery continuously affects her present actions. This ties into the central purpose of the novel as nonlinear storytelling highlights that the devastations of slavery have an lasting affect. The effect of such spiral storytellings give the reader insight into the past and provides us with reasoning on why Sethe acts the way she does. Whenever I think of the use of flashbacks, I think of the television show Lost. Throughout the show, each character's past is revealed through flashbacks and the viewer learns how the character developed, why they were on the plane and provided reasoning on why they are who they are today. This directly correlates to Morrison’s use of flashback as they serve the same purpose. Morrison uses her characters dwelling of the past and flashbacks to urge her readers to keep the dark period of slavery in memory.
ReplyDeleteMorrison tells the story of Beloved by frequently switching between the present and past events. The transition between time periods is rapid and seamless and often times the reader can become confused as to where and when the events are occurring. Morrison purposely weaves the past memories into the present to show that even though they are distant events, they still have a profound effect on the characters in the present. Sethe’s “rememory” shows that she has been permanently scarred by slavery and the memories are still brought back to her day after day. The same thing occurs with Paul D as he cannot possibly forget and move on from all the things he has been through. This is part of Morrison’s message that although slavery is in the past, it will always be remembered and still terrorizes people through their memories.
ReplyDeleteWithin literature, flashbacks are used are effect story telling techniques in which writers can provide more information about the story, without just listing information. Morrison uses them to show how slavery has impacted her life and even though she’s been free of slavery for many years, the memories still haunt her. Flashing from present to past can be confusing at times, but Morrison did this deliberately. They represent the confusing past of slavery and even though Sethe tries to take control of her life, her past will always haunt her and she can not find the control that she needs.
ReplyDeleteBy using flashbacks and memories, Morrison is able to only include in the novel what is necessary to tell the story. By doing this, she did not have to start from the very beginning when Sethe was at sweet home, and she could include background information as it was needed. It also allowed for more suspense and satisfactory moments for the reader when two pieces of the story finally fit together. However what is probably the main reason Morrison did this is because it is very similar to if not exactly replicates the way someone's mind actually works. She is able to use this to show how vivid and painful the "rememories" of slavery were for Sethe by showing what triggered these memories and deciding how and when the most powerful time for them to occur was. This allows Morrison to show how much Sethe's past truly haunted her for years after certain events occured.
ReplyDeleteMorrisons use of flashbacks are confusing, and because of this, it enhances the plot of the story. The flashbacks come in and out at random times, which helps to show how easily triggered Sethe is. When showing how messed up Sethe is after being a slave on Sweet Home for all those years. Or Paul D's brutal journey on the chain gang to prison, and how it affected him. Without the flashbacks we would have no understanding of why the people were the way they are in the present.
ReplyDeleteSwitching from past and present in order to use flashbacks is an artistic choice that makes this novel so good. Every character is reminded of their past due to flashbacks. Sethe, in particular, has many flashbacks including the beating and abuse she received as a slave, the killing of her own daughter, and the more pleasant life before the community viewed her as a "crazy" person being gone forever. Sethe' flashbacks and her past will always haunt her. Though she isn't being beaten anymore and her heart has had time to cope with her actions to kill her daughter (and so on) this novel makes me question the statement that time heals all wounds. For Seth and everyone in the novel, time does not heal. The past will always be there, always haunting them.
ReplyDeleteThe use of flashbacks by Morrison does indeed have a dramatic effect on the reader. Like Madi Demelo said, switching back and forth between the past and the present explains that Sethe cannot move on from her past, without actually saying those words. Knowing the trauma Sethe has been through, it is very understandable on why she can't move past it. Including the literary technique of flashbacks, Morrison portrays the fact that Sethe will never be able to forget the past, even many years later. I also agree with the point Sarah E made about the past catching up to you. Due to all the flashbacks, Sethe shows that she is the perfect example of just that. The flashbacks are what make up a lot of the story, showing the readers that not only can Sethe not move on from the past but it gives them an in depth visual of Sethe’s character and explains why she makes the actions she does in the present time.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, Morrison includes flashbacks to enhance the significance of Sethe’s trauma. The flashbacks give the reader more insight into what Sethe and the fellow slaves endured, but also exemplifies that slavery did not end when a slave gained freedom - the lasting effects of slavery were almost worse than slavery itself. For Sethe, her past and present are meshed together. The scars she obtained physically and emotionally from slavery carried with her throughout her life. Also, Sethe never fully recovered from murdering her child, and once Beloved comes back as the reincarnation as Sethe’s dead child, all Sethe can do is devote all of her attention to Beloved. She is burdened by her past and cannot seem to shake it off. Also, Morrison uses the technique of flashbacks to effectively portray to the reader what Sethe and the other slaves experienced during their time on the plantations. Immersing the past with the present in her writing allows Morrison to mirror how Sethe’s past and present are intertwined.
ReplyDeleteMorrison use of flashback, spiral storytellings and repeated images that interweave the stories of past and present do more than just make for a confusing read. The constant back and forth between Sethe's present and flashbacks to her past is a metaphor for how slavery, although abolished, remains intertwined into the lives of ex-slaves. It is not something that they just forget or move on from; the emotional and psychological effects of being owned as a piece of property are deeply carved in to the lives of freed slaves. I think Morrison is specifically trying to convey how hard it was for the generation of slaves who lived as both slaves and as freed people. and how the transition into a new life was constantly interrupted by the ghosts of their past. Also, especially towards the end, the confusion that the reader feels as the story switches from present to past and from Sethe's voice to Denver's voice to Beloved's voice to all of them together must be the same kind of head rattling feeling that Sethe feels when she experiences re-memory.
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