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April 10, 2007
Knowledge or Spite?
In Beloved, the character Beloved enters the cold house due to her “want” of Paul D. As Erin mentioned in her presentation, this seems contradictory to her statements and actions in trying to remove the man from 124 Bluestone Road. Nicole raised an interesting point about how Beloved is perhaps trying to get to know Paul D intimately, much in the same way Sethe has. If one considers Beloved’s fanatical obsession with Sethe and all knowledge pertaining to her, this is an excellent interpretation.
If one were, however, to look at Beloved’s more malevolent, ghostly aspect, this also might be a method of removing this man whom she so despises. It has been stated earlier on that her presence disturbed Paul D, and he wanted nothing to do with her. By invading his sleeping quarters (the cold house) during the night, Beloved has violated both his sense of security and his personal sense of manhood. Paul D’s character, already attempting to ascertain what his own manliness means and how he can identify it, is emasculated by being driven from the house by a girl and then falling further into her treachery. While he may be aghast at what Sethe did to her children, it is this coupled with his feelings of inadequacy in 124 that ultimately cause him to relinquish his residence there.
Posted by gdejongh at April 10, 2007 12:36 PM
Comments
I think your point about how Beloved plays into Paul D's sense of manhood (a theme the novel develops in really interesting ways) is a great way to read this moment, this sexual haunting in a way.
Posted by: lauraaw at April 12, 2007 08:33 AM
I like your interpretation better than mine. My question, then, is why does this sexual encounter with Beloved cause Paul D's tin can (his heart, his memories, his emotions) to open up? And why does he end up saying "red heart, red heart"? And finally, why does his saying "red heart" awaken Denver?
Posted by: premonp at April 15, 2007 09:51 PM
I suppose I am thinking of this from more of a supernatural point of view. Beloved serves as a foil of sorts for Paul D; he brings out the happiness and relief in people, and she brings out the guilt, the repressed anger, and the sorrow. In her supernatural aspect, I assume that the "tin can" opens because she exerts this paranormal power over him to cause him to remember all of the darkness of his past. As for the "red heart" part of the text, there is mention of how Paul D lost his "red heart" and how it was replaced by the "tin can." Translating the metaphor, Paul D gave up the part of him that could be emotional over his past and repressed his memories (gave up the heart and took up the rusted can). His repetition of "red heart" may just be caused by the nightmares awakened within him. I imagine it wakes up Denver for the same reason Paul D was wary of coming into 124 in the beginning; she can sense the malice of Beloved. There is probably some other reason or interpretation, but this is how I see it from a supernatural standpoint.
Posted by: gdejongh at April 15, 2007 11:20 PM
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