When we examine the pivotal moment of Beloved we can notice that it is similar in a lot of ways to the critical
moment in Native Son. Both characters
are placed into a position where they have to make an impossible choice. Bigger
either had to choose being accused of rape which would most likely result in
death, or killing Mary and having some hope to move on. Similarly, Sethe had to
choose between being captured by Schoolteacher and going back to Sweet home, or
kill her children.
Both characters picked the choice with most ambiguity. Bigger
knew the consequences of being caught, and so rather than accepting that we
would be caught he chose what, in his mind, was the better option. He acted
completely out of instinct and self-preservation and so we cannot blame him for
doing so.
Sethe was placed into a very similar position when the four
horsemen showed up. As soon as she saw them she acted instinctively and made a
choice. Her only other option was to let Schoolteacher take her children to
Sweet Home and live a life of slavery. Sethe knew that his option was a
terrible one and so she chose what, in her mind, was the better alternative.
Which was to kill her own children. In my opinion we are not allowed to judge
whether this action was justified or not, and frankly it doesn’t matter if we
do. The point of both of these passages is to show that these characters are
placed in impossible situations and are forced to make a choice. It is to protest
against slavery and oppression, but more specifically to demonstrate the
absolute horror of slavery.
Another demonstration of this horror is the portrayal of the
characters in the eyes of white characters. In Beloved, we get insight into the thoughts of the four white
horsemen and the way in which they see Sethe. When they discover that she has
killed one of her own children their immediate reaction is to view her as an
animal. Not only do they see her as property, but they literally hunt her down.
Just like hunters hunting down prey, they view her as something similar to a
beast.
This dynamic is also present in Native Son, where we see Bigger being hunted down by the police for
the murder of Mary. We see Bigger running away from the police on the rooftops
until he is finally caught by the “hunters” and thrown in prison. Both novels
are protest novels attempting to demonstrate the horrors and portrayals of
slavery and discrimination.
This is interesting. I didn't think of Beloved in comparison to Native Son. They definitely are similar. I think that both Bigger and Sethe were both acting in the spur of the moment. I think it's also really interesting to compare both Sethe and Bigger's responses after the fact. Sethe feels justified in what she did. Bigger also eventually accepts what he did and even sees it in a positive light towards the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe connection you made is very interesting. I think it's also amusing that the decision the main characters made, although rather impulsive, they were decisions that liberated them, yet their peers shunned them for it. Murder is wrong in any circumstance, but Bigger and Sethe both defied white oppression in doing so.
ReplyDeleteIn a very blunt sense, both characters went with the "logical" decision in their respective situations--decisions that unfortunately resulted in murder and a dreadful ending for the two protagonists. I like that you make the distinction between the almost certain outcomes and ambiguous ones for the two characters. For Bigger, he must choose between almost certain death on account of alleged rape, or take his chance to flee. For Sethe, she must choose between facing an almost certain return to slavery, or the prospect of killing her children to escape from it. Both characters do what at the time they believe is their only option, in part due to their unique mental states. We can see that at the end of the novels, both decisions involving murder (albeit Bigger's was unintentional) end up resurfacing to put the characters to their eventual doom.
ReplyDeleteI think this comparison is really interesting one. There are a lot of valid parallels.I especially thought the "hunting down" of Bigger and Sethe was very interesting. I think there are also some important contrasts. Wright corners Bigger into making this decision through controlling him like a puppet and leaving him no autonomy, while Morrison steps back from the situation, and simply describes to the audience what is unfolding before her/our eyes.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't particularly agree with your summary of Bigger's choices, as I felt that his actions stemmed from an unstoppable series of events rather than a single decision to do something with the best possible outcome. Your point is definitely supported by Wright's image and goals for his novels, as revealed in his criticism of Their Eyes Were Watching God, so perhaps I have been misreading Native Son all this time. I do agree though that the characters make decisions to avoid a life where they will definitely suffer, instead choosing the "ambiguous" path that could possibly give them another shot at a good life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting post, I think you're right that the connection between the two novels is significant and a powerful protest against slavery. It's also interesting to me how in Native Son, Bigger is really isolated from everyone and that motivated his choice in some ways, while in Beloved the choice is motivated by Sethe's love for her children.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the relation you drew between this and Native Son! I agree, they are quite similar - it's an on the spot, instinct - I must do this to protect myself/my children from the evil white people, who will cause harm to myself/my children for being in this situation. I think Sethe seems a lot more pardonable after relating this to our discussions (and Max's points) about Bigger's murder.
ReplyDelete_Beloved_ doesn't quite work as a "protest novel" in the same way as _Native Son_ (or, indeed, _Uncle Tom's Cabin_) do, simply because those novels directly engage *current events* and try to influence a reader's views on those issues (as Stowe tries to persuade her reader that "slavery is horrible," as Baldwin puts it).
ReplyDeleteMorrison probably takes for granted her reader's moral objection to slavery. But I see the point of this comparison: while a contemporary reader taking a stance on slavery is hardly going out on a limb, the novel does seem motivated by a strong *educational* impulse, to compel its reader to think long and hard about slavery and its effects, not only in the immediate term but in the long term. It's a novel quite literally about slavery *and* the period immediately following it. Morrison wants to influence a reader's ideas in a way that's similar to the protest novel, but the object of her protest is historical.
From Beloved we learned the power of memories. In that context, it is not at all strange to think that while influencing the reader's view of the past, Morrison also attempts to change their future actions.
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ReplyDeleteI think this is an interesting comparison to make. For me, the real difference is the characters' motivations. Sethe kills Beloved out of maternal love. She doesn't want her children to live in slavery. Bigger, however, acts out of fear of being accused of rape. Love and fear are very different emotions, so we see their choices differently as a result. We continue to admire Sethe, but we feel more pity or disconnect from Bigger.
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