ge happenings show Sethe’s unhealed guilt and pain from her past life as a slave. The narrator says,
“124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom.”
This line shows that the ghost of the baby is angry and full of emotion. Amy Denver also says,
“Anything dead coming back to life hurts.”
This means that when something from the past returns, it brings both pain and healing. Later, the ghost of the baby comes back in the shape of a young woman named Beloved. This is when the supernatural becomes real and human. Beloved’s return makes Sethe face her past again — especially the moment when she killed her own child to save her from slavery. Her return is a symbol of how the past cannot stay buried; it always comes back to disturb the present.
Haunting Memory: The supernatural in the novel also helps Morrison talk about memory. Sethe’s memories of Sweet Home, her escape from slavery, and her daughter’s death all come back to her after Beloved’s return. The ghost forces Sethe to remember everything she tried to forget. This shows that unhealed trauma can haunt people like a ghost. Morrison uses the idea of “rememory.” It means that the past can live again in one’s mind.
Trauma: Beloved’s ghost is not just about one person’s pain; it also represents the collective suffering of all enslaved people. In her strange and dreamy speeches, Beloved talks about being trapped in a dark, tight place with dead and dying people. This image reminds readers of the slave ships during the Middle Passage, where many Africans suffered and died. Through this supernatural voice, Morrison gives life to those who were silenced by history. The ghost becomes a symbol of all the souls lost to slavery.
The Community’s Role in Banishing the Supernatural: At the end of the novel, the local women come together to pray and sing outside Sethe’s house. Their prayer breaks the power of the Beloved’s ghost. This shows that healing is possible through community, love, and spiritual strength. When people unite in kindness and faith, they can drive away the darkness caused by trauma and guilt. This act of prayer symbolizes collective healing after years of suffering.
Blurring Reality and the Supernatural: Morrison makes it difficult to separate what is real from what is supernatural. Readers are never sure if Beloved is truly the ghost of Sethe’s dead daughter or if she is only a symbol of Sethe’s guilt and pain. This mystery gives the story depth. It makes readers think more deeply about what the ghost truly means. This blurred line between real and unreal makes the novel both magical and emotional.
Thus, the supernatural in Beloved is not used just to create fear or excitement. It is deeply connected to the novel’s main ideas — slavery, memory, guilt, love, and healing. Through ghosts and magical events, Morrison shows that the past cannot be easily forgotten. The pain of slavery lives on in memory, but through love and community, healing is possible.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium