Symbols in Beloved

Symbols in Beloved The degradation imposed upon all slaves, the relationships among enslaved and the changes in their own perception of themselves, the meaning of time and memory and how it influences the future are some of the problems explored by Toni Morrison in her novel Beloved. What really impressed us while reading the book were the various ways she approached her readers. The style combines literary realism with biblical myths, folklore, and pure historical reality with deep symbolism. The role of the symbols is the focus of this paper. Different authors have investigated the symbols in Beloved but still not much is written about some of the symbols that are the object of this research the number 124, the name Sethe and the colours used in the narration. The three symbols will be approached separately despite their common role in the narration. The main task is to familiarise with these symbols, to present some authors remarks about them and to point out the multiple ways to read symbols. A further analysis of their interconnection may come out as a separate work. A symbol, as defined by Merriam-Webster online Dictionary and Thesaurus is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance. Quite often it is a visible sign of something that can not be seen. The word symbol comes from the Greek verb symballein which means to put together and the noun symbolon which means mark, taken or sign. To suit our purposes a more complex explanation of the symbols will be of better use: A symbol has complex, not only literal meaning, but also additional meaning(s) beyond the literal. Sometimes the literal meaning of a symbol is absurd, so that the symbolic meaning over-rides and cancels out the literal meaning. A symbol may have more than one meaning. In fact, the most significant symbols do convey an indefinite range of meanings (Doty 1). But one should not forget that the meaning of a piece of literature depends on the readers freedom to perceive and understand it in a unique way. So weather a symbol is well chosen or not will be judged by the way the reader responds to it. In Beloved Toni Morrison uses a variety of symbols in order to escape from the conventional and at the same time to ensure that the message she wants to convey will reach its audience. Colours, numbers, names, trees and different images all come to help her transfer her ideas to the public. In this work the focus will be on three main symbols used and their role in the narration: number 124, the name Sethe and the colours. Number 124 Having in mind the idea of symbols and their meaning, the first thing that strikes is number 124. It actually is connected to the spot where most of the action takes place the house at 124 Bluestone Road, .a residence where every inhabitant feels secure, surrounded by the community and sometimes suffocated by the too tense atmosphere. But if the reader decides to look further, he will notice that if the separate digits are summed up, 7 is reached. 124 fits this astrological delineation because the sum of the three digitsadd up to aforementioned 7 (Essay on Toni Morrisons Beloved 1). According to the numerology number seven represents creation as well as vitality and mystery which are the key points of the whole novel. It also identifies a positive renewal and stands for the punishment, the purification and the penitence. Another way to interpret the number is that 124 stands for Sethes four children among whom the third one Beloved, is absent (Atousa 6). Perceived in this way the symbol is extremely strong in reminding the reader of the murdered child, its ghostly presence in the life of the family and Sethes great sense of loss. The Name Sethe Even the name of the protagonist Sethe is symbolic. Using it Toni Morrison connects the story of the proud and independent woman who has dedicated all her life to her children with the ancient Egypt, on one hand, and the Holy Bible, on the other. The two ways to read the symbol may be seen as an attempt of the author to reach a wider audience or to show the complexity of the character. The God of chaos, wind and storms Seth- a man with the head of an animal or bird, gives some masculine features to this female slave but at the same time emphasises her chaotic state of mind that leads to breaking down the polarities of right and wrong (Lewis 1). The Biblical Seth the child of Adam and Eve also adds strength and determination to her character and represents her skills to fight and overcome difficulties. Yet, as a typical representative of the enslaved, she has spent all of her efforts not trying to avoid pain but to get through it as quickly as possible. The Colours Colours take significant place in the setting, describing the way people feel or conveying hope for a brighter future. They are symbols of life which Sethe does not take for granted. Trying to find the vitality in the moment, she follows her inner self. Black and white represents the obvious contradiction between the world of people whose skin is white and those with black one. White is usually accepted as a symbol of innocence, life, light, purity, or enlightenment, while black is seen as a cold and negative colour suggesting passivity, death, ignorance, or evil. In Beloved one can speak of colour-consciousness presented as a part of a relationship that has affected the lives of many. Baby Suggs, Sethes mother-in-law, says Those white things have taken all I had or dreamed. . . and broke my heartstrings too. There is no bad luck in the world but whitefolks(89). Her words describe the bitterness and destruction crying deep in her heart. Another symbol coming from the red part of the spectrum could be seen over and over again throughout Beloved. Red symbolizes action, courage, vitality. For Amy Denver, the red velvet signifies her ambitions for a calm and peaceful life, while the red heart of Paul D stands for his emotions. Life and death, presence and absence go together in the novel and their influence could be felt at each stage. The red roses which line the road to the carnival herald its arrival in town but also mark the beginning of new life for Sethe, Denver, and Paul D, their expectations. These roses at the same time are to remind the death. Red is all that Morrison need say, for she shows us what it means to know color as a matter of life and death (Morey 1040) There are many different artistic devices used in literature. Toni Morrison has applied a variety of techniques but certainly a strong point in her style in Beloved is the usage of a vast number symbols conveying often mixed messages. 124 when summed up makes seven which symbolises creation and vitality but seen as a sequence is the sign of something lost forever. Sethe is both the name of the child of Adam and Eve, strong in coping with difficulties and the name of the God of chaos and storm, restless in his pursuit of good and bad. Black and white, dark and light, the colours that are commonly associated with the slaves and their enslavers and red the colour of love and yet sometimes smelling of death. The symbolic dimension of Toni Morrisons novel goes together with the development of the narrative and sometimes even takes over. It is a powerful means to present the plurality of races, genders, classes, and ethnicities in America at that time. Karen Bernardo says that just as characterization and dialogue and plot work on the surface to move the story along, symbolism works under the surface to tie the storys external action to the theme(Bernardo 1). That external action in our opinion is often more influential than the surface one as symbols convey deep messages that are transferred sometimes even without the conscious knowledge of the reader. The only requirement is to read with open senses.

Antoinette: Wide Sargasso Sea

AP Literature 10/29/12 Deriving Antoinette’s Insanity In the novel, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, one of the main characters goes through emotional chaos. That character’s name is Antoinette. She grew up in Jamaica in a rich family. After her brother Pierre died, her mother went crazy. Later on in the book, Antoinette goes crazy as well. Some critics believe that Antoinette’s madness is heredity. I disagree with that critique. The primary source of Antoinette’s madness is from the harsh treatment of her husband, Rochester. There are smaller causes as well, like the night when slaves burned down her family’s house.Antoinette is devastated. The continuous devastation along with cruel treatment from people around her cause her insanity In the beginning of the novel, Antoinette is a solitary young girl. She wanders the island, learning about the world. The fact that she is white creates tension between her and the Jamaican people. Her family also has a lot of money and most people there are poor. Tia becomes her only real friend. She loses that friend mainly because Tia is black and she is white. Jamaican people didn’t like her family. One night the slaves burn down her house, laughing and throwing stones at the family.This shocks Antoinette. She likes the Jamaican people. During the fire she sees Tia and thinks, â€Å"I will live with Tia and be like her. Not to leave Coulibri. Not to go. Not. † Just as she thinks this, Tia throws a stone at her. Emotionally, this is the start of much devastation in her life. Later on in the novel, Antoinette is married to Rochester. At first, they seem happy together. Antoinette shows him the island she grew up on and tells him stories of her childhood. Antoinette feels love again. Little does she know, Rochester feels nothing but lust for her.Rochester leads Antoinette on even more by having sex with her. Antoinette is the happiest she has ever been in her life. Rochester still feels nothing. He thinks, â€Å"As for the happiness I gave her, that was worse than nothing. I did not love her. I was thirsty for her, but that is not love. † He continues to lead her on until one day where he suddenly stops having sex with her. Antoinette goes from an extreme high, to a low point in her life. She has no one. The madness sets in. Rochester receives a letter from a man named Daniel Cosway, who tells him of Antoinette’s family history.He also tells him that he is Antoinette’s half-brother and madness runs in the family. Daniel warns Rochester that Antoinette is crazy as well. Rochester believes him and continues to push Antoinette away. One day Rochester has sex with Amelie, a servant. He doesn’t try to hide it. Antoinette hears and is hurt beyond repair. Because of this, she is more than crazy. Antoinette becomes a love crazy lunatic. She loses another person I her life whom she loved, because of this, She is not repairable. They leave t he island and Rochester locks her up. He doesn’t even try to help her.When a person is repeatedly subjected to this kind of cruel, evil-hearted treatment, the only course for that person is insanity. Heredity is not the source of the insanity though. There is nothing hereditary about what Rochester did to Antoinette. Even if madness didn’t run in the family, Antoinette probably would have the same reaction. It doesn’t help that after the cruel things that Rochester did, she had no way to cope with them. Christophine couldn’t help because Rochester threatened her. Again, there is nothing hereditary about how Rochester acted. Every reason for Antoinette’s madness has nothing to do with heredity, but cruelty.

How to Find Original Science Fair Project Ideas

Do you want to come up with a truly original science fair project that is all your own and not one out of a book or used by another student? Heres advice that may help stimulate your creativity. Find a Topic That Interests You What interests you? Food? Video games? Dogs? Football? The first step is to identify subjects that you like. Ask Questions Original ideas start with questions. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Which? You can ask questions such as: Does ____ affect ____ ? What is the effect of _____ on _____ ? How much ____ is required to _____ ? To what extent does ____ affect ____ ? Designing an Experiment Can you answer your question by changing only one factor? If not, then it will save you a lot of time and energy to ask a different question. Can you take measurements or do you have a variable you can count such as yes/no or on/off? It is important to be able to take measurable data rather than rely on subjective data. You can measure length or mass, for example, but it is hard to measure human memory or factors such as taste and smell. Try brainstorming ideas. Think of topics that interest you and start asking questions. Write down variables that you know you can measure. Do you have a stopwatch? You could measure time. Do you have a thermometer? You could measure temperature? Cross out any questions that you cant answer. Pick the remaining idea that you like the best or try this exercise with a new subject. It may not be easy at first, but with a little practice, youll be generating lots of original ideas.

Identifying Adjective Clauses Exercise

Instructions for the Exercise in Identifying Adjective Clauses Only some of the sentences below contain adjective clauses  (also called relative clauses). See if you can pick out the adjective clauses, and then compare your responses with the answers below. Identify the Adjective Clauses I bought a car from Merdine, and it turned out to be a lemon.The car that I bought from Merdine turned out to be a lemon.Pandora, who had recently celebrated a birthday, opened the box of gifts.Lila, who has been the fire warden for 30 years, lives in a trailer with some scrappy dogs and cats.Lila, who lives in a trailer with some scrappy dogs and cats, has been the fire warden for 30 years.People who smoke cigarettes should be considerate of nonsmokers.Jacob, who smokes cigarettes, is considerate of nonsmokers.Mr. Mann has small, dark eyes, which peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed glasses.My wedding ring is worth at least ten dollars, and now I have lost it.I have lost my wedding ring, which is worth at least ten dollars. Answers (no adjective clause)that I bought from  Merdinewho had recently celebrated a birthdaywho has been the town fire warden for nearly 30 yearswho lives in a trailer with some scrappy dogs and catswho smoke cigarettes  which peer inquisitively from behind metal-rimmed glasses(no adjective clause)which is worth at least ten dollars