In Section II of the novel, I found Denver’s narration interesting and revealing. After surviving her mother’s attempt to kill her in order to ‘keep her safe’, Denver understandably becomes extremely isolated, sensitive and much of her behavior is childish and immature.(for example the way she resents Paul D when he arrives to 124 and never leaving the house on her own except with her mother). In her narration, however, Denver comes across to me as quite perceptive and intelligent and her behavior is explained by her traumatic past, the fear that “the thing that happened that made it all right for my mother to kill my sister could happen again”(242). I feel greatly sympathetic to Denver’s situation; she is completely governed by fear of death by her mother and she admits that “I spent all of my outside self loving Ma’am so she wouldn’t kill me”(245). Also in Denver’s section, the reader receives insight into other important characters, namely Baby Suggs and Denver’s father, Halle.
I agree with you Ravi. Denver's narration revealed a more perceptive side of her character. Before this section, I didn't realize that Denver was still fearful of the violent and crazy side of Sethe. I knew she felt isolated, but these exposed feelings towards Sethe even further isolates Denver which explains her extreme need for companionship which she seeks in Beloved.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying Ravi. For me, the section about Denever stuck out the most because I feel as if we learned a lot more her than we had been shown before. Finally, Denver's behavior is finally explained as we are revealed to how she spends every day in fear of her own mother and how destroyed the family really is.
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