What Picture of Racial Violence Do you Find in “Beloved?”

Answer

What picture of racial violence do you find in “Beloved?”  

Racial violence is a central theme of the novel “Beloved” (1987) by Toni Morrison (1931-2019). The novel vividly portrays the brutal and dehumanizing effects of racial violence on African Americans. It shows how it destroys their lives, families, and sense of self. Through the experiences of Sethe, Paul D, and other characters, Morrison paints a powerful picture of the horrors of racial violence and its lasting impact.

The brutality of Slavery: Beloved presents slavery as a system rooted in extreme racial violence. The characters’ experiences at Sweet Home, a plantation where Sethe, Paul D, and other slaves lived, are marked by constant brutality. Sethe’s memories of her time at Sweet Home include being whipped so severely that she bears permanent scars on her back.

Schoolteacher made one open up my back, and when it closed it made a tree. It grows there still.

This image of a tree-shaped scar symbolizes the deep and lasting wounds inflicted by racial violence, both physically and emotionally.

The Dehumanization of Slaves: Racial violence in the novel is not only physical but also psychological. Slaves are treated as less than humans, reduced to mere objects of labor. The schoolteacher, the cruel overseer at Sweet Home, dehumanizes the slaves by categorizing their “human” and “animal” characteristics. Sethe remembers overhearing Schoolteacher instructing his nephew, 

No, no. That’s not the way. I told you to put her human characteristics on the left; her animal ones on the right 

This act of categorization reflects the deep-seated racism that views African Americans as inferior beings. It is used to justify the violence done to them.

Sexual Violence as a Tool of Control: Sexual violence is another form of racial violence depicted in Beloved. Sethe’s experience of being raped by Schoolteacher’s nephews is a devastating example.  It shows how sexual violence is used to exert control and dominance over black women. This act of violence is not just about physical harm; it is also about humiliating and dehumanizing. Sethe is treated as nothing more than an object of white male control. When they steal her breast milk during the attack, it takes away her ability to care for her children and makes her feel even more powerless.

The Destruction of Families: Racial violence in Beloved also manifests in the destruction of families. Slavery systematically tears families apart, as children are sold away from their parents and husbands are separated from each other. Sethe kills her child to save her from slavery. It is a tragic response to the unbearable violence of this system. 

I stopped him, she said, staring at the place where the fence used to be. I took and put my babies where they’d be safe.

The above lines highlight the extreme measures that victims of racial violence are forced to take to protect their loved ones.

The Haunting Legacy of Racial Violence: The novel also explores the lasting impact of racial violence, even after the physical chains of slavery have been broken. Sethe’s inability to escape her past and her guilt over her actions reflect the enduring scars left by racial violence. 

I can forget it all now

This line emphasizes how past violence continues to shape the present.

In conclusion, Toni Morrison presents a harrowing picture of racial violence. It shows how it dehumanizes, controls, and destroys the lives of African Americans. The novel reveals the brutality of slavery. The psychological and sexual violence inflicted upon the characters and the destruction of families as a direct result of racial violence.