Beloved

Beloved is a novel which exposes the emotional and mental scars brought about by the economic system of slavery. As humans, we are programmed to desire, to actively seek community. Slavery broke that inherent search within those it held captive and with whome it was most effective. Paul D at one point ascerts that one must "love small." If a slave were to love something or someone to passionately, then they would expose themselves. They would become vulnerable to the pain that would come when that which they love was inevitabely stripped away. Even Sethe's own milk was stolen from her breasts; slaves had ownership of nothing. Slaves could not allow themselves to form an emotional link which would create community, but rather the system severed their ability to create these ties by hurting the ones they love--just as Sethe's mother was hung. Perhaps this also cuts their ties to humanity itself...or strengthens them. After all, who was more human: the slave, or their master?