Analysis Of Slavery And Motherhood
Slavery and Motherhood: Characterization of Sethe
In “Slavery and Motherhood” Terry Caesar claims Toni Morrison’s novels pertains to the issues of violence from slavery but isn’t primarily historical or racial. Caesar focuses on the issue of infanticide to reveal the foundational basis of the narratives which are the “fundamental concerns of contemporary feminism, such as abortion and child abuse have”. Also Caesar argues that Morrison could only convey the hopes and fears of being a mother within the context of slavery. In regards to Sethe Caesar refers to this statement made by Marianne Hirsch:
"When Sethe tries to explain to Beloved why she cut her throat, she is explaining an anger handed down through generations of mothers who could have …show more content…
196) Caesar utilizes this statement to validate her argument that Morrison isn’t solely writing about slavery, or slave mothers. Caesar states that there are distinct line drawn between being a woman and being a mother. For instance, Sethe is frightened when Paul D asks her to have his children. Caesar argues the central problem is the lack of selflessness on the Seethe’s part. Sethe’s response to Paul D was, "Needing to be good enough, alert enough, strong enough, that caring - again. Having to stay alive just that much longer. O Lord, she thought, deliver me. Unless carefree, motherlove was a killer." (Morrison, 1987, p.132) This forges segway to another one of Caesar’s arguments: “The prominence of Sethe's distinctively maternal subjectivity makes the struc tural economy of the mother and daughter appear less …show more content…
Darling argues Sethe, acting as the mother she thought she should be, lived in a society that confines her being to status of a “human baby machine”. Darling refers to Sethe’s escape to Ohio in attempt of running away from the degradation of enslavement. But after the escape to Ohio Sethe realizes, "Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another." Freeing oneself to act and claiming ownership and responsibility for one's freed self are major issues Sethe faces in her life. Darling argues that Sethe’s life is a world defined by injustice that consumes her body and soul. This injustice drives Sethe to only “act against herself (and her children who are also "herself"), and must later answer to her own desperate actions”.
In “Slavery and Motherhood” Terry Caesar claims Toni Morrison’s novels pertains to the issues of violence from slavery but isn’t primarily historical or racial. Caesar focuses on the issue of infanticide to reveal the foundational basis of the narratives which are the “fundamental concerns of contemporary feminism, such as abortion and child abuse have”. Also Caesar argues that Morrison could only convey the hopes and fears of being a mother within the context of slavery. In regards to Sethe Caesar refers to this statement made by Marianne Hirsch:
"When Sethe tries to explain to Beloved why she cut her throat, she is explaining an anger handed down through generations of mothers who could have …show more content…
196) Caesar utilizes this statement to validate her argument that Morrison isn’t solely writing about slavery, or slave mothers. Caesar states that there are distinct line drawn between being a woman and being a mother. For instance, Sethe is frightened when Paul D asks her to have his children. Caesar argues the central problem is the lack of selflessness on the Seethe’s part. Sethe’s response to Paul D was, "Needing to be good enough, alert enough, strong enough, that caring - again. Having to stay alive just that much longer. O Lord, she thought, deliver me. Unless carefree, motherlove was a killer." (Morrison, 1987, p.132) This forges segway to another one of Caesar’s arguments: “The prominence of Sethe's distinctively maternal subjectivity makes the struc tural economy of the mother and daughter appear less …show more content…
Darling argues Sethe, acting as the mother she thought she should be, lived in a society that confines her being to status of a “human baby machine”. Darling refers to Sethe’s escape to Ohio in attempt of running away from the degradation of enslavement. But after the escape to Ohio Sethe realizes, "Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another." Freeing oneself to act and claiming ownership and responsibility for one's freed self are major issues Sethe faces in her life. Darling argues that Sethe’s life is a world defined by injustice that consumes her body and soul. This injustice drives Sethe to only “act against herself (and her children who are also "herself"), and must later answer to her own desperate actions”.