Summary Of Don T Go Breaking Toni Morrison's Beloved
Stephen Alexander Smith
Miss Shackel
AP English Literature and Composition
13 November 2017 Don’t Go Breaking Paul D’s Heart Humans have a tendency to want to forget traumatizing experiences. People choose to ignore these memories because they remind them of difficult times in their lives where they felt certain emotions. These various emotions could include depression, anger, or vulnerability, but what they all have in common is the fact that people do not want to relive these emotions over again. In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Paul D is torn between his need to suppress the painful memories from his past that he hides in his tobacco tin heart, and his desire to relieve himself of his agonizing suffering by beginning a new life with Sethe; through …show more content…
While freezing next to the Church of the Holy Redeemer, with a bottle of liquor in his pocket, Paul D sat quietly by himself and, “His tobacco tin blown open, spilled contents that floated freely and made him their play and prey” (258). All alone and with nothing to do, Paul D is finally forced to face his emotions of sorrow and grief buried within the tobacco tin. The grief and sorrow eat away at him like a lion playing with its food. Not knowing what to do, Paul D dwells upon his past, wishing to find solace in alcohol. Sitting in a rocking chair, contemplating all his memories with Sethe, he tells her, “ me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow” (322). Paul D realizes he loves Sethe and he wants a life together with her. Her past no longer bothers him and he takes comfort in knowing that she can relate to all his struggles of being a slave. Sethe loved Paul D and allowed him to share his feelings of despair, and now he believes it is his turn to help heal Sethe. Cured of his pain and learning to love, Paul D is able to embark on a new life with
Miss Shackel
AP English Literature and Composition
13 November 2017 Don’t Go Breaking Paul D’s Heart Humans have a tendency to want to forget traumatizing experiences. People choose to ignore these memories because they remind them of difficult times in their lives where they felt certain emotions. These various emotions could include depression, anger, or vulnerability, but what they all have in common is the fact that people do not want to relive these emotions over again. In Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Paul D is torn between his need to suppress the painful memories from his past that he hides in his tobacco tin heart, and his desire to relieve himself of his agonizing suffering by beginning a new life with Sethe; through …show more content…
While freezing next to the Church of the Holy Redeemer, with a bottle of liquor in his pocket, Paul D sat quietly by himself and, “His tobacco tin blown open, spilled contents that floated freely and made him their play and prey” (258). All alone and with nothing to do, Paul D is finally forced to face his emotions of sorrow and grief buried within the tobacco tin. The grief and sorrow eat away at him like a lion playing with its food. Not knowing what to do, Paul D dwells upon his past, wishing to find solace in alcohol. Sitting in a rocking chair, contemplating all his memories with Sethe, he tells her, “ me and you, we got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow” (322). Paul D realizes he loves Sethe and he wants a life together with her. Her past no longer bothers him and he takes comfort in knowing that she can relate to all his struggles of being a slave. Sethe loved Paul D and allowed him to share his feelings of despair, and now he believes it is his turn to help heal Sethe. Cured of his pain and learning to love, Paul D is able to embark on a new life with