The Horse Dealer's Daughter

Many stories hold immense truth and meaning behind the words on a page. Water symbolism specifically, is used to represent a form of rebirth. No matter how it may be used, whether through submersion or simple rain, it can signify great meaning for the story written. Submersion symbolism, specifically water, represents ideas of rebirth. It could mean renewal, where one is cleansed of their past or old self, or it could mean death of one leading to life for others. The time period where “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” takes place, women did not have much for them. They could grow up to be a wife/mother but that’s about it. Not much else for women to do with themselves. The story, Beloved, takes place right after slavery, where people were very cautious around people’s past. It was not talked about, due to the horrific event, which causes a big problem in the story. Both, Mabel Pervin, from “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” by D.H. Lawrence, and Sethe, from Beloved by Toni
Beloved seems to be separating Denver from Sethe as she becomes more deceptive and secretive: “As long as her mother did not interfere, she was a model of compassion, turning waspish, though, when Sethe tried to help.” Sethe’s own daughter is becoming sneaky and hiding things which results in a terrible family relationship, unlike Mabel who builds a relationship. In all, Sethe is suffering from Beloved’s rebirth, whether it is physical, mental, or just simply destroying a relationship. Although Sethe’s experience post rebirth had drained her, Mabel’s experience had done the opposite. Both mental transformations provide examples on how they changed for both good and bad.
Conclusion
Although Mabel and Sethe are reborn through water submersion, the result from each differ in the fact that Mabel’s transformation had positive effects and Sethe’s transformation had negative