The Power Of The Past In Toni Morrison's Beloved
Thesis: In the novel Beloved, Paul D’s struggle to overcome the power his past has on him reflects Morrison’s message that only by accepting and confronting your past can you overcome it and move on to a better future.
Topic Sentences:
• The past’s power over Paul D is symbolized by his “tin tobacco box”, in which he locks away his emotions thereby succumbing to the chains of his past.
• Paul D’s complete acceptance of the power of the past is paralleled by his acceptance of Beloved’s power over him, when his “tin tobacco box” breaks open.
• Only once Paul D has accepted his past does he realizes that he wants to move on and create a life which he had formerly been denied, whether by oppression or his inability to confront his past.
Topic Sentences:
• The past’s power over Paul D is symbolized by his “tin tobacco box”, in which he locks away his emotions thereby succumbing to the chains of his past.
• Paul D’s complete acceptance of the power of the past is paralleled by his acceptance of Beloved’s power over him, when his “tin tobacco box” breaks open.
• Only once Paul D has accepted his past does he realizes that he wants to move on and create a life which he had formerly been denied, whether by oppression or his inability to confront his past.