Around the first few chapters of Beloved, Paul D and Sethe had an argument about Denver. Sethe was defending Denver, because she wants Paul D to know that Denver is her daughter, and she she has every right to defend her. Sethe felt like she has to defend Denver as a daughter, and also of how she was able to stand up against Paul D, when he was yelling at her. Sethe was defending her daughter, and Paul D expects her to defend him back. Paul D was surprised that Sethe was taking Denver's side, and was trying to argue with him. Paul D did not expect Sethe to fight back, because he thought he was superior and Sethe was inferior.
Paul D did not like how Sethe was defending, Denver, because he felt betrayed. For Sethe, she wanted to defend her daughter because she cares and loves her. When Sethe asked Paul D to apologize to Denver, he said he did not want to. Paul D says, “Why you think you have to take up for her? Apologize to her? She’s grown” (54). This shows that even though Paul D did not start the argument, he still did not want to apologize to her because he thinks she’s “grown up.” Sethe took this as an offence, because Denver is Seth’s child, and Sethe does not want her to get hurt. Paul D argues back that Sethe cannot protect her every second of her life, Sethe felt like she was being disrespectful from Paul D. Even though Sethe cannot protect her children all the time, but she would be able to protect her children as long as she lives. She says, “Nothing! I’ll protect her while I’m live and I’ll protect her when I ain’t” (54). This shows that Sethe does not like how Paul D is treating her and Denver. Paul D was trying to be masculine, but he cannot because Sethe is being a strong women and defending what is right to her.
I think that this event was a very important one the story as a whole especially in the feminist lens. I like how you talk about how Paul D. assumed he was superior. I think this touches on the ideas that back then men were seen as having much more authority than women and that women had to obey women. I think one question that came to mind while reading your blog is, how could Sethe be punished by society for breaking out of the gender stereotypes of the time.
ReplyDeleteI think that this event was a very important one the story as a whole especially in the feminist lens. I like how you talk about how Paul D. assumed he was superior. I think this touches on the ideas that back then men were seen as having much more authority than women and that women had to obey women. I think one question that came to mind while reading your blog is, how could Sethe be punished by society for breaking out of the gender stereotypes of the time.
ReplyDeleteThe maternal instinct clearly controls Sethe. This is also seen in how she lets Beloved hurt her. She loves her and therefore allows her to abuse her. This is seen throughout society, however it is new to see how it plays out with a man in the situation as well.
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