Mercedis-Beloved+EC

 **//"Beloved" By: Toni Morrison//**
 * Mercedis Newell Hr.2 **

Toni Morrison Biography: Toni Morrison was born on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio as Chloe Anthony Wofford (Nobel Prize). Morrison was married to Harold Morrison from 1958 to 1964. She has two sons-Harold and Slade. Toni Morrison graduated from Howard University in 1953 (Toni Morrison). Afterwards she went to Cornell University. At Cornell she received a masters degree in fine arts (Toni Morrison). After she left Cornell she taught an English class at Texas Southern University and at Howard University. Morrison published several books. She published Sula in 1973, Song of Solomon in 1977, Beloved in 1987, Jazz in 1994, Paradise in 1998, Love in 2003, The Big Box in 1999, The Book of Mean People in 2002, and The Ant or the Grasshopper? in 2003 (Toni Morrison). Later in her life she became a professor at Princeton University in 1989. In 1993 she received the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature. Morrison was the first black woman to be selected for the Nobel Peace Prize. Morrison announced she was retiring from Princeton in 2006. At the moment she lives in Princeton, New Jersey and Upstate New York (Toni Morrison).

Sethe finally arrives at 124 and she is greeted by Baby Suggs and her children. After this home coming things take a turn for the worst. After living in the house on 124th street the family starts to notice that there is some kind of evil presence in the house. It takes Sethe a while to figure it out, but she soon realizes that the ghost that haunts 124 is her deceased daughter Beloved. Beloved was a killed as a child by Sethe at Sweet Home. Sethe killed Beloved because she didn't want Beloved to struggle through slavery. When the slave owners came for Beloved, Sethe cut the baby's throat. The family uncomfortably deals with the presence of Beloved. Howard and Buglar run away from home because of their fear of Beloved. After Howard and Buglar leave, Denver becomes so lonely that she befriends the ghost. Baby Suggs eventually dies. As the years pass Sethe and Denver become isolated from the rest of the community because of the curse of Beloved. One day while Sethe was sitting on her porch she notices a familiar man walking toward her house. When he got closer she immediately recognized him as Paul D. Paul D was the brother of Sethe's husband Halle. Paul D had a crush on Sethe when they lived in Sweet Home together. Sethe invites Paul D into the house and as he enters he is covered by and illuminated light. Sethe tells him that the presence in her home is a sad ghost. She also tells him that the ghost is not violent. As they sit and reminisce the house begins to shutter. In a violent fit Paul D begins to throw objects around the house and fend off objects that are being thrown at him. This event brings Sethe and Paul D closer. The feeling that Paul D should stay for a while is mutual between Sethe and Paul D. As time went by Paul D tried to form a better relationship with Denver. Denver resented Paul D because he got rid of the presence in the house. Paul D takes Denver and Sethe to a carnival in an effort to please Denver. On their way home they notice a woman sleeping on a log. Sethe invites her to their house. As they question her she doesn't seem to know anything about her life, not even her name. Paul D doesn't like her, but Denver does. That is mainly because she has no one else to talk to. The rest of "Beloved" is filled with twists and turns. The book always keeps you guessing.
 * Plot: ** "Beloved" is a compelling story about the struggles of a woman named Sethe. In her early years, Sethe lived on a plantation called Sweet Home. Sweet Home was where Sethe would meet her future husband Halle. Sethe and Halle had three children. Howard, Buglar, and a third child that was not revealed in the beginning of the story. Sethe was also pregnant with a fourth child. Sweet Home was anything but sweet. The main characters in this book try to avoid conversation about Sweet Home. When Sethe was a young woman she ran away from Sweet Home. Before she leaves she sends her three children to a house on 124th street to stay with Baby Suggs, their grandmother. On her way to 124 Sethe starts to feel tremendous labor pains. She is determined to get to her children. Sethe collapses in a small shack and she is stumbled upon by a young girl named Amy Denver. Amy Denver helped Sethe on her way to 124. She even helped Sethe give birth. Sethe successfully gave birth to a baby girl. Sethe was inspired by Amy to name her daughter Denver.

__ Criticisms __ : I don't have any major complaints about "Beloved." It was not a very hard book to read. Being able to understand it is a plus. I think that Toni Morrison did a good job about explaining the personality of the main characters. Toni Morrison especially showed the need Beloved had for Sethe. __ Literary Information __ : Title: Beloved Genre: Modernist Novel Author: Toni Morrison Setting: 1873 in Cincinnati, Ohio __ Why this book is outstanding __ : This always kept me guessing. I was actually interested in reading it. This book has a very unique idea behind it. Toni Morrison has a great sense of writing. She never tries to over emphasize a situation. I recommend this book to people that like a story that forces you to think outside of the box. I also recommend this book people that like to read about events that could be seen as far fetched.

Work Cited: -Nobel Prize. 3/27/09. http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1993/morrison-bio.html -Toni Morrison Biography. 3/27/09. http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9415590

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