Beloved, Toni Morrison, Beloveds Arrival

history Sethe, Paul D. and Denver experienced in the past.   Beloved's arrival could be simply described as a runaway slave girl in need, seeking help. Morrison shows however, that this is not true, and that the main characters know her true identity instantly, be it consciously or unconsciously Beloved enters the story by making a very deliberate journey to 124.  She walked along a bank, slept beneath a mulberry tree the first day, after appearing out of a river.  The following day, she walked through woods, and fields before reaching the doorstep of 124.  This long journey indicates that Beloved's arrival was not an extended wandering of a person in need, rather a destination for the ghost of the baby girl.  Although Morrison states that "she sat down at the first handy place(a tree stump by 124)" (p.60), her extended, difficult journey reveals how she is determined to disrupt the troubled lives at 124.    Beloved is described as having smooth skin  and and "baby hair" (p.61),  all characteristics of a young child.  Upon her smooth forehead, there are three fine lines. Although many of Beloved's characteristics are like those of a baby, or young child,  the three lines on her forehead are another example of the characteristics of an older person.Upon Beloved's arrival, Sethe immediately has the urge to urinate after she first sees Beloved.  Although she had not had an “emergency” such as that, since she was a small child (p.61), the event reminds her of her pregnancy childbirth of Denver. Sethe's urination as a response to Beloved's arrival shows that Sethe's body recognized her dead baby's apparition before her mind did.  Additionally the reaction of Sethe, as well as the other two, speaks for the enormous impact that the baby Beloved has had on Sethe's entire life. Paul D.'s reaction to Beloved's arrival is significantly related to Beloved's true identity. Initially Paul D. shows concern for Beloved;  he suggests that she looks thirsty (p.61), and is worried about what illness she may have.  However, he soon becomes suspicious of her, and a conflict begins between Paul D. and Beloved, similar to his conflict with Denver, linking Beloved as a child of Sethe.The arrival of Beloved is the turning point in the book. Her arrival opens up many doors to everyone involved. Denver begins to show maturity in caring for the ill Beloved and Sethe finally reveals more about her past helping her to sort things out. Salem Al-Shawaf        14th February 2008