Blog Post #9

Image taken from Beloved 1998 film

I have given much thought to my Humanities Book Analysis lately, (and not just because the deadline is approaching), but because I want to make sure the book I select will be the perfect choice. After much consideration, I have landed on "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. I analyzed our class list of pre-approved books to make my selection. I knew the book had to come after the 19th century because anything before that doesn't quite interest me. At first, I was set on Madame Bovary because I have read it before and actually enjoyed the read so I figured it would be easy for me to revisit. However, I realized that I'd much rather choose something I have not read to expand my literary knowledge and engage in a new setting. So then I decided, okay, maybe I'll skip realism and romanticism because I want something heart wrenching and abstract (if that makes sense?). So, I decided Beloved would be a great fit because of its abstract, ghostly point of view dealing with very surreal issues of slavery. The novel bases itself on the life of African-American slave, Margaret Garner a historical figure I briefly learned about it high school. 

I cannot wait to engage in research to learn more about Margaret Garner and her story and be able to compare it to Sethe in the novel. I expect this novel to open my eyes about the raw truth of slavery, the history that for most of my educational life, has been sugarcoated or omitted. It might sound odd, but I truly hope this novel will make me cry because then I'll know, I've been able to understand and feel a connection to not only the novel, but the history it holds.