Ending? What's next for the family
After completing the novel Beloved, we are left with many questions. While reading the ending, I didn't have a good sense of how the author was going to bring this novel. It seemed like things were just getting worse and worse for our main character Sethe. Beloved was becoming more and more like a parasite, literally draining the life force of Sethe. It is pretty funny, considering it really reminded me of the book I read last year in 20th century Things were seeming pretty bad for Sethe. Yet this ending seemed like the best that could have happened in the outcome. Everything seemed liked to go back to normal without any supernatural occurrences. Yet, there are many questions that I still feel like are left up in the air.
What actually happened to beloved? It's quite interesting that the novel ends with the author writing a phrase over and over again, saying "It was not a story to pass on". What does this actually mean? We just read a story, wouldn't that mean the story is passed down to us? My take on this whole meaning is that we cannot pass down the story because the characters just don't remember beloved. We can see at the end of the book that beloved is simply forget. Even if it is really hard, eventually all the characters just forget about beloved. And if no one actually believes in ghosts, then ghosts don't exist. And thus, the story can't exist if no one believes in ghosts. If we think about this whole book, we have to take all the character's beliefs and the things they see at face value. The story is essential not there if Beloved is not there.
This could also signify that our characters have finally moved on. During the book, it always felt like we were living in the past. Beloved also brought up a lot of memories of the past. We kept looking back on the sweet home and the life back there. We kept visiting old memories. However, now that it's not a story to pass on, perhaps the author is signifying that after exploring the past so much, its now finally time to live now. They forget about there past and can now actually focus on the present and what matters.
That also brings us to the relationship between Paul D. and Sethe. We don't really get an ending or conclusive answer to what happens between them. Does it work out? I think Paul D. is finally becoming more confident and not running away from his problems and life. Yet, Sethe seems really confused too as Paul D. commented about his feeling to her only for Sethe to reply with "Me?"So, I personally think that we have no clue what actually becomes of them. Its something left up in the air and we could only imagine. What do you guys think of the ending? Was it satisfying for you guys? What do you think will happen to the characters we got to know throughout the book?
What actually happened to beloved? It's quite interesting that the novel ends with the author writing a phrase over and over again, saying "It was not a story to pass on". What does this actually mean? We just read a story, wouldn't that mean the story is passed down to us? My take on this whole meaning is that we cannot pass down the story because the characters just don't remember beloved. We can see at the end of the book that beloved is simply forget. Even if it is really hard, eventually all the characters just forget about beloved. And if no one actually believes in ghosts, then ghosts don't exist. And thus, the story can't exist if no one believes in ghosts. If we think about this whole book, we have to take all the character's beliefs and the things they see at face value. The story is essential not there if Beloved is not there.
This could also signify that our characters have finally moved on. During the book, it always felt like we were living in the past. Beloved also brought up a lot of memories of the past. We kept looking back on the sweet home and the life back there. We kept visiting old memories. However, now that it's not a story to pass on, perhaps the author is signifying that after exploring the past so much, its now finally time to live now. They forget about there past and can now actually focus on the present and what matters.
That also brings us to the relationship between Paul D. and Sethe. We don't really get an ending or conclusive answer to what happens between them. Does it work out? I think Paul D. is finally becoming more confident and not running away from his problems and life. Yet, Sethe seems really confused too as Paul D. commented about his feeling to her only for Sethe to reply with "Me?"So, I personally think that we have no clue what actually becomes of them. Its something left up in the air and we could only imagine. What do you guys think of the ending? Was it satisfying for you guys? What do you think will happen to the characters we got to know throughout the book?
Honestly, I was pretty satisfied with the ending, especially with how Denver gets to move on and Paul D comes back. Honestly, the only part that I wasn't satisfied with was how Sethe became after Beloved left. Like, Sethe is this super strong person all throughout the book and I guess she becomes too attached to what could have been. Also, some part of me expected some wrap up of Halle's story, but on the contrary, I kind of like the mystery of not knowing what happened to him. I guess it shows growth, because it shows Sethe being able to move forward with her life.
ReplyDeleteI felt the ending was satisfying because it was not just like "Everything's fine yay!" it also had some uncertainty - Sethe is only just barely recovering, Denver is working, it's not clear what Paul D. is going to do other than help nurse Sethe, and as you mention Beloved might not actually be gone, but it's becoming more positive.
ReplyDeleteI think that the novel's ending was fitting because of the focus it put on the future. Even though Sethe is lying down and seemingly done with life, that isn't the feeling that we're left with. I can confidently say that her and Paul D will continue on to live a happy life, despite the recurring pain from their pasts. Overall, the book had a focus on one's past coming back and creating problems, so Sethe's relative acceptance of her past is a positive sign. In addition to Sethe and Paul D, Denver is making huge strides as a character. She's reunited with the community and started on a path towards becoming as influential as Baby Suggs and other leaders of the society. Denver can be seen as representing Sethe and Paul's relationship and the positive outlook for the future.
ReplyDeleteI honestly expected (or at least wanted) the ending to have more action! I thought that the 30 women would storm 124 and kill Beloved. Sorry if this is too dark, but who wouldn't want that? Beloved has been sucking the life out Beloved, and she gets away with all of it? I feel like that's alot of injustice to Sethe and Denver, who have carrying the weight for the family. I also wanted everything to go back to normal. Sethe would regain her sanity and Denver would continue to grow into adulthood. Some things are too good to be true I guess.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't expect it to end that way. I thought Paul D would move on. When Sethe and Beloved walked out of the house to confront the women outside and saw (that one guy...) I honestly expected her to try and kill Beloved again (I mean, she did say she'd try and kill her children again if schoolteacher ever came back...) and that Denver would escape into the rest of the community. I was surprised when it ended so *nicely* for everyone. I had high(?) expectations for the ending (given how wack the other parts of the book had been) but they were kinda crushed.
DeleteI think the ending was probably the best possible one that could have occurred without ruining the core ideas of the book. I also really like your assessment of the phrase “it was not a story to pass on”. That phrase has been bugging me since reading the end of the book, and your explanation is the best one I’ve heard so far. As for the characters, it’s hard to tell what will happen to them after the book ends. From what I can tell, Beloved ends up living forgotten in the forest, sometimes peering in on the residents of 124 or playing in the stream. My guess is that Sethe and Paul D work on overcoming the traumas of Sweet Home and end up living together for the rest of their lives, while Denver learns how to live in a society and gets a job. The thing is, we really have no way of knowing, as Morrison doesn’t give us any clues.
ReplyDeleteWhile there was quite a bit about the ending that was uncertain, I was especially satisfied with the "reunion" between Sethe and Paul D. When we first read about Paul D leaving Sethe, I was kind of upset because I didn't want Beloved to be the cause of their relationship ending. Because of this, I was content that Paul D came back and told Sethe that she shouldn't be too upset about Beloved leaving since the only think she needs is herself.
ReplyDeleteYea, I definitely see your point about Beloved's legacy. In my opinion, Beloved is just a manifestation of the past coming to haunt Sethe and when she is chased away that is Sethe and Paul D casting that memory away. However, as the author alluded to, it is still out there as evidenced by the footprints, showing that "the past never dies" so to speak. But this also brings up the question you brought up on how "real" it is with its use of ghosts and the like. I think that the use of ghosts was meant to just get across, again, the message that "the past never dies". But also like you, I still am not sure about this interpretation and there could very well be a deeper meaning to it than I realize.
ReplyDeleteI think the ending fits well with the rest of the book. Especially for Sethe. She has had to live a life as the strong unmoveable mother. We know well that she was haunted by her past, but no one to talk to, so for years she hid her sorrows within. With a Beloved, she tried to repay for her past actions, but it's not that simple. Just like you cant unsay something, you can't undo something either. Making ammends isn't an option for Sethe, but she desrves to grieve and grow. And she is doing exactly that at the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way you did about the ending. It didn't satisfy me that much because of how open ended it was. The only characters who I felt had a "good" ending were Paul D and Sethe, who use each other's pasts to create a stronger bond for the future. Paul D snaps Sethe out of her trance following the parasitic visit by Beloved. And speaking of her, whatever happens to her after she runs away? Is she pregnant or bloated? And Denver too. While it may seem like she has a coming-of-age moment when she gets her job, it could be seen as a negative too because of who she works for. White liberals. But in a way, this open-ended conclusion is effective for leaving it all up to the reader's judgement. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI feel very optimistic about the ending. As a reader I felt confident that Paul D and Sethe, and even maybe Denver could make a life. Although, she seems to be pretty independent. I believe that Morrison is leaving clues that happy times are ahead. Beloved leaves, Denver steps up, and Paul D returns. I think good things are in store for this quasi family.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dark book to end with such an optimistic ending. I was so happy with the ending because Sethe was set out to be such an empathetic character from the beginning, that I really really wanted her to have a better life. I saw Beloved disappearing as she had no more fuel to go off of, Sethe had begun healing from her past, and it was the lack of healing that allowed Beloved to continue to parasite herself off of Sethe.
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