Beloved pages 53-102

Our reading starts out by Paul D trying to lay some ground rules. He feels like settling down with Sethe, but that means Denver must resent Paul D’s presence so overtly. Paul D presents the idea that he could make a life with Sethe, together. He says something very poetic about having been wandering through Ohio for 7 years, only to come to Sethe’s porch and realize that he had been wandering toward her the whole time. His feelings are hard to pin down, that's for sure!

To lighten the mood, Paul D suggests that the three of them go to the carnival being held in town. He’s cheery and energetic from the get-go on the outing, Denver pouts, and Sethe sees their shadows holding hands (all three or just Paul D’s and Sethe’s?). She feels that, maybe, building a life together isn’t hopeless. 

A dizzyingly strong scent of dying roses hangs heavy in the air at the carnival. What might this mean? “Two pennies and an insult were well spent if it meant seeing the spectacle of white folks making a spectacle of themselves” (58). The carnival was a welcomed reprieve. Denver even started to cheer up. She had a sweet treat and got some hello’s, and life suddenly didn’t feel so horrible (relatable not gonna lie!). Paul D seems to lift both the women’s spirits, now.

Returning to the house, there’s a newcomer. A young woman by the name of Beloved. Huh! Denver warms to her immediately , and tends to her devotedly through her sickness. Beloved starts recovering, and revealed a strong sweet tooth. “It was as though sweet things were what she was born for” (66). Kind of like Denver? Anyways, this newcomer acts strangely, and that doesn’t sit well with Paul D. Denver really seems attached to her, though, so Sethe thinks Beloved can stick around for however long she’d like.

Beloved showed an “open, quiet devotion” to Sethe (68). Seems pretty odd to me. A little ghost-y, spirit-y, if I’m being honest. But, Sethe doesn’t mind. In fact, Beloved was the first person for whom Sethe would tell stories in full.

This is how we learn about Sethe’s mother.

But, the question must be asked: why is Beloved asking all these questions about things in Sethe’s life that Beloved shouldn’t have any knowledge about (as a stranger)?

But Denver knows Beloved is a spirit come back from the dead. Beloved reveals that she couldn’t care less about Denver; Beloved is only there for Sethe. 

Denver then recounts an embellished story of Denver’s birth.

We should discuss these things as well as what we learn about Halle and the butter churn.

Beloved pg. 4-51

We just started reading Beloved, and wow, the first three chapters are already intense. The book opens with Sethe, the main character, living in a gray and white house on Blue Stone Road that’s haunted by her baby girl. It’s not just any haunting, though – there’s something really unsettling about it. With random gusts of air, overturned jars and pots, moving sideboards, and earthquakes, you can sense that the house has a really sad and dark history.

Sethe lives there with her daughter, Denver, and it’s obvious from the start that Sethe is carrying a lot of baggage. She is an escaped slave from the "Sweet Home" plantation, and it can be inferred that a lot has happened between the timeline of her enslavement and the present setting. She used to live in the house with her mother-in-law, Baby Suggs, before she passed away. Before Baby Sugg's death, Sethe's sons fled the house one after another, driven away by the dark and haunted past of the home. In the present, it is just Sethe and Denver in the house, along with the ghost baby that seems sad and almost resentful toward its mother. Because of the house's haunted nature, most people avoid the house and its residents like the plague. This causes Denver to grow up very lonely, especially after her brothers fled, leaving her to her own devices for 18 years with little to no social interaction. Denver escapes this loneliness and sadness by playing in a grove of boxwood bushes, almost like a treehouse, where she plays and acts out her imaginations.

When the lonesome family of two is joined by Paul D, one of the men who was enslaved on the same plantation as Sethe, we learn more about Sethe's past on the plantation and what life was like. Paul D and Sethe share some intimate moments, and Sethe feels more understood and supported than she has in a long time. She reveals the scars on her back, which she describes as being shaped like a tree, from when she was assaulted while pregnant, and her milk was taken from her. When the house shakes as Paul D kisses her scars, he scares the ghost away by aggressively swinging a coffee table. This angers Denver because he pushed away the only company she had in the house. As Denver grows more annoyed with Paul D's presence and his garnering of her mother's attention, we flash back again to her birth and parts of Sethe's journey to the Blue Stone house.

There are a lot of open holes in Sethe's story, which I am looking forward to filling in as we read more. It sounds like Sethe has a deep connection to motherhood and the weight she has borne. I am curious to learn more about the past of Sethe's lost daughter, her journey to the house on Blue Stone Road, life on the "Sweet Home" plantation, and how everyone's individual stories tie into each other in the novel!

Abby End of Act 3

 Finally some action! To set the scene, Claudius decides Hamlet has got to go since he’s officially mad and asks Hamlet’s rude traitor school friends to take him back to England. Rosencrantz sucks up to Claudius and starts ranting about how the suffering or death of a king affects everyone!! (Unless it’s the death of Hamlet’s father apparently…) Then, Polonius, who is addicted to spying on Hamlet’s personal business, proposes that he listen in on Hamlet’s convo with his mother in her closet. Claudius approves, of course.

    We finally hear Claudius’s perspective on the murder of his brother. Surprisingly, it seems like Claudius feels kinda bad about it! Only because it’s probably going to prevent him from getting into heaven, but you have to start somewhere. He goes on and on about how guilty he feels, except he just can’t quite get himself to repent for his crime since he’s still reaping the benefits of it. At least he’s self aware. Little does he know, Claudius’s futile attempt to appeal to the heavens is the only thing preventing Hamlet from killing him on the spot…

Next, Polonius slithers into his hiding spot as Hamlet arrives to speak to his mother. Gertrude attempts to reprimand Hamlet, but Hamlet quickly gains the upper hand, scaring his mother so much that she calls out for Polonius’s help. Out scurries Polonius like the little rat he is, only to be MURDERED by Hamlet… oh no… Hamlet then turns back on his mother, shaming her for her actions following the murder of his father. I can’t decide if Gertrude knew about the murder or not. When Hamlet reveals to her the truth, she simply responds, “As to kill a king?” Quite suspicious in my opinion since she has no other reaction to such a shocking statement. As Hamlet continues to humiliate his mother, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears, reminding him who the real enemy is. Gertrude is incredibly grateful when Hamlet’s verbal assault ceases and is replaced by urging for her to repent for her sins and to stay out of Claudius’s bed.

This is all getting crazier by the minute, I’m excited to see what happens next…

Mia- Act 4 Scenes 1-6

 These scenes all seem to be building up to one large event. A lot happens, but nothing happens at the same time. The plot and tension are building to a big moment which I believe will occur in the following scenes. One thing that really shocked me was Hamlet's decision to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. After all, these are his former best friends. While I side with Hamlet, I think it does show he is in some kind of mad state to be drawn to such violence. His uncle and mother are not completely crazy for accusing him of going insane. I also think it is important to talk about poor Ophelia. She is heartbroken for so many reasons. She really is crazy now. Her father's death has broken her to such a point that I am not sure that she could ever recover from it mentally. I know she made some mistakes, but I like Ophelia. I really do feel bad for her and hope that Hamlet can come back into her life to help her. Even though he did kill her father. I also think it is interesting how all of a sudden Laertes appears back into the story. He is so defensive of the father that had secretly sent men to spy on his son. I believe there is more going on with Laertes than is being shown because of Polonius's spy, and I think it is going to come out soon. After all, we have no idea anything that has been happening with Laertes. I am excited to keep reading and uncover some of the secrets that seem to slowly be coming to the surface!

Jesse - HAMLET Act 3 Scenes 1-2

   ... what is this play. I am getting sick of reading about these freaks (literally) spying on each other, being creepy and moody, and talking about the impending doom of humanity and the world. First off, I would like to bring notice to the fact that, unlike the other works we have focused on this year, this play is so anti-feminist. Hamlet makes weird sexual remarks to Ophelia in two notable dialogues during the first two scenes of Act 3, and she makes no effort to tell him off. Gross. Then, we've got Gertrude saying "The lady doth protest too much methinks" as her only remark on Hamlet's play. Finally, we see Ophelia LAMENTING about HAMLET THE FREAK not being interested anymore after he orders her to go to a nunnery 5 times and slanders women?? Although some of us have enjoyed the toxic we-shouldn't-be-together trope (talking to you, Evie and Lillian) that was in Scarlet Letter and Jane Eyre, we need to move on. Hamlet is misogynistic, creepy, and overall a total weirdo. She can do better, methinks. 

    Speaking of Hamlet being a weirdo, let's look at one of his many "speeches" he likes to give throughout the reading. The first is his iconic  "TO BE, OR NOT TO BE, THAT IS THE QUESTION" reflection starting at Act 3, Scene 1, Line 56. This man is really going through it - he, again, ponders his own death, death in general, and then what comes after death: "To die, to sleep -- / To sleep, perchance to dream." Although this sounds like a hopeful outlook on death, he then goes on a rant about the fear he and others share about an afterlife, or lack thereof: "To grunt and sweat under a weary life, / But that the dread of something after death, / The undiscovered country of whose bourn / No traveler returns". Yikes. Hamlet has a lot on his mind, and I am getting a little worried about him. If only there was something he could do to get some answers…

Ah, yes! What I’m sure we all thought of to be the best option of getting some answers from his uncle- create a play about the situation and stalk his reaction! A play within a play, classic! Genuinely though, why was this his first thought? He sure got lucky that this plan just so happened to work… seems a little TOO convenient. Also, Ophelia is definitely on to him. What was he thinking?? She asks, “Will a tell us what this show meant?”, to Hamlet, obviously prodding him for answers… I can’t wait to see how it pans out!

Ferrell Blog - 1st Reading of Hamlet

 Well, we’re back to reading Shakespeare. I have to say I am a little disappointed to leave the romance, but hopefully this is interesting. I just want to say, poor Hamlet! Wow he is really being put through the ringer. His dad is dead, his mom and uncle are kind of THE WORST, and apparently his dad’s ghost is just walking around at night. I think Hamlet is better than me, because had my uncle (now also stepdad?) told me it was unmanly to grieve my dad, I would have decked him in the face. 

I should probably start from the beginning, so let’s go there for a second. We start on night patrol with some guards, who stumble upon the ghost of Hamlet’s dad. I think I would have been a little more freaked out if I saw a ghost, but they seemed pretty calm. I respect Horatio for actually trying to talk to the ghost, the other guys seemed a bit more hesitant. Then we hear about the young Fortinbras (what a name!) and his plan for taking back the lands that his father lost. This seems like it could hint at solipsism, maybe he should take a note from Chillingworth before trying to avenge his reputation. I think the first scene was a tad bit bland, so now let’s get onto some family drama. 

You cannot tell me that this story is not straight from a soap opera. I mean, the widow marrying her brother-in-law? Classic. Gertrude and Claudius are the worst. I mean the actual worst. Can they please just leave Hamlet alone and let him grieve? I think he has some time to mourn his dad before he has to take over the throne. I also feel bad for Hamlet. It sounds like his father was a good guy who loved his wife and his country, so it must stink seeing your mom get remarried so quickly. Gertrude also might have some issues of her own if she needs her son to stay with her and not go back to school (I dare say some attachment issues?). The last thing that I want to say before I talk about Hamlet learning of his dad’s ghost, I want to applaud Hamlet again. He is FUNNY. Like, “A little more than kin, and less than kind” (1.2. 65), My father’s brother, but on more like my father/than I to Hercules” (1.2. 152-153), and finally associating his mom with “incestuous sheets” (1.2. 157). Like go off Hamlet! 

We close this reading by learning about Hamlet’s reaction to his dad’s ghost. He wants to keep this a secret (I totally get it). I am eager to see what happens when Hamlet joins his buddies on patrol, and what happens with his egregious uncle and mother.

Kate's Blog End of Scarlet Letter

 Hello Blog! Right now, I am writing this before I read so I can record what I think before I read the last chapter. Currently, we are getting ready to see if Dimmesdale and Hester can escape on a boat, but I have a feeling they will not. Since there was a strong connection to nature and especially Pearl with the stream in the last chapters, I am predicting that either Dimmesdale or Pearl will be separated or somehow thrown in the water as they try to secretly escape. Well, now I am going to read and find out! 

Well, I was completely wrong, but what an exciting finale the novel had! Chapter 20 is a summation of how the minister feels about his plan to escape with Hester and Pearl. He has several encounters with people where he wants to speak out against religion or teach some Pilgrim kids foul language. This is contradictory however because the reader also learns that Dimmesdale is excited to give his Election Day Sermon. Dimmesdale feels both confined and comforted by the expectations of his faith and his plan of escape. Hester also befriends several sailors on a ship departing to the Old World. Hester and Dimmesdale want to escape to a new life, but the term “Old World” suggests that nothing could change as they escape the new world. An encounter with Mistress Hibbins also leaves Dimmesdale second guessing his plans as he views her as the Devil. Finally, Dimmesdale tells Chillingsworth he no longer wants to take his medicine, and he starts his sermon over from scratch. Chapter 20 highlighted Dimmesdale questioning of his choices and religion.  

Wait, are we at the beginning of the novel again? Chapter 21 mirrors the beginning of the novel but instead there is celebration and not punishment. Pearl asks Hester if the minister will hold their hands and acknowledges how Dimmesdale has failed to step up in public. I agree with Pearl! Dimmesdale needs to take some sort of action to show where his true loyalties lie before escaping to the Old World. And oh great, we found out Chillingsworth will also be on the boat. He has an evil glare that shows that he plans to foil Dimmesdale and Hester’s plan.  

 

Chapter 22 begins by showing the reader the power of Puritan society. The reader also notices that Dimmesdale has grown a lot healthier since the brook visit. This is good, I guess? This could be from not taking Chillingworth's medication, but it could also be the author showing that he is happy to finally be free from the strict Puritan society and be with the person he loves. I am weary however, because all Dimmesdale has been doing is keeping secrets and lying about his plans to escape. Does this show that Dimmesdale is “healthier”/ stronger when deceiving others? I hope that is just the skeptic in me. The odd Mistress Hibbins also comes to talk to Hester about Dimmesdale. She declares that the minister's mark will show itself soon. She also invites Hester to come to the next witches meeting in the woods. The chapter ends on a cliffhanger as Hester looks up and she finds everyone staring at her! 

 

Chapter 23 shows Dimmesdale giving the best sermon of his life. Although, it is focused on the relationship between God and the people. People also say it was Dimmesdale's most truthful. Sound the alarm, there is a lot of deception and contradictions going on! And oh, my goodness Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold and BEGINS HIS CONFESSION. He leans on Hester as he declares himself a sinner too. Dimmesdale also reveals he has a red mark. Pearl bestows a kiss on Dimmesdale as he has finally stepped up to reveal the truth and stand in public with Hester. Then the MINISTER DIES. WHAT? What do you mean he dies before ever trying to live happily with Hester and Pearl in the new world. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

 

In the last chapter, the narrator gives the reader insight into how the Pilgrims are feeling after the Minister's death. Some say that they saw a scarlet mark and they deliberate how he died. Chillingsworth “wastes” away and Hester moves away. Her house becomes a museum, but she eventually comes back but without Pearl. I personally do not know how to feel about Dimmesdale dying. I am glad he spoke his truth and could reunite with Hester in the afterlife. I am happy though that Chillingsworth does not have the chance for revenge. Only in death is Dimmesdale able to escape the expectations of the Puritan society. I believe that this is Hawthorne's final message to the reader. It also reflects on the idea of solipsism which I hope we will discuss in our Harkness! 

 

This reading was long, and I am sorry I was not able to get everything in, but we can leave that for our Harkness!