Analysis Of Slavery And Motherhood

Slavery and Motherhood: Characterization of Sethe
In “Slavery and Motherhood” Terry Caesar claims Toni Morrison’s novels pertains to the issues of violence from slavery but isn’t primarily historical or racial. Caesar focuses on the issue of infanticide to reveal the foundational basis of the narratives which are the “fundamental concerns of contemporary feminism, such as abortion and child abuse have”. Also Caesar argues that Morrison could only convey the hopes and fears of being a mother within the context of slavery. In regards to Sethe Caesar refers to this statement made by Marianne Hirsch:
"When Sethe tries to explain to Beloved why she cut her throat, she is explaining an anger handed down through generations of mothers who could have
no control over their children's lives, no voice in their upbringing" (1989, p.
196) Caesar utilizes this statement to validate her argument that Morrison isn’t solely writing about slavery, or slave mothers. Caesar states that there are distinct line drawn between being a woman and being a mother. For instance, Sethe is frightened when Paul D asks her to have his children. Caesar argues the central problem is the lack of selflessness on the Seethe’s part. Sethe’s response to Paul D was, "Needing to be good enough, alert enough, strong enough, that caring - again. Having to stay alive just that much longer. O Lord, she thought, deliver me. Unless carefree, motherlove was a killer." (Morrison, 1987, p.132) This forges segway to another one of Caesar’s arguments: “The prominence of Sethe's distinctively maternal subjectivity makes the struc tural economy of the mother and daughter appear less
closed, less insulated from slavery, and more vulnerable to its ravages”. In Beloved, being a slave contaminates being a mother to the extent that the two become virtually inseparable. "Freeing yourself was one thing", reflects Sethe, "claiming ownership of that freed self was another" (p.95). The most important thing she has to free herself from in the novel is her subjection to motherhood. Caesar argues that Sethe’s act of infanticide “is horribly exacerbated with despair, fatigue, and confusion over whether the mother in fact kills her child in order to save herself rather than her child”. (Caesar)
In “Ties That Bond” Marsha Darling argues that Sethe is inseparable from her children.
Darling argues Sethe, acting as the mother she thought she should be, lived in a society that confines her being to status of a “human baby machine”. Darling refers to Sethe’s escape to Ohio in attempt of running away from the degradation of enslavement. But after the escape to Ohio Sethe realizes, "Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another." Freeing oneself to act and claiming ownership and responsibility for one's freed self are major issues Sethe faces in her life. Darling argues that Sethe’s life is a world defined by injustice that consumes her body and soul. This injustice drives Sethe to only “act against herself (and her children who are also "herself"), and must later answer to her own desperate actions”.
(Caesar) In “Ties That Bond”, Darling argues that Sethe was acting as the mother she thought she should be due to the extent of injustice she endured in a society where was confined to a “human baby machine”. Darling also argues this injustice from slavery had driven commit infanticide. I agree with this argument since slavery imposed utter degradation which infuses her life with injustice and hinders her position as a mother. (Darling)
In “Slavery and Motherhood”, Caesar’s argument that Morrison’s narrative may pertain to slavery but the issues that are addressed aren’t entirely racial and historical. I disagree with this claim due to the fact that Morrison, ultimately, does go into depth about the degradation of enslavement and it’s impact upon Sethe’s maternal position.
In the articles I chose both writers refer to Sethe’s realization about “freeing oneself”. From the articles I learned, the act of freeing oneself to act and claiming ownership and responsibility for one's freed self are major issues Sethe faces in her life. I learned that Sethe’s life was defined by injustice that consumes her body and soul leading her subjection to motherhood. Ultimately, she must free herself in order to escape the degradation of slavery not only physically but mentally.