Victim, Victor or Victimizer
Victim or Victor
Life presents many challenges. It is how those challenges are viewed and dealt with that can define us and thus predispose us to enjoy a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life or to become defeated and simply exist. It is the person that chooses to accept that things just happen, and moves forward instead of blaming; in that case s/he are choosing life and ultimately love. Whereas the person that thinks s/he had some power to keep something from happening and blames him/herself or other forces for the tragedy can become paralyzed with guilt, anger, or resentment and thus lose hope. At times we do have power to change or stop some tragedies, but often times we do not. Most tragic: when family, friends, or the community support the person to remain in what some would call a ‘pity-pot’ by saying “poor you” thus not encouraging the person to accept the situation or event and to embrace life and love and move forward living and loving. (Except someone whom is powerless under the control of a tyrant, a child under the control of abusive parents, or slaves to their master.) It takes a truly strong-willed person to emotionally separate him/herself from the actions of another and not to allow a person or circumstances to dictate the basic beliefs. Toni Morrison masterfully develops strong female characters in her book, Beloved. Such as the case with the Suggs family, where it becomes palpable whom has been victimized by slavery and their overseer’s and who has been victorious in spite of her past circumstances. Baby Suggs and Sethe were both born into slavery thus being victimized by their overseer’s and further victimized by not having basic freedoms. Denver although not born into slavery was a victim of her mothers and grandmothers fears and by the deeds committed by her mother. On the other hand as the story progresses you can see who has come through some horrific situations and circumstances and proven to be victorious. Baby Suggs was born into
Life presents many challenges. It is how those challenges are viewed and dealt with that can define us and thus predispose us to enjoy a happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life or to become defeated and simply exist. It is the person that chooses to accept that things just happen, and moves forward instead of blaming; in that case s/he are choosing life and ultimately love. Whereas the person that thinks s/he had some power to keep something from happening and blames him/herself or other forces for the tragedy can become paralyzed with guilt, anger, or resentment and thus lose hope. At times we do have power to change or stop some tragedies, but often times we do not. Most tragic: when family, friends, or the community support the person to remain in what some would call a ‘pity-pot’ by saying “poor you” thus not encouraging the person to accept the situation or event and to embrace life and love and move forward living and loving. (Except someone whom is powerless under the control of a tyrant, a child under the control of abusive parents, or slaves to their master.) It takes a truly strong-willed person to emotionally separate him/herself from the actions of another and not to allow a person or circumstances to dictate the basic beliefs. Toni Morrison masterfully develops strong female characters in her book, Beloved. Such as the case with the Suggs family, where it becomes palpable whom has been victimized by slavery and their overseer’s and who has been victorious in spite of her past circumstances. Baby Suggs and Sethe were both born into slavery thus being victimized by their overseer’s and further victimized by not having basic freedoms. Denver although not born into slavery was a victim of her mothers and grandmothers fears and by the deeds committed by her mother. On the other hand as the story progresses you can see who has come through some horrific situations and circumstances and proven to be victorious. Baby Suggs was born into
Cited: Bryant, Cedric Gael. “The Soul has Bandaged Moments.” African American Review. (2005). 541-553. Print Holloway, Karla. “Beloved: A Spiritual.” Callaloo 13 (1990): 516-525. Print Holloway, Karla. “Reviews.” Black American Literature Forum (Spring 1989). 179-182. Print. Kushner, Harold S. When Bad Things Happen to Good People. New York, NY. Avon Books. 1981. Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York, NY. First Plume Printing. Penguin Books. 1988. New King James Version. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN 37214 Page, Dr. Phillip. “Circularity in Toni Morrison’s Beloved.” African American Review (1998): 231-239. Print.