Ghostly Beloved

               In Beloved, Toni Morrison chose to make Beloved's character a ghost to create a catalyst that creates transition within the other characters of the story.  Morrison's choice of making Beloved a spirit rather than just a normal powerless person brings multiple elements that help others evolve to a higher state.  This evolution is shown in Sethe, Denver, Paul D mainly, but can also be seen in the community surrounding 124.

               From the first chapter, the baby's ghost materializes in the form of "a pool of red and undulating light" and the house and furniture moving violently (Beloved 10).  This introduction of supernatural phenomenon allows the reader to accept that ghosts can exist.  Thus, when Beloved emerges from the water, we can see her as the child's ghost in mortal form.  She gives her name as Beloved, which is a clear reference to Sethe's child's tombstone.  The fact that she doesn't give her name as the child's original name (which we never learn) gives enough deniability to Sethe that the girl is her dead child.  If she had presented herself as Sethe's child when they first met, Sethe's inability to deal with the past would have stopped the two from ever forming a relation.  Beloved lowered the emotional barriers Sethe had built and made her tell stories of the past.  A theme that exist in Beloved is the idea that the past cannot be erased, but it can be accepted and to move on despite it.  We never see Sethe fully understand this concept, but she is finally able to "let go" of Beloved.  Given the chance to right the wrong she had done sixteen years ago, Sethe takes an ice pick and charges at the coming white man to protect her family.  This is the event that she wished she done before and now finally able to fight rather than commit infanticide, she runs away from Beloved.  Beloved's goal is reached in the final paragraph of  chapter 26.  "Sethe is running away from her, running, and she feels the emptiness in the hand Sethe had been holding" (309).  Sethe is now able to escape her past.  Whether she can fully accomplish this is out of Beloved's hands.  She vanishes with her purpose completed.  

               Denver is the first to learn of Beloved's true identity.  She had been accepting of the benevolent presence at the house from the beginning seeing it as her "only other companion" (23).  Denver accepted the supernatural early on and knowing that Beloved was her former sister, she felt a need to care for Beloved.  However, Beloved becomes obsessed with Sethe alone, forming a rift between Denver and Sethe.  Because of Beloved's parasitic nature, Sethe became unable to fill the role of protective mother that sheltered Denver.  Denver was forced to grow up and also to break her isolation from the community.  Also at the end of chapter 26, "Denver running too.  Away from her to the pile of people out there.  They make a hill" (309).  This symbolizes Denver's joining to the community. 

                    Paul D's arrival (in my opinion) marks the moment of change within the story.  For years, Sethe and Denver lived in 124 haunted and unchanged.  Paul D brings memories of the past, a new perspective, and an opportunity to change.  Along with that, Paul D himself was in need of help.  His red heart had been replaced with a "tobacco tin" representing his close emotions (86).  Paul D's suspicion of Beloved came from him seeing her lift a chair with one hand despite her being ill.  She was a mystery to him, and was cautious of her.  At the end of chapter 12, Paul D's the rust that sealed the "tobacco tin" flaked away releasing the seal (138).  This comes from Beloved and Paul D uniting for the first time.  With her help, Paul D could once again open his heart to others.  Though his emotions are not meant for Beloved, her unlocking his heart helps him reach a better understanding.  This leads him to utter the final and best advice to Sethe: "You your best thing, Sethe.  You are" (322).

               Despite Beloved's behavior and parasitic tendencies, I believe she was a force of good.  Her actions lead to the evolution of the characters and she left only after happiness was within reach for them.  She vanished like a ghost, though Morrison still leaves room for debate whether she was a ghost or not.  The supernatural elements can be accepted fully by the reader or just thought of mass delusion and a lost woman.  Her ghostly nature leads Beloved to became the necessary evil and the lost hope that the characters need.  Just before she vanishes, the last act Beloved does is smile.  If she were a ghost brought back to fulfill a purpose, once her purpose is met, she leaves mysteriously.  It leads me to wonder, if Toni Morrison had written Beloved without supernatural powers, could things have turned out the same way?  Could Beloved even be written in a non-supernatural way without becoming far too coincidental?