Critical Lens Expert #1

Text:  Beloved by Toni Morrison

Critical lens: A psychoanalytic and feminist

Interestingly enough “Figuration of Rape and the Supernatural in Beloved” by Pamela E. Barnett, is actually written by viewing two critical Lens.  This two lens give a different meaning to what the story really is and what is the main context of the story. Pamela introduces the book by saying “Beloved is haunted by the history and memory of rape..” when saying this she give the reader a powerful image that this book does not only define slavery but it also involve a history of the past and fear.

Pamela describes Beloved as “a female demon” “succubus” and “nightmare figure… ”. This may seem a little to extreme, but by the way that Beloved seduces Paul D and “as she also feeds off her victims”, it comes to a conclusion that Beloved is what she seems to be.  In Pamela's section “The serious work of Beating Back the Past” she mentions on how 4 women were used for sex. The first one was Sethe who was held down and two “Mossy-toothed” boys sucked her breast milk.( 83) Ella who was “looked up and repeatedly raped by a father and son”(256)  Stamp Paids wife, Vashti, gave her wife to his salver to get freedom. (184) Lastly Baby Suggs was promised if she has sex with her boss, he would not sell her children. However her boss later breaks his promise. Pamela states that “Morrison challenges the idea that Sexually subjected bodies fall within clear gender and heterosexual parameters” (pg 425).

In Beloved  we are able to see how women were basically treated as sex toys in order for them to get “freedom” or because they were raped. Pamela comes to a conclusion that  Beloved is a “succubus and rapist figure”. The reason why is because is when Beloved goes into the room with Paul D he resist from him “fucking her”. I do agree with Pamela when she says that Morrison give the idea that only rape falls in one gender. However when seeing on Beloved “rapes” Paul D, it is clear that men are not the only one that rape but women do as well. When reading the book i was not able to see a clear image of what Beloved intentions were or if she really came to be back with Sethe. When in reality beloved came due to make Sethe past. She came to feed upon the memories that haunt Sethe. Pamela gives a big image that I never really saw.