For many animals and people around the world, nature represents something very unique. Often times, people find nature to have a serene and calming effect on their moods. Toni Morrison explores this idea many times in her novel Beloved. In this novel, Toni Morrison uses trees to symbolize comfort, protection, peace, and emphasize the serenity that the natural world offers. Several characters in her novel believe that trees to offer calm, and the black characters especially depend on nature to aid in healing and as an escape from their troubles, thus conveying Morrison’s message that trees bring peace. Besides using the novel’s characters to convey her message, Morrison herself displays and shows the good and calmness that trees represent with the stirring imagery in her narration. Toni Morrison uses trees and characters’ responses to them to show many blacks that suffered through slavery felt it necessary find comfort in the simple or seemingly harmless aspects of life, such as nature and especially trees. With the tree’s symbolism of escape and peace, Morrison uses her characters’ references to their serenity and soothing nature as messages that only in nature could these oppressed people seek comfort and escape from the haunting reminders of their destitute lives. Nearly every one of Morrison’s characters find refuge in trees and nature, but no one more than Paul D. and Sethe. Despite the many gruesome events witnessed by Sethe in her life she chooses to remain optimistic and cheerful by thinking about sycamore trees instead.
It shamed Sethe to remember the wonderful soughing trees rather than the boys hanging from them. However, try as she might the memory of the sycamores could not take a backseat to the horrors she had seen. Although Sethe wishes she would’ve remembered the boys instead, she actually prefers to ignore the pain when she asks Paul D about news of Halle, because she pictures the sycamores instead of the possibility that Halle has been lynched, “‘I wouldn’t have to ask about him would I? You’d tell me if there was anything to tell, wouldn’t you?’ Sethe looked down at her feet and saw again the sycamores” (Morrison 8). When Schoolteacher whips Sethe, leaving her back leathery with scars, she refers to the scar as a chokecherry tree to soothe and to lessen the physically and emotional pain that the scar represents, “But that’s what she said it looked like, A chokecherry tree. Trunk, branches and even leaves. Tiny little chokecherry leaves” (Morrison 16). Amy Denver is a white woman who helps Sethe through labor and only appears once in the novel, however, her comparison of Sethe’s scar to a tree leaves a lasting impression on the girl. “It’s a tree Lu. See, here’s the trunk- it’s red and split open, full of sap, and this here’s the parting for the branches. You got a mighty a lot of branches. Leaves, too, look like, and dern if these ain’t blossoms. Tiny little cherry tree blossoms, just as white. Your back got a whole tree on it. In bloom. (Morrison 79) Amy Denver’s wonderfully constructed image of a chokecherry tree brings beauty and peace to Sethe’s mind instead of the shame, pain and sadness that the scar truly represents. In an attempt to ease Sethe’s pain some more, Amy Denver searches for spider webs, another product of Mother Nature, to drape over Sethe’s “tree” and subside the pain. Denver also brilliantly compares the scar to a Christmas tree to conjure up images of joy and happiness in order to divert Sethe’s mind from her pain and suffering, “Amy returned with two palmfuls of web, which she cleaned of prey and then draped on Sethe’s back, saying it was like stringing a tree for Christmas” (Morrison 80).
While Sethe thinks of trees to heal and calm her pain and suffering, Paul D comes in direct contact with trees as his escape from everyday slave life. As Paul D dealt with the hardships of slavery, he chose to love trees for their comfort and calm qualities, “… trees were inviting; things you could trust and be near; talk to if you wanted to as he frequently did since way back when he took the midday meal in the fields of Sweet Home” (Morrison 21). Because of these qualities, Paul D chose one particular tree, larger and more inviting than other trees as his object of affection. He named the tree “Brother” and he believed that it listened to him and was always there for comforting. “His choice he called Brother, and sat under it, alone sometimes. Sometimes with Halle or the other Pauls…” (Morrison 21). After a long day working in the fields, Paul D would often rest under the towering but comforting presence of Brother with Halle, the Pauls and Sixo, “He, Sixo and both of the Pauls sat under Brother pouring water from a gourd over their heads…” (Morrison 27). Not only do trees represent comfort, they also represent a place of security, a place for escape from slave life. When Sixo visits the Thirty-Mile Woman, he escapes into the secure woods before her master could catch him, “But Sixo had already melted into the woods before the lash could unfurl itself on his indigo behind” (Morrison 25). While Paul D sits under Brother to find comfort, Sixo enters the woods at night to dance, escape slave life and to be in tune with his culture, “Sixo went among the trees at night. For dancing, he said, to keep his bloodlines open, he said” (Morrison 25).
As Morrison relies on her characters’ references to trees to convey her message, she herself indirectly reiterates her point by using symbolic tree imagery in her narration. In her description of the path to the clearing, Morrison describes drooping trees as if they represented towering guards seemingly bringing security to a once sacred place, “The old path was a track now, but still arched over with trees drooping buckeyes onto the grass below” (Morrison 89). The mere image of draping branches over the path to the clearing implies the security that trees bring. And to further her point, Morrison subtlety implies the sin of cutting down soothing, calming trees by describing the lumberyard’s surroundings and the old sawyer, “Up and down the old lumberyard fence old roses were dying. The sawyer who had planted them twelve years ago to give his workplace a friendly feel- something to take the sin out of slicing trees for a living… “(Morrison 47). Besides representing protection, security and comfort, Morrison also implies that trees bring good things. To Sethe and Denver, Beloved represents the best things in the world, a daughter and a sister. When Sethe and Denver first discover their “best thing,” Beloved is slumped over a tree stump, Morrison’s subtle message that trees bring good things, “Just as she thought it might happen, it has. Easy as walking into a room. A magical appearance on a stump, the face wiped out by sunlight…” (Morrison 123). Morrison also uses this implication when various townspeople leave food for Denver and Sethe on a tree stump, “Two days later Denver stood on the porch and noticed something lying on the tree stump at the edge of the yard. She went to look and found a sack of white beans. Another time a plate of cold rabbit meat. One morning a basket of eggs sat there” (Morrison 250).
Not only can trees bring good things, trees also seem to place the characters into unforgettable situations. When Paul D. leaves the woods, he finds himself in Wilmington with food and a temporary home as if Morrison implies that the woods lead him to comfort, “Crawling out of the woods, cross-eyed with hunger and loneliness, he knocked at the first back door he came to in the colored section of Wilmington” (Morrison 131). Paul D followed the “tree blossoms” to Sethe, another sign that trees help bring about favorable situations. For Paul D, his love of trees helped his survival. When forced into Alfred, Georgia, Paul D encounters the most evil that he has ever encountered before, but despite tasting the iron bit, watching Sixo burn, losing Halle and the Pauls, and facing Schoolteacher’s slavery, Paul D finds comfort in a young tree in the prison camp, “Loving small and in secret. His little love was a tree of course, but not like Brother- old, wide and beckoning. In Alfred, Georgia, there was an aspen too young to call a sapling. Just a shoot no taller than his waist. The kind of thing a man would cut to whip his horse” (Morrison 221) For Stamp Paid, an established savior, he feels the most comfortable when he helps and aids others. Stamp Paid’s picking berries for Sethe and Denver symbolizes his comfort towards helping people with the goodness of nature, “…went off with two buckets to a place near the river’s edge that only he knew about where blackberries grew, tasting so good and happy that to eat them was like being in church” (Morrison 136). A similar figure to Stamp Paid, Baby Suggs holy also finds the most comfort in helping others, giving advice, passing messages, healing the sick, hiding fugitives, loving and loving some more. She became a holy presence in town and preached from a rock in the clearing surrounded by trees, doing what she finds comfort in, helping and preaching to others, “In the Clearing, Sethe found Baby’s old preaching rock and remembered the smell of leaves simmering in the sun, thunderous feet and the shouts that ripped pods off the limbs of chestnuts. With Baby Suggs’ heart in charge, the people let go” (Morrison 94). Even Sixo, the wild man went among the trees at night to “keep his bloodlines open.”
Each one of these characters has endured the horrors of slavery and faced this ordeal in different ways, but they all deal with slavery with the comforting and harmless aspect of nature–trees. Although people today don’t have to suffer through slavery, almost everyone still experiences personal tragedies such as sickness or death of a friend, and perhaps experiencing the beauty of nature first hand is the perfect answer. Morrison’s pleasing imagery brings back a time when the little secret hiding place in the woods or one’s special thinking rock meant a simple healthy escape from life and it’s problems.
Works Cited
Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York: Plume, 1987.
Другие работы по теме:
Beloved Essay Research Paper BelovedElements of the
Beloved Essay, Research Paper Beloved Elements of the supernatural pervade Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved. These elements include evidence of African-American folklore and tradition in the everyday lives of the inhabitants of 124 Bluestone Road. Beloved’s character is another obvious use of the supernatural: she is a ghost for part of the novel and a “ghost-in-the-flesh” for the major part of the book.
Macbeth Essay Research Paper Lady MacBeth hated
Macbeth Essay, Research Paper Lady MacBeth hated Duncan when he came to the land. She hated the fact that he stood a chance of being king over her husband which ment she stood a chance of not being queen. Knowing this,
Seperate Peace Essay Research Paper There is
Seperate Peace Essay, Research Paper There is always a desire for adventure in a teenager s life. Whether it’s climbing on top of an abandon building or flying down the road at 100 mph, there is always going to be a need for an adrenaline rush that has to be both gratifying and even troublesome. In the case of A Separate Peace, that adventure is in the form of a tree.
The Flea Essay Research Paper The Flea
The Flea Essay, Research Paper The Flea by John Donne John Donne’s The Flea exhibits his metaphysical ability; his aptitude for turning even the least likely images into elaborate symbols of love and romance. This poem uses the image of a flea that has just bitten the speaker and his beloved to sketch an amusing conflict over whether the two will engage in premarital sex.
Beloved A Review Essay Research Paper Beloved
Beloved (A Review) Essay, Research Paper Beloved I decided to delve into the issue of slavery in this novel. SETHE, the mother of Beloved, and was owned by the character Schoolteacher . SETHE had three children by another slave. Schoolteachers sons would take her milk so she couldn t feed her children. She grew tired of this mistreatment so she decided to run away.
A Story Of A Bird Essay Research
Paper A bird was flying through a forest and had very luckily and eventually found his best tree to build a nest to stay, to enjoy and to love in his lifetime. When he flied towards the tree with great happiness and hope, he was shot ruthlessly, however.
The Halloween Tree Essay Research Paper This
The Halloween Tree Essay, Research Paper This book is a story about a group of kids going out on Halloween. They had planned to meet up in costumes, as they did, but someone was missing. Their dear friend Pipkin was late. While they were waiting for him they decided to go out for their first “Trick or Treat”. The door was opened by a man standing in a shadow.
King James Essay Research Paper Chapter Two
King James Essay, Research Paper Chapter Two of William James’s Pragmatism called “What Pragmatism Means” begins with the famous metaphysical question: Does the man go round the squirrel or not? What he means by this is if a man walks around a tree in a full circle, and a squirrel is one of the tree branches, how come it never occurs to the man to say that he not only walked around the tree, but the squirrel as well?
The Philosophy Of Trees Essay Research Paper
The portrait of a tree is not to be mistaken or over looked. Every one can see the beauty of a tree whether it be an ever green or disigous. This may be the key to our future. To look from the ground up standing under a tree the leaves may slowly turn around you enrapture you with all thier green. You may stand there unfulfilled this is when you should look closer; look pasted the tree’s green and beautiful leaves and find all the liveing creatures that have thier home in this tree.
Joyce Kilmer And Poetry Essay Research Paper
Joyce Kilmer In Joyce Kilmers, trees”, Kilmer uses many different poetry techniques, such as personification, rhythm, and similes. Using certain rhyming words Kilmer was able to give her poem a rhythm. In her poem she uses phrases like “A tree that may in summer wear a nest of robins in her hair”(Kilmer). Having used the words hair and wear give her poem a nice beat.
John Milton Essay Research Paper John Milton 2
John Milton Essay, Research Paper John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” describes the fall of man in a poetic lyric. His book closely details the character God, Satan, and how Adam and Eve came do their downfall. God’s first human creation, Adam, was given all luscious gifts of paradise, including free will. The Tree Of Knowledge was Adam and Eve’s only forbiddance.
Freedom Essay Research Paper How can one
Freedom Essay, Research Paper How can one measure the meaning of freedom without understanding the torment of confinement. The dark, unfathomable reaches of a dank pit, the deep, unknown regions of a large tree, even the confines of school, all can be the breach of freedom.
Tree Free Paper Essay Research Paper Eventually
Tree Free Paper Essay, Research Paper Eventually, at the current rate of deforestation, there will be no trees. We must look for alternatives to wood fibers. I for one would not like see the day that money hungry business man cut down the last tree for such a now useless object such as paper. Nowadays, with computers, there is no need for paper other than for printing.
Sonnet 43 Essay Research Paper Sonnet 43
Sonnet 43 Essay, Research Paper Sonnet 43, A Touching Love Poem If one were to ever receive a love poem, Shakespeare?s Sonnet 43 would be and excellent poem to receive. The sonnet is addressed to the beloved of the speaker. The speaker talks about how the best thing he sees is upon the closing of his eyes, when he then pictures the beloved.
William Shakespeare S Sonnet
#18 Essay, Research Paper In William Shakespeare s Sonnet #18 , he compares his feelings towards nature to his beloved. Shakespeare talks about the beauty of a summer day and how it is beautiful to him. He has strong feelings towards the summer s never ending beauty and compares it his love for one particular person.
Beloved Essay Research Paper BelovedBy Toni Morrison
Beloved Essay, Research Paper Beloved By Toni Morrison Dear Toni, Your novel Beloved evokes a tremendous amount of emotion from its readers. The various stylistic techniques enable the reader to see beyond the twisted story. Your use of stream of conscientiousness, symbolism, and characterization bring forth a well-written novel containing strong emotion.
Beloved Essay Research Paper BELOVEDToni Morrison depicts
Beloved Essay, Research Paper BELOVED Toni Morrison depicts the physical and psychological effects slavery has on an African American woman and her family following the civil war in her famous book, Beloved. Throughout the novel, Morrison uses various themes to capture the impact of slavery had on the various characters portrayed in Beloved.
Poetry A Poison Tree Essay Research Paper
A Poison Tree I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow. And I water’d it in fears, Night & morning with my tears;
The Swing Essay Research Paper every summer
The Swing Essay, Research Paper every summer i go to my grandpa’s house it was when i was six years old that we first took the walk across the old bridge that bridge was a special bridge
More Lift Essay Research Paper When logging
More Lift Essay, Research Paper When logging needs more lift it is sometimes necessary to raise the mainline for easier and faster production; specifically, the logs being pulled by the yarer should not scrape the ground, or hang up on stumps, so when more lift is needed a high climber is called in. No matter if a high climber is setting out to top a tree, or hang blocks in it for more lift he must posses the correct tools and take precautionary steps while in the tree.
The Giving Tree Essay Research Paper The
The Giving Tree Essay, Research Paper The Giving Tree is a modern children literature written by Shel Siverstien, which is also one of his first successful piece of work. It is about an apple tree who always gives and gives and a boy who always takes and takes. This might be another story to read before bed times for the kids but however, it portrays so many things, from deforestation to modern society.
Slave To Pain An Essay On Beloved
Essay, Research Paper Slave to Pain Sethe, now free from slavery has become a slave again, but this time instead of being a slave to a white master she is a, slave to her own pain. The sources of her pain are numerous, including the stealing of her milk, the murdering of her child, Beloved, attempting to kill the rest of her children, and two of her children leaving her because of it.
The Tree Essay Research Paper My most
The Tree Essay, Research Paper My most vivid memory of my grandparents? farm is the sloping crabapple tree that graced their back yard. There was nothing particularly special about the tree to anybody who passed by it, but to me it was a fortress. The petite, green crabapples that cluttered the tree weighed down the arching branches, producing a fountain of vibrant leaves that spilled to the ground.
Cry The Beloved Country A Walk Of
Life Essay, Research Paper Cry, the Beloved Country: A Walk of Life By Dane Dressler Feb.-9-2000 Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton, stands out from other
Literary Techniques Essay Research Paper 1 ImageryImagery
Literary Techniques Essay, Research Paper 1. Imagery Imagery is one of the main techniques used through out Waiting for Godot. The first image that appears is a tree. This simple tree in the middle of a desolate setting alludes to many symbols. To start, the tree represents the Tree of Knowledge, for it creates a reverse Garden of Eden.
Beloved Essay Research Paper Beloved by Toni
Beloved Essay, Research Paper Beloved by Toni Morrison In Toni Morrisons novel, Beloved, the main character Sethe, is a former slave who chooses to kill her baby girl rather than allowing her to be exposed to the
Beloved Essay Research Paper Beloved Essay FlashbacksRevisit
Beloved Essay, Research Paper Beloved Essay: Flashbacks Revisit the Dry Well, Find a New Spring Toni Morrison?s novel Beloved swims like a garden pond full of minnows with thoughts and memories of days gone by. Each memory is like a drop of water, and when one person brings up enough drops, a trickle of a stream is formed.
Who Is Beloved Essay Research Paper After
Who Is Beloved Essay, Research Paper After reading the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison, many readers may find them selves asking who Beloved really was. There are basically three
A Poison Tree Essay Research Paper A
A Poison Tree Essay, Research Paper A Poison Tree The narrator speaks of “I” who is of the Old Testament God, renamed by Blake as Urizen, and the poison tree is his Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead of merely exploring wrath as the consequence as repressed anger, this poem incarnates wrath as an object.
Ecology Essay Research Paper Ecology PaperOn the
Ecology Essay, Research Paper Ecology Paper On the Planet Venus there is an eco system which produces food and makes food for all the animals on the planet. I am going to tell u about some of the animals and what part they have in this system. There are producer, consumers, carnivores, omnivores , and herbavores.
Spanning Tree Essay Research Paper A spanning
Spanning Tree Essay, Research Paper A spanning tree is an application of a network. There is another type of spanning tree called the minimum spanning tree. This data structure is used in many business applications. I will be discussing what a spanning tree is and what a minimum spanning tree is, and how they work.
Infinity Essay Research Paper Throughout all of
Infinity Essay, Research Paper Throughout all of the stellar cosmos, there is only one absolute (debatable): Infinity. Humans are leaves on a giant tree called ?Life?. Where humans bud in the spring, blossom during the summer, then fade away and die during the autumn, the tree will last an eternity as a memento of the past, a reminder of the present, and a positive sign for the future.
Sex Anybody Essay Research Paper Sex Anybody
Sex, Anybody? Essay, Research Paper Sex, Anybody? By: Mel Antonio Man, Woman, Dog or Tree, On the menu of sexuality. What will it be, In this age of immorality? Today’s special: S& M, With Monica look-a-like On a big Harley bike. Or you can have toys, They’re not for little boys. They vibrate, They gyrate, They compensate.