Figurations of Rape and the Supernatural of Beloved
In the passage Figurations of Rape and the Supernatural of Beloved , by Pamela E. Barnett which includes several pieces of evidence of where rape and the supernatural clash together. It is a very interesting passage that makes the reader realize how much rape and sexual recurrences are brought up. The careless and dehumanizing way that people are abused and abuse others. Throughout the novel several characters primarily Sethe and Paul D try to leave the past as it is and forget the terrible traumatic experiences recurring.
In the novel Barnett makes a clear statement from the beginning saying, “link between haunting and rape that invigorates the novel's dominant trope:the succubus figure. The character Beloved is not just the ghost of Sethe's dead child; she is a succubus, a female demon and nightmare figure that sexually assaults male sleepers and drains them of semen.” In this quote she is stating that Beloved is not only a haunted image of Sethe’s dead daughter reincarnated ,but symbolizes the hardships of Sethe’s past. She states Beloved as a “succubus figure” which mean she is a female demon known to have sexual intercourse with men. When Paul D is in the cabin he is sexual assualted by Beloved which brings back terrible memories of Sweet Home and when he was imprisoned. Paul D is also forced to leave 124 being pushed away from Beloved. Beloved also sexual assaults Sethe in a way that reminds her of how the Schoolteacher and the two school boys raped her. It sucks away Sethe’s vitality leaving her weak and helpless. As Sethe grows weaker Beloved grows stronger. Beloved is a symbol of all the hardships that people went through in slavery. Beloved brings back the memories of pain,death, and torture that went on, putting Sethe and Paul D in fear. Although there all these bad memories coming from Beloved there is also some good things she represents, that Barnett fails to realize. She completes an empty space for Sethe as a daughter relieving guilt and companionship and a sister for Denver. She is also a figure of a lover and a mystery to Paul D. Eventually, Beloved can represent different things to everyone.
A big theme of this novel is how the characters in the novel are now traumatized by the rape and assault that they lived through in slavery. The characters go through faces of shock or denial. Halle that went through a traumatic experience of Sethe being raped,she was in shock putting butter milk on his face. The strongest symptoms of trauma are that there are recurring flashbacks and strained relationships. Although these feelings are normal they prevent, such as Sethe and Paul D from moving on with their lives. There is also a post-traumatic stress disorder which is a person that goes through traumatic experience and relive these memories and nightmares. Those nightmares may come and go or be there for times and suddenly experience them daily. They also may avoid things that bring them bad memories, feel unaffectionate, aggressive, and violent. This relates to how Beloved is this recurring nightmare to Sethe and Paul D and are forced to relive these recurrent traumatic experiences.
I never thought of her as a succubus, but it makes sense since she seems to haunt Paul D and seduced him in the Shed. While it does not say it, the reason Paul D might not be able to sleep in the same place every night might be because Beloved haunts him in the night and "Drains him of his semen". I agree that while she has become a struggle for Sethe and paul D, she also gives Denver a friend and a sister bond she has never had before which she seems to love. Beloved is like a child whom can be a problem because you need to give her lots of attention and it may seem to drain your energy, but at the same time is a loving thing that mothers adore. Great interpretation!
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