Beloveds relationship Status and Id

Text: Beloved by Toni Morrison

Critical Lens: Psychoanalytic

“It became a way to feed her. Just as Denver discovered and relied on the delightful effect sweet things had on Beloved, Sethe learned the profound satisfaction Beloved got from storytelling. It amazed Sethe (as much as it pleased Beloved) because every mention of her past life hurt ... to Denver's inquiries Sethe gave short replies or rambling incomplete reveries. Even with Paul D, who had shared some of it and to whom she could talk with at least a measure of calm, the hurt was always there-like a tender place in the corner of her mouth that the bit left. But, as she began telling about the earrings, she found herself wanting to, liking it. Perhaps it was Beloved's distance from the events itself, or her thirst for hearing it--in any case it was an unexpected pleasure.”

Beloved enters Sethe and Denver’s life as a daughter and sister. Beloved asks things about Sethe’s past that surprisingly don’t bother her. To the other characters such as Denver and Paul D it isn’t as easy for Sethe to tell them about her past. Beloved also acts like a two-year old wanting sugar and stories. Her desire is to be with Sethe and know more about her.  Beloved is the rebirth of a new baby that has no lines on her skin and is flawless. She is also a representation of the id(part of our personality). The id is the impulsive and unconscious part of our psyche which acts on instincts. A newborn child is all id just as Beloved is like a newborn child.  Like Beloved the id wants immediate satisfaction which gives pleasure and when denied what it wants it goes through unpleasure. The id does not concern with the reality of everyday life or any logic. Beloved demands satisfaction with pleasure such as spending time with Sethe and listening to her stories.  She also not focused on the consequences of her action. Beloved impulses or what she wants must be satisfied immediately, regardless of the consequences.  The thinking process of the id is illogical, irrational, and unrealistic.  Beloved also seems to be in the oral stage still which is the stage of infants of sucking and tasting. If a person is fixated in the oral stage then will not continue to the next stage of development until oral issues are resolved.  Beloved is still dependent of Sethe and ,since she killed her could not go through the next stages of life. 

Image of Beloved looking at Sethe tell a story

Beloved also has a weird relationship with Sethe where she it is sort of like an anxious preoccupied attachment which is instead of feeling real love and trust toward the person they often feel a strong emotional need caused in deprivation in childhood. Beloved wants her emotional needs to be meet and throughout the novel it demonstrates that she doesn't really love Sethe.  Although Beloved clings to Sethe she takes actions that push Sethe away. Beloved is usually clingy, demanding, and possessive towards the end of the novel. Beloved turns from a daughter figure to a tyrant to Sethe.