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The Color Red In Toni Morrison's Beloved

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The color red is a recurring motif throughout the novel “Beloved” By Toni Morrison. Throughout the book, red carries different meanings when associated with different people in different situations. Although red may present itself differently to each individual or situation, it resembles overcoming the past and looking forward to a bright future.
Amy’s search for red velvet resembles her leaving the past behind. When Sethe and Amy meet on their journey they had both just escaped slavery. Sethe ran away from Sweet Home to begin a new life with her three children and soon to be baby. Amy escaped slavery and was starting her journey to Boston. Boston is the future for Amy as this is where she claims the bright red velvet is from. She mentions that the velvet she has seen before has been brown, representing her enslaved life. Now, she imagines the beautiful red velvet …show more content…

Paul D’s past is not something he likes to think or talk about. The pain and suffering he experienced during his time as a slave has caused him to bottle up all of his feelings into his imaginary tobacco tin. This way he can ultimately become emotionless. His tragic past leads him to isolate and protect himself from being hurt in the future. This includes fully opening up to Sethe, and allowing himself to be happy. Paul D is unable to feel any real connection as “nothing in this world could open it” (Morrison 139.) This is until Beloved awakens his emotions, destroying the rusty tobacco tin that once contained memories of the past. All of the feelings that he had kept locked away for so long, came flowing back. Paul D repeats again and again ‘Red Heart. Red Heart.” (Morrison 144.) His heart has been awakened and he realizes he can fully love Sethe and deal with these emotions. He overcomes the emotions of his past by finally reopening the box. He is able to feel again in hope for a happy future with

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