biblical associations in beloved

Morrison’s writing includes many allusions to Christianity and the religious associations with slavery. From what we know about slavery during the time period that Beloved is set in, slaves had no ownership of anything except their thoughts. And from that, most slaves resulted to following the religions that their slave masters taught them. For instance, there is a parallel between Beloved and the idea that she is “the savior”. Paul D describes Beloved as “gilded and shining”, without implying a positive interpretation. The words “gilded” and “shining” have very positive connotations, but Morrison twists the original interpretation of commonly used words, and denotes them by comparing or associating those words with a negative stimulation. 

Justin X. and Andy C. by Chris Louie (c)

The relationship between Paul D and Beloved is very stimulating. Beloved recognizes characters’ imperfections, and helps them realize that they are nothing to hide as if everyone has purpose in this world. 

Morrison captures this idea with biblical references to how Jesus died for people’s sins. But instead of Beloved dying, Morrison exemplifies the fore coming of Jesus Christ when she first comes out of the water. Beloved coming out of the water is a biblical reference to the act of baptising a child in holy water. Although Beloved is a young woman when she emerges from the water, she is a representation of Sethe’s dead child. Morrison uses these many different biblical allusions to capture the idea that there are relatable instances from real life to the bible. 

She makes the argument that there is an evil depiction of the slave catchers, when she portrays them as the “four horsemen” from the bible. The main idea when referencing the four horsemen is to describe the avenue to the end of the world. But not the end of the world itself, but as a metaphor to the end of Sethe’s world as a free slave. In that time period, the Fugitive Slave law permitted any slave that was seized in a free state could be reclaimed by their respectful slave owner. Morrison’s many biblical allusions are commonly referenced to depict actions and context for relatable events to Sethe’s dark past.