Topics for Further Study
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 altered how free states were mandated to handle runaway slaves, which led to Sethe's tragic reaction upon her capture. Investigate the historical legal status of fugitive and freed slaves in America. Develop a timeline that outlines these legal changes, incorporating both Supreme Court rulings and state and federal legislation.
While preparing to write Beloved, Toni Morrison delved into several slave narratives—autobiographies written by freed slaves. According to Morrison, what was lacking in these narratives was an exploration of the inner lives of the individuals. Read one or two slave narratives, such as those by Frederick Douglass or Harriet Jacobs. Does Morrison's observation hold true? Craft an essay arguing for or against this perspective, comparing the narrative with Morrison's novel and providing examples from the texts to support your arguments.
In Beloved, Amy Denver also escapes from a situation involving beatings and forced labor. Investigate the history of indentured servitude in America. Who were subjected to these contracts? How was it similar to slavery? How did it differ? Write a paper detailing your findings.
Explore some African-American ghost stories, such as the folktales in Patricia McKissack's The Dark Thirty or Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly and Her Stories. What elements do these tales share with the "ghost story" in Beloved? Present your conclusions in an essay, using examples from the texts.
One of the central themes in Beloved is the importance of the bond between mother and child; Sethe, Denver, and Beloved all suffer in various ways due to a disruption of this bond. Research the psychology of the mother-child relationship. What are the consequences when young children are not allowed to bond with a parent? Compare your findings with the experiences of the characters in the novel. Be sure to cite both research studies and the novel.
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