Original Film Art

After reading the assigned pages of Beloved, we see Denver stepping out of her shell. For the majority of the book, the reader learns how Denver is shyer and more reserved than other characters. She feels extremely lonely. In these chapters, Sethe spends her money to spoil Beloved with sweet food and fancy fabrics. I think Sethe does this as a way of making up for lost time with her dead baby. Sethe wants to make Beloved happy. In doing this, Sethe makes Denver feel less important than Beloved. She shows Beloved more affection and attention then Denver. This is very difficult for Denver because she is Sethe’s daughter, and they had always been together. Now that Beloved is in the picture, it disrupts their relationship. But Denver sees the danger that Beloved causes in their house and takes it upon herself to seek help. She leaves their house for the first time on her own. She has no idea where to go which must have been extremally scary and overwhelming. She eventually finds the house she was looking for and gets a job and finds care for Sethe and Beloved. This part of the story shows Denver stepping up when her mother was too weak to be a strong role model. I think Sethe began to struggle because she gave Beloved power over her to control her because she feels guilty for what she did. Therefore, Denver takes it upon herself to get help for Sethe and Beloved and also starts learning. She memorizes lines in the Bible and works for Miss Bodwin.

As the book has ended and we find out that beloved has basically died again, I am a little sad for Sethe because she really was starting to be a little happy again with what she thought to be the returning of her child, just to loose her all over agin has to be the most heart shattering thing for her. I truly hope she doesn’t end up like Baby Suggs because I don’t think Denver could take all that loss and a more eerie feel in 124 all by herself. I hope she and Sethe are to find true happiness and move past this very dark time in their life.

Enjoy the Weekend, stay healthy its cold outside 🥶

As the week comes closer to the end and I have some things planned for the end of the weekend starting tomorrow. one of my friends birthdays is tomorrow so we will have to do something for it like get her an ice cream cake, but before that I get to go to bingo and try to win stuff, then maybe Saturday I might go to my nana’s to spend some time with her. But for Friday I got an exam to do🙂‍↕️.

I’m reading the final chapters of Beloved (281–324), and it feels like the story is shifting. The line “124 was quiet” really stood out to me—it seems to mark a change in the house and the characters. I’m curious to see how themes like loneliness and healing play out as the book comes to an end.

Just played indoor soccer for the first time! It’s so different from outdoor and futsal—faster, more physical, and the walls add a whole new element. Adjusting to the pace and rebounds was challenging, but it’s been a fun way to stay active as the weather gets colder.

What a year it has been, from northern lights and solar eclipse totality in my backyard to graduating high school and starting college, it has been a time of self-discovery and new experiences. This Fall semester flew by so quickly and by the end of this week I’ll only have to be on campus for 10 more days of class before it’s finals week.

Graduation ACT Burning

Throughout this semester I explored campus, discovering the best hiding places and the cleanest restrooms. I made new friends, and although few in number, I’ve really enjoyed being able to spend time with these people through late nights in the student lounges or adventures on the streets of Kent. Whenever I commute back home for the day, I find myself missing the campus and the people in it.

Academically, this semester has been a time of growth and prospect. Luckily enough, I’ve actually really enjoyed every one of my classes this semester (except for Flashes 101, but that’s more of a formality, isn’t it?), and my advisors are leading me in a way to plan ahead for my future. I feel like there are people who are invested in my future and are going out of there way to help me succeed. I’m learning a new language which is exciting, and ASL has been one of my most interactive and entertaining classrooms. I also feel immersed with psychology, with many of my classes linking together in subject matter despite not being directly related.

Kent Hall – Welcome Week

I have high hopes for Spring 2025, and I am excited for the classes I have on my schedule. I hope that I’ll meet even more people and grow my existing friendships exponentially. I really can’t wait to see what Kent has in store for me, be that discovering the hidden gems of downtown or participating in career-advancing projects. I feel enthusiastic.

A few weeks ago I made a blog post about Beloved, sharing my thoughts about who I considered to be the four main characters. In this post, I wanted to look back a what I wrote and compare it to what we know now having finished the book.

Sethe – IMDb

“Sethe is the mother of Denver and who I consider to be the most tragic character in the novel. She felt the need  to murder her own baby and lives in a haunted house with her daughter, Denver, and romantic partner, Paul D. Because of her traumatic past, I feel terrible for Sethe, and every time the characters argue she is at the center of the conflict. For Sethe, I wish for her to be able to live a peaceful life with a lack of conflict, while moving past the death of her daughter.”

I thought Sethe was the most tragic character, and I think that holds even more truth now that she has gone through the loss of her Beloved twice. I had hoped that she would eventually find a peaceful life and to move past the death of Beloved, but that seems impossible for her now. We don’t get to learn what happens to Sethe long-term, but it seems that she is permanently scarred.

Denver – The Film Experience

“Denver is the fatherless daughter of Sethe who continuously moves the story forward through her actions. She is an interesting piece in the novel because of how she creates questions, answers, and dramatic tension. She is childish in her personality and doesn’t like the fact that Paul D is now living with her and Sethe. When Beloved appears, Denver is quick to take her in as a friend and sees Beloved as a way to learn more about her own past, which has been withheld from her by her mother. I wish for Denver to be able to grow out of her childish tendencies and become a mature person, bringing hope to the family.”

Throughout the second half of Beloved, Denver continued to move the story along, and I feel like I was pretty spot on with my expectations and hopes. While Beloved’s power and presence in 124 continued to grow and overpower Sethe, Denver grew out of her shell and took it upon herself to do what needed to be done.

Paul D – Frock Licks

“Paul D is a character who we recently got to learn much more about, including his tragic past in the chain gang. He wants nothing more than to settle down with Sethe, but he also causes contention for Denver and Beloved. Personally, I don’t like Paul D because I haven’t seen evidence that he actually loves and cares for Sethe. Instead, I see him as someone who just wants to satisfy his urges and live idly, as interpreted from his consistent rocking chair slumber. I wish for Paul D to prove his love for Sethe or for him to leave the family.”

At first I really didn’t like Paul D, especially with how he treated Beloved, but as the novel came to a close I felt like I could have more respect for him. Toni Morrison doesn’t make it clear if Paul D fully settles down with Sethe, but I think it’s a reasonable conclusion that he does, acting as someone who can be there for Sethe in the most challenging of times.

Beloved – Freddie deBoer

“Beloved is a mysterious and harrowing character who appeared outside of 124 when the rest of the family was coming home from a carnival. She has a fascination for Sethe and seems to already know much about her, which Denver has recognized. Both Paul D and Denver are people who get in between her and Sethe, and Beloved seems to be getting increasingly violent as the story progresses. I’ve gathered from hints in the foreword and the assigned reading that Beloved is the dead daughter of Sethe, which is why she has such an interest in her, but her long-term goals are not clear to me. Does she want revenge on Sethe, or does she just want to be welcomed in and integrated into the family?”

Reading more, Beloved’s intentions slowly became clearer, and with Paul D leaving the house she no longer had anybody to stand between her and Sethe. Her violent tendencies continued until it became too much for Sethe, even if her mother was blind or negligent to the torment Beloved was causing her.

Readers, do you think that the second death of Beloved was a necessity, as something that had to happen? Or perhaps, was there some way that Beloved could have been welcomed into the family without causing anybody any more harm? My personal opinion is that it had to happen, which only adds to the tragedy of the story and that of Sethe. Beloved’s mother now seems to be going down a road much like Baby Suggs, holy, with no more life or willpower left to give. Is it possible for Paul D or Denver to restore her spirits, or will she ultimately fade like Baby Suggs, leaving 124 alone to Denver, still haunted by misfortune.

This week has been so cold! I started wear a coat. I don’t mean to be dramatic, but it was 75 degrees out last week! I like the winter but only when there is snow. If it is just cold outside without snow, it feels miserable and a waste for cold air. I love snowboarding so I can’t wait for the first snow fall and the hills to start opening up. In Wisconsin, there are tons of mini ski resorts by my house and further up north. I am excited to for Christmas break because I will have plenty of time to get out on the hill. I am also looking forward to Thanksgiving break because I have not seen my family or been home in two months. I miss my mom’s cooking so much, but I know she’s going to make some amazing pie for dessert. This is a picture of the pies my mom made last year for Thanksgiving. The one on the left is chocolate pecan (my favorite) and the right iscranberry. I also have had a very productive two days. I think the long weekend helped me catch up on sleep and give me and extra boots of energy for this week. I hope everyone is doing well and stays warm.

Harpo Films

After finishing the reading assignment for Beloved, I find myself thinking on Toni Morrison’s last words. She mentions that the past should not be remembered or looked back on. She tells the readers that forgetting the past is the only way to move forward. She mentions how people forgot about Beloved and that it was not a story to pass on. After thinking about the idea of forgetting or simply not remembering the past to move on, I have to disagree.

I think what makes us human and creates our identity is what our past is. Whether it be a good or bad memory, what happened to us previously makes us who we are in the present moments. These moments in the past have significance and are impactful on our future selves. We can’t throw away the past because we don’t like it, or it makes us sad. If nothing was uncomfortable or sad, how would we know when the happy and exciting moments happened. We remember the happy memories, what makes the sad ones any different.

We, as humans, find a way to move on regardless of whatever happened before. We always come out on the other side, and we see the light of day. Of course, we cannot dwell on the past because we will miss what is going on right in front of us, but we should also not fully forget it and wipe away part of who we are.

Memories are such a beautiful thing that makes us each unique. Our experiences influence how we act and think. Don’t leave your past in your back pocket.

America’s Fitness Doctor

This week and the following weeks are beginning to stress me out. Back in high school, I was a great student at learning how to get assignments done and not feel that weight on my shoulders of needing to pass. I always seemed to do just fine and not doubt m y abilities. Finals in high school did not hold as much value as the one’s in college do. I was one of the smarter kids in my class, but now, at college and especially in my major, everyone is just as smart as or even smarter than me. All of a sudden, there is a weight on my shoulders to pass the finals in order to progress through the Nursing program at Kent. It is scary because being a nurse is something I want to be doing, and if I don’t end up passing these exams and classes, am I truly cut out for it? There is definitely a lot of mixed emotions with the conclusion of the semester. There is a doubt that lingers but also a feeling of gratitude. We are so grateful to wake up and feed our minds full of new information. This is all our first time going through this process, and I would love to know how you all feel!