Angelic Heroism vs. Heinous Torture

Responding and Reflecting: Beloved

An unusually extensive flashback occurs during Chapter 8. Denver decides to share the story with Beloved, which she has heard from Sethe’s memory of giving birth to Denver. Sethe had a very special woman, Amy Denver, helping her deliver the baby. Denver loves retelling this story and cherishing the memory of an important “white woman” who brought her into the word. Toni Morrison tries to portray the marvel and rarity of a white woman willing to save a suffering runaway slave’s life. She accentuating this type of situation was seen as an “angelic” miracle, revealing that most slaves doubted any signs of true humanity in white people.

Amy and Sethe cross paths near a river and Amy offers to “rub Sethe’s feet”, which is a biblical allusion to a story in the New Testament. Sethe shows Amy her beaten, bloody back. The sight of a butchered backside would normally turn most people off, but Amy describes the sight as a “chokecherry” tree, which is a symbol of life and beauty. Amy sings Sethe a song that her mother used to sing to her. Amy bets that Sethe will survive the night despite her difficult physical suffering and pain. Together, they find the Ohio River and Sethe goes into labor. They quickly find a boat and Amy delivers Sethe’s baby. Before the two women get too fond of each other, Amy Denver leaves. Sethe decides to name her baby “Denver” in honor of Amy’s volunteered assistance in the desperate woman’s time of need.

I think it’s an interesting point to consider that although these women were racially different, they shared some interesting similar characteristics. Both women were running away from their past. Amy had been an indentured servant and she was traveling to Boston to finally buy herself some velvet. Sethe was running away from Sweet Home in the hopes of finding a better future for herself and her baby. I can’t help but assume that these women felt some connection based on their similar life paths and Amy felt an obligation to help a fellow suffering woman.

Slaves, including Sethe, had no faith that the average person would go out of their way to help a slave. In fact, Amy Denver didn’t show the utmost care and respect that Sethe deserved, especially after what she had experienced at Sweet Home. Sethe recalls that Amy condescendingly spoke to Sethe and even called her a "nigger." However, what Amy did for Sethe is still seen as an absolute miracle for Denver and her mom because it was such an anomaly in their society.

I am always amazed and inspired by genuine acts of extreme kindness that humans can show for one another. Recently, I had the privilege and honor of meeting and speaking to a “Righteous Among the Nations”, a woman who hid twenty Jewish individuals in her house while the Holocaust genocide was unfolding. Her story brought tears to my eyes and hope into my heart. It validated my faith in the fact that all people are good-hearted. Despite corrupt terror and acts of crime against other humans, which are caused by other factors like greed, power, and money, the pure and innate desire to help others is always present.