The Novel Beloved by Toni Morrison depicts the life of Sethe's family before, during, and after
slavery. Baby Suggs was born into slavery and given her freedom by her son Halle, who she never
sees again. Sethe is born into slavery and escapes, having to do the unthinkable to keep her children
safe. Denver is born into freedom but is forever haunted by her family's past. Beloved shows how
slavery effects people of all different ages, even if they aren't slaves themselves.
Baby Suggs was a slave for the majority of her life, only gaining freedom after her son Halle
buys it. After moving to Cincinnati, Baby Suggs is never able to see her son again, and nobody
knows what really happened to him. Halle is the only child of hers that Baby Suggs really knows
because the rest of her children were sold. She tries not to let herself love her taken children. Along
with the hard work entailed in slavery, Baby Suggs has to deal with a lot of tough emotions that
nobody should have to go through.
Sethe is born into slavery like Baby Suggs but spends the majority of her life outside of slavery,
though it leaves life long scars. While being found by School Teacher, Sethe kills her young
daughter, "Beloved", in hopes of keeping her children from the horrors of slavery. Even though this
plan works, Sethe can never forget what she did. Scared of their mother, Sethe's sons Howard and
Buglar leave home, never to return again. Sethe is left alone with Denver after Baby Suggs dies.
Beloved's spirit continues to haunt Sethe, until it leaves forever. After this, Sethe is still broken over
the past.
Denver is born during her mother's escape from slavery. Denver never has to experience slavery
first hand, but has to deal with its after effects on Sethe. Denver is lonely, as both her brothers have
left home, her older sister is dead, and Baby Suggs is dead. When Beloved arrives, Denver realizes
she is her sister and they start to become good friends. As Sethe and Beloved grow closer, Denver is
left to herself. Sethe loses her job and stops providing for Denver and Beloved. Denver finds herself
a job and starts bringing food home for everyone. Because of Sethe's past trauma, Denver is forced
to grow up and care for her broken mother.
