Instructions:
When responding to this question, click the comment button on this posting. Do not create a new post.
When responding to this question, click the comment button on this posting. Do not create a new post.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Week 4 Question! (1 response)
The narrator notes in Chapter 9, "There was no question but that she could do it. Just like the day she arrived at 124--sure enough, she had milk enough for all" (189). This line suggests both a literal and figurative meaning. Choose one character (Denver, Paul D, or Beloved) and explain what type of "milk" or nourishment this character requires and/or demands from Sethe. In other words, what do they need or desire from her. Explain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Kristen Priestley: Week 4
ReplyDeleteSethe is the type of woman who wants to please everyone in the household and make them all feel comfortable. When Paul D came to 124 she opened her home to him and provided him with food. The type of nourishment he demands from Sethe is a womans touch. Its almost as if he wants to feel wanted,loved, and in charge. He wants her home cooked meals, her sex, and simply her friendship.
Sethe wants to satisfy everybody in the household including Beloved. As a result of Beloved symbolizing her deceased daughter, she needs Sethe love and support. Ironically they said milk and that is what an infant needs in order to grow into a strong person. In the story they mentioned her breath smelled like milk, this symbolizes Beloved youth and gives us more reasoning to believe that she is Sethe's deceased child.
ReplyDeleteDanielle Casey: Week 4
ReplyDeleteSethe is naturally the caring person that doesn't want to upset anybody or throw the peaceful environment off balance. The referral to she had enough milk for everybody can be translated toward there is enough of Sethe's love to go around, including Beloved. Beloved came to the house unannounced and Sethe doesn't seem to have a problem with it, she is more concerned with her maternal instincts and caring for Beloved.
Kelly Lockett
ReplyDeleteSethe does her best to provide for and take care of all those that are close to her. She especially makes sure that her children are well taken care of.
Beloved one day comes into their lives, but acts as if she belongs there, and that is just the way Beloved treates her. Beloved looks for a mother in Sethe and she in many ways wants to become close to her. She ask many questions that she wants Sethe to answer. Beloved wants Sether to tell her stories of things that happened in the past, and of gifts and people. Beloved wants Sethe' s attention. She wants Sethe to care for her and to also spend time with her.
Tranelle Davis week 4:
ReplyDeleteAs the story is told, I realized that Sethe tries to take care of everyone that surrounds her. In Chapter 9, the line that states "There was no question but that she could do it. Just like the day she arrived at 124--sure enough, she had milk enough for all" (189) just says that Sethe has the potential to give support and attention to who ever need it. For example Beloved who symbolizes Sethe deceased daughter is their too hear stories of Sethe past. Sethe emotional devastation stories are told to Beloved as if Sethe is feeding it to her. It is ironic because Beloved symbolizes Sethe dead daughter and the stated line talks about Sethe giving away milk. Babies are feed milk and to me it seems that Sethe is just feeding her daughter.
“There was no question but that she could do it. Just like the day she arrived at 124-sure enough, she had milk enough for all (189). The lines, in my opinion suggest that Sethe is a strong person and has enough strength, love, and nourishment for everyone around her. The character that needs this nourishment the most is Beloved. Because Beloved is the manifestation of a dead baby her nourishment from Sethe is the most recognizable. Beloved needed Sethe’s milk literally as a baby when she was born, but the literal meaning is now figurative. Since Beloved made her entrance she has demanded attention from Sethe. She basically doesn’t want to let her mother out of her eye-sight. This is supported when in Chapter 9 Beloved says, “And it was so much better than the anger that ruled when Sethe did or thought about anything that excluded herself” (118). The fight for Sethe’s “milk” turns to jealousy and in this case anger. It seems as if all the characters are fighting for this “milk” even though Sethe believe she has enough to go around for everyone. I’m interested to see just who will win this battle.
ReplyDeleteSethe is the character that make sure everybody is taken care of. "Milk" represent Sethe's love. All the characers are fighting for Sethe's love that she provides. This quote represented that Sethe always care about others. I pick the character Paul D. It seems as if Paul D wants a woman touch and love. He gets jealous when Beloved come to the house. Sethe gives all her attention to Beloved now. You can tell Paul D is jealous because he said that Beloved act and sound sick but shows no sign of sickness. This shows that Paul D wants Sethe to either make Beloved leave or to stop paying her any attention.
ReplyDeleteBrianna Miles: Week 4
ReplyDeleteBeloved needs Sethe the most I think. Not only because her mind set is that of a child but for reassurance also. Since Beloved is the physical manifestation of Sethe's dead baby it's only right that Beloved would need Sethe like a child needs it mother. Beloved needs love, care, and support from Sethe. These are all the the things any child would need from their mother. Beloved also needs reassurance as I said earlier. I think that Beloved needed to know that Sethe loved her. She needed to know that Sethe didn't want her to die. She also needed to know that Sethe hadn't forgotten about her. I think that was the main reason for Beloved coming back. She mainly came back to ease her doubts.
Errol O. Williams Jr.
ReplyDeleteBeloved is a very welcoming caring peron. Because of theses characteristcs people desire many things from her. Paul D who was once a slave also shows up at her home 124, and it is like he automatically wants a relationship established with her. He wants her to forget about her past, and let go of the death of her baby girl. He desires a relationship from Sethe, and also the ability to display the power that he feels he has being the man of the house. He wants Sethe's attention, and wants Sethe to aggre with his thoughts, and feelings.
Hall Destini week:4
ReplyDeleteSethe has lots of love needed by many people surrounded by her also known as her "milk". The love that Beloved needs is reassurance that Sethe still has love for her, thinks about her and cares for her.
Sethe has much love to spread around, but one character in particular stands out to me. Beloved, who represents her deceased daughter, is this character. Her love is the "milk". As a child needs milk in order to grow, a person also needs love.
ReplyDeleteThese lines represent alot of things to alot of people. I think Beloved and Paul D need alot from Sethe that she is willing to give, but I would like to say that Beloved's "milk" is this evil powerful hold on people. Paul "D" can't escape her milk when she comes to him in the middle of the night no matter how bad he wants too. Denver can't resist Beloved's "milk" even though she knows there is something worng with her. she at this point would choose Beloved over her own mother. Sethe can't turn Beloved away. I think "milk" is symbolic in these lines for whatever nourishment/hold that is given by or wants to be given by someone and needed by someone else.
ReplyDeleteSethe is nurturing person to all who come her way, which is why she took in Paul D and Beloved. For Paul D., Sethe's "milk" is companionship. Sethe is being a wife to him, and she demostrates this by cooking meals for him and going to bed with him.
ReplyDeleteShanti Hubbard:Week 4
ReplyDeleteBeloved is seeking the "milk" of attention and love from Sethe. Beloved admires Sethe and whenever she speaks hangs onto her every word. In this last chapter it seems that Beloved is actually very possesive of Sethe and jealous of Paul D. She feels empty when Sethe is not around and gets upset when she goes to be with Paul D.
Sethe is that type of person who wants to please everyone. This is especially the case for Beloved who in the story needed love and support for Sethe, because as we all know Beloved is a physical manifestation of Sethe's deceased daughter. In one line the author stated the Beloved's mouth smelled like milk which is ironically important for the growth of newborn babies.
ReplyDeleteRandi Lemons: Week 4
ReplyDeleteThe word "milk" used in Chapter 9 is both literal and figurative. Literally, it represents the milk in her breast since she had an infant. Figuratively it represents how Sethe is the emotional provider for everyone in the house. Everyone seeks Sethe's attention in the novel. As for Paul D., he is able to confront his past and somehow regain his respect as a man for expressing his feelings about his past. To do this, he seeked Sethe's attention for her conversation and despised Beloved for taking away "his time."
Sethe feels obligated to take care of every one in the house, she wants to please them all. However when Paul D sees Sethe paying so much attention to Beloved he is kind of jealous. The milk that Paul D want from Sethe is Love and affection. He wants stability, sex, and power over her.
ReplyDeleteChristina Tate week 4
ReplyDeleteBeloved is yearning for Sethe. She smells like milk which is strange for someone of her age. Beloved wants Sethe and wants the relationship she was not given the opportunity to have. She tries to comfort Sethe but she is pushed away the same way Sethe pushed her away as a baby. Sethe wants to please everyone which in turn equals jealous among the other two people in the house.
Tempestt Carter: Week 4
ReplyDeleteSethe provided every character with their own special milk. Paul D requires the milk of ecstasy from Sethe. From the moment he got there he wanted to make love to her and now that he has he wants it to continue. Also he wants her friendship and maybe even a relationship from her. He opens up to her about some things in his past, but in order to spare her feelings he discontinues telling her the accounts. This shows he is developing strong feelings for her. He is even willing to try and connect with her daughter to make her happy; again showing his intensifying feelings for Sethe.
Sarion Granger: Week 4
ReplyDelete"There was no question but that she could do it. Just like the day she arrived at 124--sure enough,she had milk enough for all (189)." These lines in my opinion suggest that Sethe is a strong woman that has enough love to give to everyone that is around her. The neediest character is Beloved. Beloved literally needed milk from Sethe when she was born, but the literal meaning is now a figurative meaning. The minute that Beloved arrived to 124 she has demanded Sethe's attention and love. It seems like Beloved is making up for all the years that she was away from Sethe. She wants to go everywhere that Sethe goes; she is basically Sethe's shadow. When Beloved couldn't occupy all of Sethe's time she became angry and violent like a child does when they throw a tantrum. It seems as though Beloved, Paul D, and Denver are all fighting for Sethe's "milk" or better yet her attention and affection. Even though she states that she has enough to go around, I'm interested in seeing who will win her over in the end.
"There was no question but that she could do it.Just like the day she arrived at 124-sure enough, she had milk enough for all(189)." This quote means that Sethe have enough love for everyone in the house.She tries to please and make them comfortable. Sethe welcome Paul D into the house and provided food for him. He thinks beloved get all the attention. Paul D wants to feel loved by Sethe. He wants Sethe sex, friendship, attention.
ReplyDeleteDanielle Wilson
ReplyDeleteWeek 4
Sethe has enough" milk "to share is a very interesting notion to think about. In the case of her daughter Denver the milk she need is attention and understanding. Denver wants to be understood by Sethe but Sethe is so focused on other things it seems like Denver falls though the cracks. It can also be seen as the breast feeding process. When Denver was still an infant, when she would eat, she and Sethe were physically close. With that closeness Sethe and Denver where able to bond. Denver wants the closeness and "warmth" back.
Shannon Douglas: Week 4
ReplyDeleteUpon Beloved's arrival Sethe found herself trying to please everyone. A mother's natural instinct is to take of her household, whether they are blood relatives or friends of the family. It is clear that Sethe fits this perspective as she tries to balance her new life with Paul D and Beloved staying in her home.
As Beloved and Sethe become closer Paul D derives a sense of jealousy towards Beloved. He had been searching for years for a place to settle down and now that he has finally found comfort in Sethe, he feels threatened that Beloved will take that away from him. The quote in chapter 9 states: "There was no question but that she could do it. Just like the day she arrived at 124--sure enough, she had milk enough for all" Paul D did not quite understand the abilities of a woman to keep that balance within the household. The "milk" that he required from Sethe was love, but not the same love that Beloved wanted. Paul D was hoping that he could fill that void Halle had left in Sethe so many years ago, and in return she would give him the compassion and affection that he had not seen over 18 years ago.
Sethe, over time, has assumed the role of Superwoman. She has to make sure everyone is taken care of, has to make sure that everybody has what he or she wants, while often neglecting her needs. In my opinion, it seems what Beloved needs most from Sethe is validation. Beloved wants to know that she is welcome, loved, not alienated from family, and appreciated despite prior circumstances. Once this begins to happen, the division that exists amongst the family will be no longer. You have to make peace with your past so it won’t spoil your present.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that this "milk" that Toni mentions in the book is referring to the motherly love that Denver and Beloved crave for from Sethe. Sethe always seems to be helping others or atleast caring for them. When the books says she has "enough milk for all," it means that Sethe never seems to stop caring. I will choose to most evident one, which seems to be Beloved. Beloved has been living at 124 for about 5 weeks from chapter 9. As we get deeper into the story, it seems as though Beloved becomes more and more infatuated for Sethe. She has love for Sethe similar to the way a baby as for her mother. The baby doesn't want to share her mother with anyone else. This is similar to how Denver and Beloved seem to be fighting over Sethe.
ReplyDeleteSethe is accustomed to caring for others; it's second nature to her. Take Beloved for example, Beloved needs love and ultimately entertainment. Beloved loves to hear of Sethe's stories, as if the stories bring Beloved closer to Sethe and life itself. Sethe gives Beloved a mother figure, as we all know before Sethe, Beloved didn't have family nor a place to go. Sethe willingly took her in and now cares for her.
ReplyDeleteAll of these characters: Denver, Beloved, and Paul D are all essentially looking for the same exactly thing from Sethe, love and attention. However, they are seeking different forms of love in different ways. For example, Paul D is searching for an affectionate love from Sethe. He's looking for perhaps a wife and a deeper connection with Sethe, and by the stories that they discuss up to this point, he seems to be successful in accomplishing this. So in a sense the "milk" that Paul D is looking for is just affection from Sethe.
ReplyDeleteJordan Davis: Week 4
ReplyDeletePaul D, Denver, and Beloved all desire and seek out Sethe's attention. Denver is desperate for it. She's never had her mother's full attention, even when they were alone. The specter of 124 always seemed to keep a it of Sethe's attention. Things did not get any better when Paul D came into the picture and it got worse when Beloved came into the house. Sethe is all that Denver knows. She needs her mother's attention. This is the "mik" or sustenance that Denver yearns and craves for.
Karedonovan Oliver: Week 4
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough that Paul D, Beloved, and Denver all recieve "milk" from Sethe, Paul D seems to be the most interesting in terms of his need. While Denver and Beloved look for attention as their form of "milk", Paul D requires stability. Paul D mentions several times in the story that he could not stay in a place for more than a few months. He looks to Sethe as more of a foundation to turn his life arount and finally be able to settle down to be a family man.
It is quite obvious that Sethe plays a superwoman kind of role. Sethe is always seen pleasing those around her before she pleases herself. Paul D needs Sethe’s unconditional love and companionship, and demands these things throughout the story. It is okay for us to assume that the “milk enough for all” represents Sethe’s unwearied drive.
ReplyDeleteAndrenique Wilson: Week 4
ReplyDeleteDenver,Beloved, and Paul D all have one thing in common. They all want love from Sethe. Denver wants love from her mother, that she had never gotten before. Beloved wants all of Sethe's attention and also wants to feel welcome in the house. Paul D wants to make love to her and become her companion. Yet, when Sethe said ,"there's enough milk to go around," she meant that their was alot of love to share. So, we can infer that Sethe is this geniune,loving person that cares for anybody, but herself.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePaul D, Denver, and Beloved all desire and seek out Sethe's attention. For Paul D., Sethe's "milk" is companionship. Sethe is being a wife to him, and she demostrates this by cooking meals for him and also by sleeping with him. Its almost as if he wants to feel wanted,loved, and in charge. He wants her home cooked meals, her sex, and simply her friendship.
ReplyDeleteThe kind of "Milk" that Denver needs is love and attention from her mother. She may be 18 years old but she is still afraid of the outside world. As a result she is emotionally fragile. when Paul D comes into the picture, she feels more as if she isn't getting any of the attention that she feels she needs. The problem is that Denver's personality is mainly built up under Sethe. This is the kind of "Milk" that she needs.
ReplyDeleteIn Beloved, every character revolves around Sethe in a way. The character that needs the nourishment or milk in this case is Beloved and Denver. I believe that because of her life and how she was murdered by Sethe. The milk that Beloved needs form Sethe is answers. She needs to know why she was murdered. Denver needs milk because Sethe is ignoring her.
ReplyDeleteBeloved is the character who seems to want the most milk out of Sethe and it is evident by the way that she looks at her, and the way she inches her way down the road to meet Sethe after work. The milk, the nourishment that she demands from Sethe is attention and love. She wants to gain back all of the things that she lost when Sethe cut her life short; her milk, the time she spent with her and the love that they shared. Beloved is greedy for this milk and resents Paul D for taking some of that attention from her and having to share Sethe. She is occasionally angered by Denver because Denver fails to realize that Beloved did not return for her but to "See her face" (88).
ReplyDeleteSethe is a very caring and very naturing person. Beloved is person who depends a lot this from Sethe. Because she acts almost child like she demands more attention from Sethe. Beloved never really had mother figure and Sethe gives her that motherly loving and attention that she needs.
ReplyDeleteTyler Kinermon
ReplyDeleteWeek 5
The character I choose is Denver. The type of milk she wants from her mother. Are maybe more attention and more compassion towards her feeling of this girl staying here at their home? Denver was use to being the only child for a while but know that beloved came along Denver is felling out of the loop and over protective of Sethe. But Sethe is wrapped up in Beloved and she is not showing her enough love.
Beloved is the one who desires/requires the most milk from Sethe. Not meaning milk in a literal sense but she wants the most attention and affection and love from Sethe. Since her life ended at an early age, she never got a chance to receive those things from Sethe and now that she is back she wants a chance to get the things she never got while she was here as a child. I also think Beloved in a way has the mindset of child because she died so young and therefore requires the most. It is evident because Paul D and Denver find themselves getting jealous that Beloved is somewhat "hogging" Sethe all of the time.
ReplyDeleteSethe is a person with a selfless type of attitude. She is always one to put others before herself. She lives to please others and to keep them happy, so when Paul D arrives at 124 this is exactly what she does. Sethe welcomes Paul D into her home with not one complaint. The phrase ...she had milk enough for all" (189) simply means that Sethe has enough love and care to share it with a multitude of people and not just one. Paul D demands nourishment in the form of a woman's touch when he settles into the house. He wants to feel loved, wanted, and in control. He feels that Sethe will supply him with this nourishment. That is until others arrive at the home. Paul D then feels as though he is in competition for Sethe's nourishment.
ReplyDeleteKaci Foster: Week 4
ReplyDeleteAt this point in the novel, each of these characters (Denver, Paul D, and Beloved) needs something, some type of "milk," from Sethe. Denver's "milk" is a mother's attention. Denver has grown up and her mother is all she has ever had or known. Denver has already had to fight for her mother's attention against a baby that does not exist, but never has she had to fight for attention with two other living people. Paul D and Beloved show up and take even more of Sethe's time and attention from Denver. Essentially, Denver just needs some "mother/daughter" attention from Sethe -- her "milk" -- and she is not getting this attention or affection because of the presence of so many other people in she and Sethe's lives.
Kyle McClue: Week 4
ReplyDeleteAs I read this store, it seems like all three characters, Beloved, Paul, and Denver, want Sethe to themselves. Paul wants to be the man in Sethe life. However, Denver wants to just have Sethe and Beloved in her life. Now with the addition of Beloved, it seems as if Beloved wants Sethe all to herself. She wants to be the only one, the only child to Sethe. She wants Sethe's milk. In the book, it makes a reference of Beloved's breathe smelling like breast milk. I think this is symbol of Beloved wanting to be Sethe's child again.
Although Sethe had enough milk for everyone, she could not potentially keep everyone happy at the same time. Denver was her child that had been there since day one; therefore, in my opinion Denver should receive Sethe’s milk. Paul D came in and almost demanded his milk and a woman’s children are always supposed to come first. A woman’s child came from her womb and that is a bond that no one else will ever experience or take away from that child. It is an innate emotion. Beloved came out of the water and she deserved the milk but could not take Denver’s place in the home. Beloved was satisfied with just being in the presence of her mother and feeling a sense of belonging. Denver had been present for all the happiness, heartaches, and any other occurrences. Denver by far deserved the milk but her giving soul was willing to share her mother’s nourishment with the others that longed for it.
ReplyDeleteAmber Hudson: Week 4
ReplyDeleteSethe's milk for Beloved is a want and desire to be cared and loved for. She wants the attention of Sethe. Beloved needs the attention and nourishment that a baby needs from his or her mother. In chapter seven, Beloved stated, "She is the one. She is the one I need. You can go but she is the one I have to have." So to Beloved the milk is a sustenance that she needs to grow.
The "milk" Paul D requires from Sethe is the love, support, and companionship a woman can give. Paul D is ready to settle down and have a family. He is tired of roaming freely around with no home to go to. He wants to have a family and to get into the male role of the house. In the novel, the reader sees several times that Paul D is trying to get a job and clearly wants to stay with them. He seeks stability and sees that with Sethe which is why he sticks around.
ReplyDeleteChelsea Dubose: Week 4
ReplyDeleteSethe seems to be a very nourishing person. She tries to provide for her children the best way she knows how even for Paul D. Throughout the story you see how she tries to make a way to make sure everyone is happy. I feel like the "milk" Beloved needs is a caring and nurturing kind of milk, a mothers love. She wants answers from her mother as to what happened, and why Sethe did what she did to her. I think Beloved wants to feel like she is and/or was loved because then she'd feel complete. Her feeling of being unwanted needs to be tended to for her to grow.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSydney Burnett: Week 4
ReplyDeleteBeloved is the main character that requires, rather almost demands Sethe's "milk". The concept feeds into the impression that Beloved is the embodiment of Sethe's lost child. She is the most infantile and demands Sethe's attention. She is jealous of Paul D and Denver when Sethe turns her attention their way and she often asks about Sethe's life. Sethe is more than willing to nurture the strange woman and argues with Paul D over whether she should stay or not. It felt as though Beloved was Sethe's child from a previous marriage and Paul D was having issues accepting another man's child.
In my opinion I believe that all of the characters, Beloved, Paul D, and Denver, desires Sethe's "milk". The one character who I feel needs it more is Beloved. When Beloved was killed, she was left with a lot of unanswered questions with the main one being "Why?" Being that she was a child. she thought that a mother was supposed to love her unconditionally so she became confused when she was murdered so that's why she has raised hell in the house for all of these years. Beloved came back to get the love and nourishment that she knew she deserved from Sethe, but it was kind of difficult at first because Sethe never realized that Beloved was her dead child.
ReplyDeleteTo me, Beloved needs the "milk" the most because her life had been abruptly taken away. She was never able to fully receive the nourishment and care from her mother because of her death, so when she returned, it was important that she did what she could to make up for those lost times. With breast feeding, the mother and child unite and come to the understanding that the child needs the mother to survive. Because Beloved was killed, she never experienced that union. In receiving that "milk" she was able to know what it feels like to be truly connected to her mother.
ReplyDeleteShanae Franklin
ReplyDeleteWeek 4 Blog
Beloved is the character who truly needs Sethe’s “milk.” She was never able to fully capture her mothers love due to the fact that she passed away as a baby. Beloved didn’t have that mother-child bond that almost every child receives. When a child is born they began to cling to their mother and to adapt to her aid for living. Everyone else has already had their fair chance and Beloved deserves the same love and affection. Because of her death she never experienced the union of mother and child. Now it is her turn to make up for lost time. Time was given to everyone but now their time is up!
I think what Beloved desires from Sethe the most is the love she never received because she had died. This reincarnation could a way of making up for lost times. The "milk" she needs persay is to feel that mother-daughter bond she would have had if she was alive. She desire affection and attention.
ReplyDeleteSethe is a woman full of love and kindness. She has enough to go around for every one in the house but Beloved feels as if she needs her attention and affection the most. Beloved literally hangs on to Sethe's every word and is intrigued by her every movement. She wants all of the love Sethe has to offer because she was unable to receive it as a child. The novel says that Beloved's breath smelled like milk. This is the very milk that Beloved was would have drank from Sethe's breast as a baby. Beloved deserves to be loved just as much as Denver because she is indeed Sethe's dead daughter.
ReplyDelete