In Chapter 10, more of Paul D's story is revealed. What do you think Paul D's trembling is symbolic of? How does this chapter and the next chapter, where Paul D encounters Beloved, address the themes of conformity and rebellion?
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Tranelle Davis: week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D was a prisoner at a jail in Alfred, Georgia. With fourth-five other prisoners he was chained and sexually abuse. Paul D experience chronic trembling when he was not active. The only time the trembling subsides is when he was working during the day or singing with the other prisoners. I think Paul D trembling symbolizes the fear and the devastation he had to encounter when he was imprisoned. I think his trembling symbolize that because the only time it would stop is when he was occupied working or having a little fun singing with the other prisoners. In chapter ten, Paul D symbolizes conformity because he is imprisoned and he allows the white guards to abuse him sexually, physically, and mentally. Paul D conforms to what the white guards because he thinks that’s what he suppose to do. In chapter eleven, Paul D seems to grasp his identity by resisting having sex with Beloved. Paul D is rebelling against having sex with Beloved because he feels that it is wrong. Also Paul D shows conformity because he eventually has sex with Beloved. Paul D having sex with Beloved, just shows that she has power over him. Just like a child shows they have power over their parents and can get what they want, Beloved does that to Paul D. Ironically Beloved symbolizes the reincarnation of Seth dead baby using her child nature to win over Paul D.
Kelly Lockett
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling is symbolic of how much his past traumatized him. Paul D went through hard times throughout his life and i think that the trembling is because he was doing something that he really did not want to do, but he knew that if he did not then something bad would probably happen to him. This chapter as well as address the themes of conformity and rebellion because Paul D had to conform to the way he had to live as a prisoner, and he conformed and gave into what Beloved wanted him to do. These chapters represent rebellion because Paul D ended up in prison because he killed who he was sold to, and also because they escape from prison.
@ Tranelle Davis
ReplyDeleteI agree that Paul D is trembling because of fear and devastation from being imprisoned. I also agree that he conforms to the way that the guards want him to act even when he does not want to. We learn of Beloveds powers over Paul D when he eventually gives in to her.
@Tranelle, I agree with your assumptions. Paul D represent conformity when he is in the prison and rebellion when he decide not to sleep with Beloved and when he escape from prison.
ReplyDeleteTameka Christmas: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling represent the problems he had to endure when he was in prison. The trembling represent his conformity stage because he had to conform to the circumstances in prison. This chapter represent Paul D's conformity stage. He conforms to the guards because he believe if he don't, things will get worse. He was sexual abuse and require to work all hours of the day. This chapter also represent rebellions because he escape from prison along with other prison. The next chapter represent both conformity and rebellions. At first, he reject Beloved but he later have sex with her. Paul D have a lot of experiences that relate to his trembling reactions.
Errol Williams Jr.
ReplyDeleteThe reason that Paul D’s trembling is the fact that he was subject to the most horrific and gruesome tragedies that many men cannot fathom. He would tremble because of the fear of being murdered or sexually assaulted. Only when he was being a good prisoner and a doing all the demanded work was he “healthy”. The man was rebellious but it would backfire and he would be forced to conform.
In my opinion, the trembling that Paul D experienced everytime he had to work in the field represented his desire to conform. He may have been angry that he wanted to rebel but couldn't find the strength to do it. The trembles represented his weakness. In terms of his encounter with Beloved, he conformed when he didn't fight the feeling of her pushing him out the house. Once he was forced to sleep out in the cold, he conformed again when he didn't refuse her sexual desires, knowing that what he was doing was wrong.
ReplyDelete@Kelly Lockett I agree with her comment about the trembling representing the troubles of Paul D's past. I didnt think of it that way but it is a valid point because his past was quite tramatizing.
ReplyDelete@ Tranelle
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that you have a great grasp of the question, and they way you describe his trembling. You have made very descent points and have a great sentence structure.
Jasmyn Luke
ReplyDeletePaul D’s trembling is symbolic of how much all the hardships he is dealing with is taking a toll on him. He not only has just committed a murder, but he also is being abused now that he is in prison. He is being forced to conform to a lifestyle where he has no control over what is being done to him, or what he has to do. When Paul D encounters Beloved he conforms to what she wants him to do to her, even though it is something that he does not want to do. He rebels against his own self-control and gives in to her. Paul D also rebels against the prison when he and others try to escape.
@tameka
ReplyDeleteI agree that Paul D’s trembling represents his conforming to the things that the prison guards are having him do. He doesn’t really have a choice, so mentally and physically he is having troubles.
Paul D's trembling represents the rage inside him. After being locked up in a pit with 45 others , he has a lot of emotions that he has no one to share them with. Paul D purposefully buried his feelings down, but the trembling is them slowly surfacing. This chapter largely represents conformity because he is trying to follow the rules in prison in fear of being killed, though at the end his escape represents rebellion. In the next chapter, his encounter with Beloved is rebellious even though he tried to ignore his feelings.
ReplyDeleteBrianna Miles Week 5:
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling represented his fearfulness and stress of the unknown. He really didn't know what was happening when he was en route to Virginia. He was probably afraid of what would be waiting on him once he got there. He was also probably stressed because he had just lost his brothers, Halle, and Sixo. He was trembling with the pain of losing them. Paul D represented conformity in this part because he was conforming to what they wanted them to be. He was going along with what the prison guards wanted, not really causing any problems. When he encounters Beloved I think rebellion comes in. He doesn't want to want Beloved since she is so young and Sethe cares about her a lot. He gives in to Beloved though eventually. This represents rebellion because Beloved and him aren't supposed to have those type of relations.
@Tameka
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said that Pail D conformed when he went to prison. He did have to conform to what was going on in the prison.
@ Tameka
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly agree that his work traumatizing and therefore he trembles. The situations that he has been put it leave psychological scars that are hard to deal with.
In Chapter 10, it states that Paul D was sent to prison, for attempting to kill the man that sold him, in Alfred, Georgia. It goes on to mention how he started trembling really bad while lock and secluded with the other inmates. The trembling that we see represents Paul D actually understanding all that went on through his past. Scary thought, I know! Paul D is now realizing who is his and how the past is now in the past. Just as this portion of book symbolizes innocence to experience, it also hints at conformity and rebellion. The rebellion, obviously, was seen through Paul’s desire to kill Brandywine. In my opinion, Paul was simply acting on his anger and wanted to get even. Conformity is represented by the fact he lets Beloved talk into him doing what she wants to do!
ReplyDelete@gpeppers: Good point on the trembles. I didn't view them as his weakness! Thanks for details
ReplyDeleteI was thinking when I read the story that Paul D's trembling was a symbol of anger. Sometimes in life you get so angry at a situation, but exploding is obviously going to come with consequences. The anger builds up an you can be shaking. I felt that mentally there was nothing for Paul D to do to rebel but to shake and when he was working this kept the shakes under control because he was occupying the energy.
ReplyDeleteAs for Beloved, that girl is something wicked. Yes, on the surface Paul D rebelled against her because he also feels there is something terribly wrong with her, and on the surface it would look like he conformed and gave in to a man's natural desire, but his mind wasn't there. It was just like when he was working in the fields for the white man. His physical shell gave the appearance of conformity because he was trapped and could do nothing else, but his mental state is still rebelling. Beloved has him physically trapped and compelled but he knows it's wrong, and he tries to mentally fight the force.
@ Mariah
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I thought I was the only one who saw anger in the situation. For it minute it caused me to question what it was I thouhgt I had read. His encounter with Beloved is very rebellious in nature. You can tell from the beginning when he tries not to look at her and break focus with the pail (I think it was that it was an object) and also when he is questioning their encounter and his rejection at the house
In Chapter 10 the author gives the readers a piece of history from Paul D’s past. Paul D was prisoned in Alfred, Georgia after trying to kill his slave master. The conditions of the prison were horrid and dreadful. A total of 46 men, including Paul D, had to endure this cruel punishment. The men had to live in a pine box underground. This is when the trembling began. The trembling wasn’t noticeable on the outward appearance but Paul D was very aware of the inside trembles. Eventually the unsteadiness of hands was uncontrollable. The only time his shakes were ceased was when he was working with the hammer at dawn or singing hymns. I think Paul D’s trembling is symbolic of all the horrible things he encountered as a slave as well as a prisoner. The trembles symbolize these fears and thoughts that are all pinned up inside his mind and heart. The theme of rebellion is displayed in Chapter 10 when Paul D tries to kill his slave master. The result of his rebellious ways is the conformity of prison. While in prison, Paul D has to do as instructed and follow the rules and guidelines given to him. In the next chapter the themes of conformity and rebellion are revealed upon the encounter of Paul D and Beloved. Paul D attempts to rebel Beloved’s command of touching her inside part but soon conform to her wishes by eventually having sex with her. In these examples the act of conformity is the punishment for being rebellious.
ReplyDelete@ Russhelle
ReplyDeleteI believe you are correct in the assumption that Paul D's trembles symbolizes his anger. It is quite normal for a person to shake when he/she is holding something inside or has some sort of anger built up. In Paul D's case he had plenty to mad about and even more things to be sad about.
In Chapter 10, we were able to see more of Paul D and where he had been before he came to Sethe's. Apparently he had tried to kill his slave master and because of that he was sent to prison. During his time in prison he was basically living in hell. The conditions were horrendous and he was forced to sleep in a pine box like he was corpse. It is safe to say that he has always had it rough and when he was sent to prison that was the icing on the cake. I believe his trembling it a sign of the anger that he has held inside of him for so long. He was already angry going into the prison because of his slave master and being in there made it no better for him. This chapter and the next chapter represent conformity because he was forced to conform while he was in prison. He really did not have a choice because if he did not conform and cooperate while he was there, he would have made things worse then they were. He endured a lot of things while in that prison that no one would ever want to experience in their life. He rebelled by escaping from the prison and running until he came to Sethe's house. He just could not take those circumstances under which he was living and he knew that if he did not make a run for it, he probably would have died there. In chapter 11 rebellion is present in Beloved and how she came onto Paul D despite how Sethe felt about him and how he felt about her. Even after Sethe had taken her under wing, she still rebelled and got what she wanted from Paul D. He represents conformity because he conformed to what Beloved asked of him. He could have held his ground and continued to say no, but he didn't.
ReplyDelete@ Russhelle
ReplyDeleteI did not think about Paul D's mental state and how that could have contributed to his trembling. I do agree though because he really did not have any other way to go about his situation in prison but tremble, but I do think his mind was rebelling and finally he acted on it once he escaped. I like how you referred to Beloved as wicked and how she physically has him trapped but that his mind is still rebelling. Good job
Paul D's trembling is symbolic of what he had to go through in the past. From being abused as a slave and then going to prison to have the same process repeated but ten times worse. He has no other choice but to conform in prison because if not, the consequences will be worse. Initially, Paul D. shows signs of rebellion when he refuses to have sex with Beloved out of moral judgment. Unfortunately, this does not last. He subdues to his desires and is overcome by his feelings. This is Paul D. conforming.
ReplyDelete@ Mz.Briana
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with your post. It was very informative and well thought out. I agree that him being sent to prison was the breaking point. Being a slave was bad enough, but being sent to prison back in those days? A very scary thought.
I think Paul D's trembling is symbolic of fear and anger he had inside of him. He went through many things in his past. The worst thing he did was try to kill his slave master and he was sent to jail. He was already abused but when he went to jail the problem became worst. He didn't have a change in prison,so he had to do what he needed to do and that represents conformity. He was rebellions when he escape from prison.
ReplyDelete@ Adam Nguyen
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point of view. Paul D's past was full of Negativity. I cant imagine being in his situation. Being a slave is horrible and on top of that he was sent to prison.
Tranelle Davis: week 5
ReplyDelete@Tamkea5892, I agree with your assumption that Paul D trembling was because of fear and devastation and that paul D show conformity and rebellion
Karedonovan Oliver: Week 5
ReplyDeleteI believe that Paul D's trembling represents the feeling of knowing pain and hardship. There has to be a certain degree of anger welled up inside of him, because he is sold away from his home and is sent to jail after attempting to kill his new master. His trembling can also represent a feeling of fearing nothingness, because in chapter 10 he has no specific direction, he just follows whatever mark he is given and goes until it stops. He follows the Hi man until he is gone and then he follows the flower blossoms and stops until he can find more. These chapters can represent both conformity and rebellion, because in chapter 10 all the me have to conform in order to work together to successful rebel by escaping. The conformity was particularly inferred during this chapter because the author stressed that if one failed or died they all did. In chapter 11 Paul D rebelled against being pushed out of the house by Beloved's presence, but his rebellion pushed him into conformity as he was driven out of the house and into the shed where he succumbed to Beloved's demands.
@Russhelle
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, he tries with all his might to rebel mentally but his physical self fails fails him and he conforms.
Shanti Hubbard: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling was symbolic of all the pain he's supressed surfacing to the top. It was a rush of emotion that his body felt needed to be expressed. He had held so much in trying to be strong that there was no other way to let it out. Paul D is a rebel. Even when he was faced with death from the white men, instead of saying "Yes sir" or something of that nature, he says "Hi." It was a nervous reaction but it was still rebelling against the norm. As far as the situation with Beloved, he rebelled at first but ended up conforming in the end to his urges.
@clarice I agree with your assumption that Paul D's trembling was symbolic of the fear and anger he had inside himself.
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling symbolizes the trama the things in his life has done to him. Its more of repressed memories that has to come out somewhere. In the following chapters Paul D encounters Beloved who he has sex with which to symbolizes comformity instead of rebellion because after a while he stopped resisting and had sex with her.
ReplyDelete@ShantiGina
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Paul D's trembling was his emotions resurfacing and also the fact that Paul D comformed to his urges and had sex with Beloved.
@ephraim
ReplyDeleteI agree with exactly what you said about Paul D and his trembling. It is very hard to bounce back form a traumatic event such as being enslaved to a white man.
The discontent state of mind that Paul D was in brought back bad memories of when he was enslaved. The trembling was symbolic of the hardships that he experienced and the sexual exploitation that he experienced. In chapter 10 Paul D is seen conforming or complying with his slave master but in chapter 11 he is seen rebelling as he rebells against his conscience and has sex with Beloved.
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling symbolizes the urge to be free and rebel after all that he had experienced as a slave . The trembling begins when Paul D has the iron bit in his mouth and his movements are restrained by rope. He cannot even turn his head to take one last look at Brother. The trembling became worse the more south he traveled in the coffle with 10 other men, as if the deeper into the pits of slavery he went the more he wanted to be free and the more rebelious he became on the inside. The chains that linked Paul D to the other 45 men represent conformity, everyone having to obey and do right; if one person rebelled by trying to run away then they all rebelled because they were all connected to eachother and all were punished. This was a smart tactic made by the guards because they knew that "A man could risk his own life, but not his brother's" (129).
ReplyDeleteIn the Chapter 11,the chapter that follows, "trembling" resufaces but Paul D does his best not to tremble because he does not want his body to rebel against his mind. " If he trembled like Lot's wife and felt some womanish need to see the nature of the sin behind him...he too would be lost forever" (137). Unfortunetly Paul D is not sucessful and his body rebels anyways and as he does he repeats the words "Red Heart" several times
Danielle WIlson
ReplyDeleteweek 5
Paul D has gone through alot and he has a rather sorted past. When he begins to tremble that is the manifestation of the fears and pains he experienced expressing themselves in a physical reaction. As for showing his methods inconformity and rebellion it all comes down to Beloved. His form of rebelling was to resist sleeping with Beloved, it gave him a power to know he could resist her. But he conforms when he sleeps with her.
@ Tameka5892
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that Paul D's emprisonment represents conformity. He must work hard like all of the other prisoners, he must obey the guards and is forced to make the same movements as the other people he is chained to. However I do not believe that his trembling is due to him having to conform because it began before he went to prison, and I feel that his trembling is due to his great desire to break away from conformity. You mentioned that in prison he was sexually abused and I completelty missed that; I guess I need to read that chapter more carefully a second time.
Paul D's trembling is symbolic of how much his past traumatized him. Paul D was a prisoner at a jail in Alfred, Georgia. With fourth-five other prisoners he was chained and sexually abused. He conforms to the guards because he believe if he don't, things will get worse.
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling is symbolic of his pain, fearfulness and the mind-boggling devastation he experienced while imprisoned. I’m sure that what he experienced made him feel as if he were less of a man and may have damaged him emotionally and psychologically. The trembling may well have been caused by psychological problems he was experiencing.
ReplyDelete@ Alexa P
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that his trembling was sybolic of his wanting to be free and that the chains that linked him to forty-five other men was symbolic of his conforming.
Jordan Davis: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling is his fear and trauma he has experienced as a prisoner manifested into a physical form. You tremble when you're cold and alone. This explain why he keeps a guard up, because he's had to fend for himself for so long. He is conforming to the will of the people who have him prisoner just to live to see the next day. He rebels when he has sex with Beloved.
@Francois
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. No man fully recovers psychologically after being sexually abused by another man. I think Beloved put some kind of spell on Paul D to get him to have sex with her.
Tempestt Carter Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling symbolizes the trauma he went through in the prison. When he was not working he felt as though anything could happen to him, which anything did happen to him. His continous working was the only thing that saved him from the abuse he was subjected too. As far as conformity and rebellion, he conformed because he stayed chained to the other man and worked like a dog instead of trying to escape and he rebelled by sleeping with Beloved despite his better judgement, and despite having Sethe.
@Francios I agress with his rebelling state was sleeping with Beloved despite his internal feelings.
ReplyDeleteAndrenique Wilson: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling symbolizes the horrific memories of being in prison, after he tried to kill his slave master. He had to conform in prison because if he had not then the consequences would have been severed (probably not only for him but, other inmates,as well). In Ch. 11 we see Paul D rebelling against Beloved's demands but, at the same time he conforms by moving into the shed. Yet, we see that he finally gives in to Beloved.
@Marquis
ReplyDeleteI agree with your assumption that Paul D's psychological state was devasting while he was in prison. I also agree that he did feel less than a man, as well.
Christina Tate Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D trembles because trembling is the only way he can deal with the pain from the past. Learning that he was put into jail for almost killing his master and the things he went through in the prison explains why he is so hurt and how he wonders. The only time he does not tremble is when he is working becasue that is another way he can put everything behind him and forget. Paul D and Beloved have sex. Paul D does not like Beloved and she also does not like him. She induces him and he conforms to her spell and has sex with her. Beloved rebels against Sethe's wishes and tries to get rid of Paul D.
@ Trenelle
ReplyDeleteYou are right Paul D does try to rebel and not give into Beloved but her power is to much for him and eventually he gives in. Beloved uses Paul D against his wishes because she wants Sethe all to herself.
Osaro Omofomwan: Week 5
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 10 of Beloved, we learn a little more information about Paul D's backstory and all the struggles he went through in the past. The trembling within Paul D is symbolic of all the horrible things that happened to him throughout his life. He was abused as a slave and had it much worse when he was in prison. Conformity takes place when Paul D conforms to all the abuse he recieved in prison. He was sexually and physicall abused by the guards, and he was forced to work extra hours. Rebellion occurs when Paul D tries to stop himself from having sex with Beloved, but there is also conformity when he gives in to Beloved wishes.
@Courtney Tannehill
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your analysis on Paul D. You gave clear and vivid explanations on conformity and rebellion that were very understandable.
Kyle McClue: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul was a prisoner for a period of his life. The fear of the uncertain of his life cause him to tremble. This imprisonment left a great impact on his life. I think this imprisonment caused Paul to not feel comfortable living a normal life. When things were going good, he seemed to rejected it. At the end of Chapter 10, one can begin seeing the weakness that was in him as a result of time in prison. This weakness caused him to fall for Beloved's temptation.
@Osaro92
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything except the part you said about Rebellion. I believe Rebellion can be seen in the story when Paul refuses to sleep in the house and begin sleeping in the cold house.
Danielle Casey Week 5:
ReplyDeletePaul D was trembling because he was thinking about how he felt when he was in prison and all the rest of the hardships he has been through in life and the memories that went through his mind were a bit too much for him to handle.
As far as conformity and rebellion, Paul D conforms by sleeping in the shed in the cold but he rebells by having sex with Beloved. At first it seems like he didn't want to do in the first place because he knew Sethe loved her more than anything but rebellion takes over and he gives into the temptation of Beloved.
@Kyle
ReplyDeletei agree with your post because Paul D constantly seems like something is wrong or he doesn't feel at ease when normal things in life occur. He seems a little on the paranoid side, but then again, who wouldn't after all the things he has been though.
in this chapter paul d is trembling. He trembles because of the hard time he faced in prison. He allowed the guards to sexually abuse him and physically abuse him, this was an act of conformity. He only conformed because he felt it was the way it had to be or something bad would happen to him. Paul D refuses to let these thing go on any longer so Paul D along with other prisoners break out of prison, this was an act of rebellion. Also in this chapter Beloved want Paul D's affection like Seth get so she wants him to have sex with her. Paul D realizes that it is wrong so he resists conforming. However she seduces him and he does a rebellious thing and has sex with her.
ReplyDelete@danielle
ReplyDeleteI think he rebels against things when he sleeps with Beloved but i do see where you are coming from because some people that read it they may think of something that leads them to think he conforms. his other rebellious act is also when he excepts from jail with the other prisoner and i think it should have been mentioned in your blog because it was a big part of the chapter.
As i was reading the chapters that we assigned understand Paul D past and what e had been through. Paul D life as slave was not an easy one he was abused by his owners and other white men. This shows a symbol of conformity. Paul D could have rebel against them but instead he conformed to what they told him to do. Another symbol of conformity is when Paul D slept with Beloved but at first he was rebelling against sleeping with but he finally gave in.
ReplyDeleteErica Gbekle: Week 5
ReplyDeleteAs i was reading the chapters that we assigned understand Paul D past and what e had been through. Paul D life as slave was not an easy one he was abused by his owners and other white men. This shows a symbol of conformity. Paul D could have rebel against them but instead he conformed to what they told him to do. Another symbol of conformity is when Paul D slept with Beloved but at first he was rebelling against sleeping with but he finally gave in.
@ Tranelle i agree with a lot of what you said. Beloved did use her weakness to her advantage to try and get what she wanted form Paul D
ReplyDeleteIn chapters 10-12, Paul D was a conformist. He has chronic trembles everytime he works because if reminds him of the time when he was a slave in a chain gang. So everytime he does labor he is angry because he knows that he is conforming. Also, he conformed and had sex with Beloved; he chose not to deny her. Lastly, Paul D conscented and let Beloved indirectly push him out of the house. Instead of confronting her, he chose to just simply sleep outside.
ReplyDeleteSarion Granger: Week 5
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 10, Paul D reveals more of his past to Sethe. He was sent to prison for trying to kill his slave master. During his time in prison, he was forced to live in the worst conditions that anyone could possibly think of. He lived in fear of being raped or even killed. I believe that his trembling is a sign of the anger and hatred that he has for his slave master. I also believe that his trembling symbolizes the fears and thoughts that are pinned up inside his mind and heart. When Paul D tried to kill his slave master represents rebellion because Paul was tired of being treated like less than a human. He decided to take matters into his own hands. Paul D's rebellion turned into conformity when he was sent to prison. He had to conform so that he wouldn't be killed. While in prison, Paul D had to abide by the rules and instructions that were given to him by the authorities. Paul D finally rebelled by escaping from prison. In Chapter 11, rebellion is present when Beloved came onto Paul D despite how Sethe felt about him. Paul D represents conformity because he gave into Beloved's advances instead of standing his ground by continuing to say No.
@ Francios: I understand the rebellion against his conscious, but I also see it as an act of conformity because he conformed to what Beloved wanted, sex.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Paul D's trembling is due to what he went through when he was in prison. In this chapter it talks about how Paul D went to jail for trying to kill the man who sold him, and started to tremble really bad when locked in with the other prisoners. I think all the sexual abuse and torture he went through also contributed to the trembling they talk about in chapter. I think we see conformity when Paul D is in jail because of him conforming to what a prisoner is "supposed" to do, and not standing up for what he believes in. However, I think he conformed to save his life rather than that being his personal choice. In the next chapter you see rebellion when Paul D resists having sex with Beloved. Usually a man would be flattered about a woman being sexually attracted to him, but instead he, at first, resisted the temptation.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Paul D's trembling is due to his attempted suppressed past. He has a traumatic past from when he was imprisoned. While in jail he was sexually and physically abused by an officer. This is a form of conformity. That is so because he allows the actions to take place without saying anything about it. As far as rebellion, Paul D is tempted by Beloved. His intentions are not to have sex, but that is what he ends up doing.
ReplyDelete@Tranelle.....I agree with a lot of what you said. Paul D did conform when he decided to have sex with Beloved. It seemed like she had some kind of strange power over him. He wanted to say no because he knew it was wrong but he still went through with it.
ReplyDeleteHis trembling is symbolic of him being afraid. He’s fearful of his life; he never knows what the next day beholds. It also symbolizes him being traumatized by the guards. They sexually assault him, people got shot in the head, and the fact that they had to work ridiculous, strenuous hours. The prisoners were conforming when they did everything the prisoner keepers told them to do. They woke up every morning and did the same thing, this was a sign of conformity. He rebelled when he had sex with Beloved.
ReplyDelete@Jordan Davis, I agree with him because he also thought the trembling was symbolic of fear and being traumatized. He also stated an interesting thought that people tremble when they’re cold and alone; that was an interesting way to look at it.
ReplyDelete@Tranelle
ReplyDeleteI agree with your take on Paul D's trembling, conforming, and him rebelling against Beloved. However, I disagree with how you felt about him conforming when he had sex with Beloved. I think once he proved to himself to himself that he could stand to go without then he felt comfortable with pursuing her.
@Tameka Christmas, I agree with you. Paul D did endure pain in prison. he eventually got tired of enduring pain and rebelled. This was a factor to him having sex with Beloved.
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling goes back to him be in prison. In prison he was abused. This wasn't a regular abuse. He was sexually abused. This means that he was conforming to what was around him. He also did whatever the guards told him to do, this is also an example of him conforming. Paul D eventually got tired of conforming and rebelled against it. He did this by having sex with Beloved after he rebelled at first.
ReplyDeleteShannon Douglas: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling is symbolic of the effects of conformity. We have learned that people who are so quick to conform loose themselves, and the values of life because they can no longer think for themselves. While Paul D is imprisoned he has no identity. He is simply one of the 46 prisoners. He has no authority to decided when he leaves his cell, when he eats, or when he is allowed to have a conversation with another inmate. Having to conform to the life of a prisoner has brought him pain, and he no longer knows how to deal with hardships. We find that he has hard times dealing with hard decisions, for example when Beloved asks him to "touch her insides". It is not logical for a man to give in to a child so quickly especially when the decision results in immoral acts. Paul D's decision to give in to Beloved defines conformity.
@ABryant28, I agree with you. Knowning each morning that there was a chance he could be killed was enough to make Paul D want to conform. After being traumatized for so many years it is only natural that he would try to rebel when given the option, but since he was use to having his decisions made for him he had to choice but to conform to Beloved.
ReplyDelete@Deondra
ReplyDeleteI agree that he conformed to being sexually and physically abused because he felt like if he didn’t he would be penalized. I also feel the same about him no longer letting anyone do such a thing to him, but him giving in to beloved because he could not resist her temptations.
Romaire Roussell Week 5: I think Paul D's trembling symbolizes trauma from all of his past experiences. He doesn't want to return to his past nor be reminded of it. While Paul D was in jail he was subject to physical, sexual, and verbal abuse. As far as conformity, Paul D felt as if he had no choice but to go through with the unwanted sexual acts. He knew it was of his best interest to go along with it or else possibly be killed. Paul D is rebellious when he escapes the prison. At times Paul D represented conformity and rebellion. For example, when Beloved attempted to seduce him, Paul D did not want to have sex. An act of rebellion on behalf of Paul D. However, Paul D eventually conforms, and gives in. Although his initial thought was to rebel against her, he eventually conformed.
ReplyDeleteFrom Paul D's story, I learned a lot about him. Paul D was a prisoner at a jail in Alfred, Georgia in which he was chained and sexually abused. The only time when Paul D starts trembling is when he is not busy doing something to keep his mind off of the past. The tremblimg is a result of devastation and being traumatized from the prison.
ReplyDeleteChapter ten symbolizes Paul D's conformity stage. He figured since he was imprisoned, he had to let the guards abuse him both mentally and physically. Furthermore, in chapter eleven Paul D tries to rebel against Beloved when she wants him to have sex with her, but he knows that this is wrong. But because Paul D was a weak individual and Beloved knew it, she took advantage of him and he had sex with her.
I agree with @Shannon. Paul D's trembling is ymbolic of what happened in his past. I also agree with your statement that "Having to conform to the life of a prisoner has brought him pain, and he no longer knows how to deal with hardships."
ReplyDeleteBrianna Jenkins: Week 5
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 10 Paul D is sent to prison for trying to kill Brandywine- the man that sold him. Paul D and forty-sixs other prisoner were locked in small boxes in the ground at night and were subject to sexual abuse and chain gang work during the day. While in Jail Paul D often trembles this symbolizing all the tragedy he has experience there. I think the trembling was cause by the sexual abuse, because is was not cause by working. The trembling only "wear off" when he was actively working and singing in the chain gang. Conformity is seen in Paul D because he accepts the sexual abuse. Meaning he knows he has only two choices which are following the rules are get killed. Paul D’s also represents rebellion when Beloved forces him to have sex and he act rebellious towards her.
I agree with @Chelsea Paul D's trembling is due to what he'd been through in jail. I also agree with conformity being seeing when Paul D is in jail "because of him conforming to what a prisoner is "supposed" to do, and not standing up for what he believes in".
ReplyDeleteJasmine Hunter Week 5
ReplyDeleteThis entire chapter is memories of Paul D's life from the time.He is tied to a wagon and taken away from his family to the time he reaches freedom in Delaware. When Paul D's heart is described as a tobacco tin that is rusted shut and filled with all his horrible memories, thats when I thought Paul D's treatment in the Georgia prison camp is horrid and dehumanizing.I think conformity is seen when Paul D is in jail and he is sexually abused. He only can abide by the rules. Rebellion is seen when Beloved forces Paul D to have sex with her and he acts rebellious with her.
I agree with @Brianna's blog. When she said Paul D rebellious with Beloved when he was forced I didn't think of it like that. Good job for pointing it out.
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ReplyDeleteNicole Oseni: Week 5
ReplyDeleteThese chapters represent conformity and rebellion in many ways. Paul D is imprisoned for trying to commit a murder. This is an example of rebelling against authority. When he gets to jail, Paul D at first conforms to authority but later rebels again when he escapes. While in the prison, he chronically trembles. This is symbolic of how his circumstances took a toll on his psyche. Paul D had a hard life and it isn't a stretch to say that his life events must have effected him mentally. Being subjected to abuse and imprisonment was what made him tremble. Later, Paul D and Beloved have relations. This sexual act can be seen from both the conformity and the rebellious perspective. One could say it was rebellious because he obviously isn't supposed to be engaging in such activities with Beloved for several reasons, but I think the act represents conformity because he conformed to what Beloved wanted him to do.
@rrousse1 I agree with all of this post. Paul D did feel as if he had no choice but to conform to all of the abuse he was subjected to at the prison but later rebelled when he escaped. I also agree that he tried to resist Beloved's seduction but could not and ended up conforming.
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling was symbolic to his fear and horrible memories from being in jail. Conformity comes to play when he is forced to do what the other prisoners are doing. Rebellion comes into play when they escape from the prison. Rebellion is also seen when Beloved attempts to have sex Paul D, and he tries to refuse. He ended up having sex with her which shows conformity again.
ReplyDelete@Alan Presley I totally agree with you that it wasn't just any type of abuse it was actually sexual acts. Which showed Paul D conforming with the other prisoners.
ReplyDeleteKaci Foster: Week 5
ReplyDeletePaul D's trembling was a manifestation of the fear that he remembered from the thoughts of the chaingang and being in prison. The tin box being closed with his deep emotions and then broken open after having sex with Beloved symbolizes the conformity versus rebellion. When Paul D put away all of his thoughts and memories into the tin box, he was conforming -- putting away all thoughts of pain and hurt and fitting in with the world around him. However, having a moment with Beloved sprung up the rebellion in him, thus causing the box to spring open as well and spill out all of his "conformity."
@Jordan D I agree with your comparison of trembling when you're cold or lonely. That's an interesting and different way to look at it.
ReplyDeleteI think the trembling is symbolic of him remembering his past and it scaring him. He was sexually abused in the person , and that's enough to take anyone's sanity away from them. I think he continuously trembles when he flashes back when he his alone. In reality people usually tremble when they are cold and scared. So, I think whenever he is either of the two he remembers how he felt in jail. I see conformity and rebellion. He conforms to authority when he is in prison, doing what they say to make the time past. I think he rebels on the other hand when he escapes.
ReplyDelete@Francios I totally agree with you. Being sexually abused can traumatize a person eternally.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter Ten it seems that there was a reflection going on bringing the past into the picture. Paul D’s trembling is symbolic of the fear due to murder. Now he is also at risk of being sexually abused in prison. Being locked up with a bunch of other men can change a persons view of how to survive. He’s being conformed to a new way of life and doesn’t dictate what he will and won’t do. He shows rebellion when he tried to escape from the prison.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 10, we learn alot about Paul D's past and what he had to go through to achieve freedom. Paul D's trembling is symbolic of his horrible past when he was imprisoned in Alfred, Georgia. He was chained to at least four other men and encaged at night. The shaking was not so noticeble in the beginning but the longer he stayed imprisoned, the worse it got. Soon he was only able to control the trembling of his hands when he was working. Paul D was raped by the guards while he was held in that prison. He had to conform in order to survive. If he did not let the guards rape him then they could have easily killed him. Even though he rebelled by escaping, it still haunts him. When Beloved first approaches him in the shed, he rebels and refuses to have sex with her. The more she comes back, the weaker his will and he eventually conforms.
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