Aadil Malik Mr. Harkins Modern Literature October 5th, 2011 Feminist Analysis of Paul D in Beloved 1.

Examine a main character (Sethe, Paul D., Denver) through a feminist lens. The novel, Beloved, written by prize-winning author Toni Morrison, has been critically acclaimed as a play of human voices; consciously exalted, perversely stressed, yet holding true. Morrison writes an interesting feministic story about the perils of slavery. The novel is filled with stream-of-consciousness narration, where the author goes into the mind of her character, and captures the psyche of slaves. Also, instead of choosing one main character whose point of view is followed throughout the novel, Morrison focuses from character to character, guaranteeing that the reader sees the stories of the past from a myriad of perspectives. However, with her portrayal of these characters and stories, one cannot help but notice Morrisons attempt to strike feministic thought in her readers, most notably in characters such as Paul D. In his poem, As With Most Men, feminist poet Mark Gonzalez states, As with most men, it is easier for me to give hugs than to accept them / Let the truth be known that men are nothing more than emotional skyscrapers / built with glass infrastructures, spray painted the color of steel and nicknamed Strength / Strange isnt it? / What walking contradictions are we called men? This analysis of the male gender best describes Paul D Garner in Beloved. Paul D is the last surviving male at the Sweet Home plantation. While a slave at the plantation, he had fallen in love with Sethe, and was upset she chose Halle as her husband instead of him. After escaping slavery, he returned to 124 Bluestone Road, where Sethe is currently residing in the novel.

There, he becomes in love with Sethe once again, but the plot is twisted with Beloveds arrival. At the end of Chapter 11, Paul D has sex with Beloved even though he is already accustomed to sex with Sethe. Gonzales refers to most men as emotional skyscrapers, and this is exactly personified in the character of Paul D, as he shows an inability to control his emotions. Through a feminist lens, we see Paul D as a representation of the stereotyped man one who simply desires sex and physical pleasure rather than emotional, strong, deep connections known as true love. Approaching Toni Morrisons novel Beloved through a feminist perspective reveals many truths about the nature of the stereotypical man, as portrayed by the character of Paul D Garner in the story. In his poem, Gonzales goes on to discuss the accusations made by men that women are sluts, bitches, and/or dykes and how these accusations are truly because men have created women to feel that way. He states: Men, take note, this is how you give love / This is how you receive hugs: / Press flesh to flesh till breasts crumple / Like emotional origami. In Paul D Garners case, this form of emotional origami has never existed, because for him, it has always been about giving love, therefore like the common man, he doesnt understand how to accept it.