The Importance of Denver’s Home

Centuries after the war and emancipation of slavery, slaves struggled to accepted their newfound freedom or make a home for themselves. Home is a place where one can be loved and feel safe. Slavery dehumanized blacks, the slaves had no sense of identity and they were treated as commodities that could be sold. When the slaves were free, they struggled to find themselves and take ownership, including take ownership of their love and home. In the novel, Beloved, the main character Denver never leaves the house by herself unless she’s with her mother or another adult. She’s only left the house two times, the third time signifying her quest for independence and it’s a pivotal moment of Denver’s life. The first time Denver leaves the house is to go to Lady Jones’ school and watch other kids learn. She makes this journey numerous times after she is allowed to join the lessons, Denver has a passion for learning and it’s her first tie to the outside world. Before Lord Nelson’s question, she never paid attention to the baby ghost’s malice but his simple curious question drove Denver to become frustrated. She began to lock her emotions inside, the baby ghost “now it held for her all the anger, love and fear she didn’t know what to do with” (121). Denver stops going to class, she comes to realize the boys’ left no because of the ghost because of Sethe’s grief. She closes her mind off from learning and growing, keeping her in a childlike state of mind. Similar to Sethe, Denver allows dark unhappy feelings to consume her. Sethe’s choice keeps Denver closed off the rest of the community, because of this she identities herself as a part of Sethe and believes she doesn’t belong anywhere else, other than with Sethe. Denver’s anger also keeps her confined inside her mind and to the house. The second time Denver leaves the house symbolizes