"For Sethe it was as though the Clearing had come to her with all its heat and simmering leaves, where the voices of women searched for the right combination, the key, the code, the sound that broke the back of words." (308)

"""

"The real tragedy is that our enemy is at

"Maybe we are cowards. But how can you be brave in this age?"

"Courage is courage."

"And death is death."

"And darkness and the desert are all these things."

What a conversation! What did they mean?

""" (58) Chapter 5

The meaning of this quote can be better understood with the historical context of Egypt's recent political revolution and social changes, as this conversation represents the flow of new ideas in the society of Cairo.

This quote utilizes imagery in order to show the perspective of the slaves on the island and utilizes this image in order to enhance the larger question about the intent of the island designers, where it is unclear whether they intended to psychologically torture the slaves or not.

Quote: "A long night is waiting for me, the first night of freedom. I am alone with my freedom, or rather I'm in the company of the Sheikh, who is lost in heaven, repeating words that cannot be understood by someone approaching hell" (33)

-This quote is from when Schoolteacher and the white men come to the 124 looking for Sethe and her children, and then Sethe decides to kill her children to prevent them from being taken back.

- Highlights Morrisons' inspiration from Margret Garner who killed her children

"The people/The winding streets/The tall buildings/The ramshackle shops/The street-vendors" (Dakar)

Context: After getting released from prison, Said pays a visit to his own friend Rauf who used to be his mentor. In the past he encouraged Saids actions but has now completely changed.

• Pivotal in Saids turn to anger and violence and overall loss of identity

Quote 2: “When he was with others his stature seemed to grow giantlike: he had a talent for friendship, leadership, and even heroism.” (139)

Context: Said returns to Tarzans cafe. Said has a moment of reflection about how much he dislikes being alone.

• Gives the reader and idea of Saids values towards the beginning of the book. Also a preface for how Saids own actions will later dig him deeper into isolation from his community he once valued.

"It started that way: laughing children, dancing men, crying women and then it got mixed up. Women stopped crying and

danced; men sat down and cried; children danced, women laughed, children cried until, exhausted and riven, all and

each lay about the Clearing damp and gasping for breath. In the silence that followed, Baby Suggs, holy, offered up to

them her great big heart" (103).

"""

Did the Sheikh

remember him? "Forgive my coming to your house like this. But there's

nowhere else in the world for me to go."

The Sheikh's head drooped to his breast.

"You seek the walls, not the heart." He whispered.

Said was baffled; not knowing what to say, he sighed, then quietly

remarked.

""" (27), Chapter 2

To better understand why Said relies on the Sheikh this way, the historical context of Egypt can be used and analysed. Egypt is a majority muslim country, and Islam plays a large role in daily life. This explains the role of the Sheikh, being this highly important religious leader.

Naguib Mahfouz was inspired by the changing values of Egypt after the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, where Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew the monarchy and took power. Similar to Egyptians' feelings of disillusionment after failed political ideologies of Nasser's regime, Said Mahran feels betrayed by Rauf Ilwan's rejection of him after being released from prison. Upon learning Rauf has abandoned his revolutionary ideas and became the elites he once robbed from, Said feels hypocritically judged by Rauf and robbed of his identity.

"because a monster was known to stalk the streets" (9).

- The woman is referring to Beloved that Sethe, Paul D and Denver see outside 124 when they come back from the carnival

-Morrisons inspiration, she saw a girl wearing a straw hat walk out of the river when she went to the pier

"No one smiled or seemed happy. But who of these people could have

suffered more than he had, with four years lost, taken from him by betrayal?

And the hour was coming when he would confront them, when his rage

would explode and burn, when those who had betrayed him would despair

unto death, when treachery would pay for what it had done."(pg 13)

Quote: The darkness was thicker now and he could see nothing at all, not even the outlines of the tombs, as if nothing wished to be seen. He was slipping away into endless depths, not knowing for himself either position, place or purpose" (158)

“Lady Jones told her that no one, not herself, not anyone she knew, could pay anybody anything for work they did themselves. ‘But if you all need to eat until your mother is well, all you have to do is say so’” (292)

"Beloved bending over Sethe looked the mother, Sethe the teething child...the bigger Beloved got, the smaller Sethe became...she sat in the chair licking her lips like a chastised child while Beloved ate up her life" (295)

Sethe's identity as a mother has been destroyed by slavery, the love that drove Sethe to protect her children is now destroying her. She is being consumed by the guilt of murdering beloved, but also the trauma that she experienced. Rather than healing, Sethe is forced to relive her past trauma as Beloved remains a reminder of her past choices/mistakes. Beloved also becomes more than a reminder, she becomes a force that is draining Sethe's life force every day (metaphor: ate up her life). She represents gluttony, her insatiable hunger in both terms of food and life, she cannot get enough of the food so she begins to eat away at Sethe's life.

The story of Ahmad Amin Sulayman, a thief, being released from prison seeking revenge on his treacherous wife, friend, and mentor was widely covered in 1960s newspapers, which inspired Mahfouz to explore the protagonist's psychology. This inspiration is clear in the quote above, with Said Mahran, upon release from prison, focused on the task of revenge. Additionally, this quote also reflects Mahfouz's interests in the changing face of Egypt due to tourism, which bothered him and also bothers Said here.

Context - Due to Apartheid, there was racial segregation and reclassification of race for many people of color in South Africa. Many Black South Africans would have their race recategorized as White and would begin to act as if they were White as well.

The Applicant: “For lately blood content/ has shown a preponderance/ of black corpuscles” (21-23)

Context - Discovering any Black ancestry during Apartheid usually meant that they would be required to reclassify.

"Inside, two boys bled in the sawdust and dirt at the feet of a woman holding a blood-soaked child to her chest with one hand and an infant by the heels in the other... he simply swung the baby toward the wall planks, missed and tried to connect a second time..." (175).

This quote describes the scene of Sethe attempting to kill her children. Sethe believed her only options was by slitting the throats of all her children, killing them. This quote describes what the men saw when they entered the shed looking for them, what they saw was Sethe in the act of killing Beloved.

In this excerpt, Said is at Tarzan's cafe and overhears a conversation between two men that remind him in his current situation what the man who has trained him for war used to say to him.

This quote emphasizes the state of the country, where it is more important for a man to have power than food to nourish himself. It brings attention to the fact that a weapon is more necessary and will have a greater impact on a person. This highlights Naguib Mahfouz's opinions on the changing state of Egypt.

_{"Look like I loved em more after I got here. Or maybe I couldn't love em proper in Kentucky because they wasn't mine to love." (Pg. 190)}

• _{It is widely known that slave owners often sold or used the children of the slaves they owned whether the mother became pregnant out of force or want leaving little room for attachment between mother and child. This historical context greatly impacts the interpretation of the story as it gives a clearer reasoning behind Sethe's mindset and thinking behind the actions she took towards Beloved and her other children. While it may not fully justify it to some it allows for a more fair and accurate interpretation of the text}

"To kill them both--Nabawiyya and Ilish--at the same time, would be a

triumph. Even better would be to settle with Rauf Ilwan, too...But who'll look after Sana? The thorn in my side. You

always act impulsively, Said, without thinking, but you mustn't rush this

time; you must wait until you've arranged things, then swoop like an eagle.

But there's no point in delay either...If you don't strike soon everything will collapse" (beginning of ch 7)

"two poles overlooking it / one bringing light / the other a link with the world outside" (3-5).

"a blackboy's mouth full of money. His head was thrown back farther than a head could go, his hands were shoved in his pockets. Bulging like moons, two eyes were all the face he had above the gaping red mouth. His hair was a cluster of raised, widely spaced dots made of nail heads. And he was on his knees. His mouth, wide as a cup, held the coins needed to pay for a delivery or some other small service, but could just as well have held buttons, pins or crab-apple jelly. Painted across the pedestal he knelt on were the words 'At Yo Service.'" (300)

Historical context is important because we learn that the Bodwins are slave abolitionists living in Ohio. It impacts the readers because, although the Bodwins were slave abolitionists and never owned slaves, they still benefited from racism, as they still had people of color work for them. Racism is systematically ingrained into people's heads, no matter their beliefs and goals.

Quote: "You are now one of those who commit murder; you have a new identity now and a new destiny! You used to take precious goods-now you take worthless lives!" (72).

This quote shows the point of no return for Said, as he has let his anger and fuel completely take over and reduce his judgement. This quote characterizes Said as reckless and irrational.

Quote: " 'Why, you're capable of miracles,' he told himself. 'You'll get away all right' " (126).

This quote characterizes Said as overly confident and delusional. He becomes certain that he will seek revenge and says he is "capable of miracles," furthering his delusion and eventually downfall.

Quote: “I took and put my babies where they’d be safe.”

Significance: This show how Sethe's identity as a mother has been shaped by slavery, showing that her love is protective but also destructive

Quote: “Was he naming what he saw or creating what he did not?”

Significance: This shows Paul D's internal struggles, it shows how his sense of identity was manipulated by others rather then his own.

Context:Talk, Talk, and Talk has themes of distrust amongst black society in S.A as a result of apartheid's oppressive/racist systems. POV of someone preaching empowerment among black community and black pride.

Beloved Sofia: Toni Morrison heavily implimented her ideas and beliefs into Beloved. This can be shown through her portrayal of Beloved herself and the emotion or lack thereof that she shows. Morrison herself stated in the Junot Diaz interview where she talks about how everyone gave their opinion on Margaret Garners actions and whether what she did was right or wrong however Morrison knew that the only person who could give judgement would be the child themselves which is why she chose Beloved as the title and why she made her into a physical being within the story that can give opinions and act on their own emotions to emulate what Morrison believes or has been communicated that the child feels.

Sepamla Ari: Sydney Sipho Sepamla's influence is important because of his role in the black consciousness movement and his influence to fight back against apartheid His inspirations, like the fight for freedom and the experiences of Black South Africans, help explain why his tone can feel powerful, angry, or hopeful. Without this a reader might miss the message about injustice or the call for change that’s often behind his words. knowing his influence helps readers understand the purpose behind writing his poems. 

He also emphasizes religion, and how people used it as a facade, or relied on it too heavily. The Sheikh is a strong representation of religious ideals and their impact on people like Said.

Mahfouz also utilizes ideas like the tragic hero, mental incarceration, and free will vs. determinism in Said's character.

The Thief and the Dogs: self-worth, lacking connections with others

Beloved: Strength in community, community grieving together, reclaiming self-identity after slavery and trauma, the role of motherhood, the role of women within communities after slavery (Baby Suggs as a preacher, Ms. Jones as a teacher)

"I tell my brothers and sisters in Dakar / This be the first time I come to Africa / They laugh in wonderfulness asking / Where's South Africa / I answers solemnly like / Somewhere is Africa island-like / cut off from the main body" (11-17)

"he breathed the air of freedom... and no one was waiting for him; nothing but his

blue suit and gym shoes." (1)

Thief and the Dogs: We see how gender is portrayed differently, Nur is seen as this lavish and love sick woman whereas Said is proud and courageous as he's just a man who is trying to get his daughter back. We get an insight to his thoughts and learn more about Said as a person and discover he is very impulsive but his thoughts are also somewhat relatable- when someone is angry or stressed they think the unthinkable as a reaction/way of coping. Mahfouz also presents the feeling of being stuck in the past while everyone else moves forward. This is seen in Said throughout the book as time seemed to pause for him the moment he entered prison whereas that didn't apply to everyone else.

Beloved: In beloved we see how slavery is something that doesn't just go away, people carry the trauma and slavery becomes an extension of them- part of their identity. Motherhood is also a very big theme, Sethe murders her baby to free her from slavery and the idea brings her some freedom but the action ultimately crushes her as its a reminder of how cruel slavery is. Being a mother was really important to Sethe that she tried to push aside her trauma to be there for Beloved and Denver but we also saw the extent to which slavery traumatizes people as Sethe shut down after constant reminders of her time as a slave. We get a sense of community at the end when all the neighbors come to support Denver and Sethe, all of the women can sympathize and connect to one another as they all experienced the same or similar things during their time as slaves. In slavery, women were expected to give birth so that slave owners could continue owning slaves. Men were also dehumanized and told they were less and not men as they were black. This captures how slaves were not seen as humans but rather as tools that they could use.

The thief and the dogs:

Said ascends into madness, becomes psychotic and the entire novel follows his POV (stream of consciousness and italics) this skews the perspective of the plot and the choices Said makes. You get an internal perspective of Saids reasoning.

Beloved:

The narration is fragmented and jumps between characters with no warning. Non- linear story tellings. jumps between past and present, very unclear of perspective. This pulls readers into the novel and forces them to experience the traumas, with some many perspectives/ story tellers, comes a wide variety of experienced which helps readers further delve into the tramas of slavery and empathize with individuals that are effected experiences.

Sepamla Poems: Narration and point of view of black community under apartheid law. Each poem shows feelings or stream of consciousness following events or effects of laws on community. Distrust among black community b/c of apartheid's systematic oppression represented in poems through POV.

"In the boxes the men heard the water rise in the trench and looked out for cottonmouths. They squatted in muddy water, slept above it, and peed in it" (129). This scene explains Paul D's experiences in the chain gang which comes up throughout the novel as it is the root of a lot of his trauma.

The "objets d'art" mirror Rauf's embracing of wealth and foreign culture, which Said is quite opposed to. Describing the setting of Rauf's villa as ostentatious and foreign reinforces Said's view of him as a traitorous dog.

“When all you have to think about is the hangman’s rope around your neck, it’s natural enough to fear tranquillity” (58).

This perfectly reflects Said's motivations and is among the first instances in the novella in which his fears are made explicit, even if it is not himself speaking.