Toni Morrison's Beloved

One Topic in Toni Morrison’s Beloved is masculinity and how it is defined by different groups of people. I think it is important to see what Morrison is saying about masculinity and the affect different people's perspectives have on the masculinity of the slave men and the black men in a post-slavery society.

Particularly, through the relationship with Mr. Garner and his slave men, one perspective on what it means to be a man can be seen in the novel. Paul D thinks about what it was that, "Is that where their manhood lay? In the naming done by a whiteman who was supposed to know?...No. In their relationship with Garner was true metal; they were believed and trusted, but most of all they were listened to...He thought what they said had merit, and what they felt was serious." (Morrison 147). The novel shows that it is their humanity that makes them men to Garner. That he treated them with respect, trust, and belief.

However, as easily as Mr. Garner could give them masculinity, Schoolteacher could take it away. On page 260, the novel says, “For years Paul D believed schoolteacher broke into children what Garner had raised into men” (Morrison 260). Paul D elaborates on the fact that schoolteacher did not listen to them or take their advice. But, is the novel then suggesting that their masculinity can be defined by white men? Perhaps not, as Paul D in reference to Halle and Sixo says, “It was always clear to Paul D that those two were men whether Garner said so or not” (Morrison 260). So Garner, or even schoolteacher do not inherently have the authority to take away or give them inherent manhood, but the way they treat them still affects them. Although, the way Paul D thinks of himself is a different manner.

Paul D’s own manhood is questioned by himself throughout the novel. He doubts whether he is masculine because of his reaction to both Beloved and Schoolteacher and Mr. Garner. He questions, “It troubled him that, concerning his own manhood, he could not satisfy himself on that point. (260). He questions his own manhood, wondering if it were “Gardner’s gift” or “his own will” on the same page. His reaction to Beloved, the way she makes him move about the house and he has sex with her even though he’s not sure if he wants to also cause him to question. He refers to his response to Beloved as a “rag doll” (148). He compares himself to not just a limp object, but a little girl’s toy. However, he also says, “A grown man fixed by a girl? But what if the girl was not a girl…” (149). The novel argues that if Beloved were not just a girl, then his reaction could be justified and not a threat to his manhood. But, I think it intentionally leaves some of these questions open. Paul D does not question the inherent manhood of Halle and Sixo, but struggles with his own. This shows the way slavery affects the internal struggle of a person for their own identity. Robbing them of inherent truths about themselves.