124 was spiteful
It's driving me crazy. But i think I've got it. Why did Morrison choose house number 124, why not 125? Well, this book is rooted in religion, it only makes sense that she is referencing Psalm 124, the deliverance from enemies.
"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men came up against us..we would have been covered by the waters; the streams would have gone over our souls.." - excerpt Psalm 124
Sometimes 124 gets moody, Morrison takes personification to a whole new level by warping this house into its own character. At first, 124 is mean, demonic almost. But as the story progresses 124 can be a protection, Denver misses its tantrums when Paul D arrives.
I am only halfway through Beloved, so I don't know how else it behaves throughout the book, but from what I've read so far, it seems to be that 124 is the captor of the characters, whether it is a good thing or a bad thing, I'm not so sure of yet.
Sethe found sanctuary in this house, as she escaped to it from Sweet Home, it delivered her from her enemies. For those of you that have finished the book, do you agree that this could be the significance of the number, or did I clearly miss the mark?
posted by Colby Erin @ 12:55 PM
5 Comments:
I think your direction with the number is right on. I'm afraid to say more because I don't want to ruin the book for you.
Colby = MVP
I think the psalm passage is definitely significant...i was also wondering about this and this is what i came up with...sethe has four kids, and beloved was the third to be born. Maybe it's 124 instead of 1234 as a sort of symbol that Beloved did not "belong" in the house...that she would only bring harm to sethe and her family so long as she resided there ?
Yeah, you guys are really taking on the questions that are significant now.
Love you all for thinking! Yeah!
ohh Amy, I didn't notice that, that's a pretty sick idea though.
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