In Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, Denver is the most dynamic character. She goes through a transformation from a young, shy, sensitive and dependent girl who has little interaction with others into an independent, motherly and courageous young woman. There are many events in Denver’s life that have lead to her change, but the two events that are biggest turning points are when Beloved first arrives, and when Denver leaves 124 for the first time by herself in eighteen years. These moments in her life cause hardships but end up benefiting her because they force her to grow into a better person.
Denver’s beginning of her transformation first occurs when she meets the young woman Beloved. She begins to change from a childish, self-centered girl into a compassionate, caring and selfless woman. Beloved comes into their family and once Denver finds out what her name is, she immediately takes her under her wing. She “tends her, watches her sound sleep, listens to her labored breathing and, out of love and a breakneck possessive that charges her, hid her like a personal blemish Beloved’s incontinence. ” She becomes infatuated to tending Beloved.
Denver devotes so much of her time nursing Beloved back to health that she often “forgets to eat or visit the emerald closet”. This wooden box is very important to Denver, as it used to be an escape haven for her. Denver’s greatest step to adulthood is when she stops hiding away in her wooden box. The way she treats Beloved is very motherly. Denver’s motherly acts of taking care of Beloved are the first steps of Denver’s change Denver undergoes another transformation when she decides to leave 124 alone for the first time in eighteen years.
Beloved is draining the life out of Sethe; as she becomes healthier and bigger, Sethe becomes more frail and sick. “Denver [knows] it [is] on her. She [has] to leave the two behind and go ask somebody for help. ” Denver fears that if she does not do anything about this, Beloved will kill Sethe. She leaves the house to go see Lady Jones, her old teacher, and tells her “I want work, Miss Lady. ” Denver needs the money so she can afford food for her mother. Lady Jones does not know of any work for her to do, but she spreads the word of Denver’s hardship.
People begin dropping off baskets and plates full of food at the stump in front of 124. Everyday Denver goes out to the stump and collects the food. Denver “serves Sethe and Beloved. Washing, cooking, forcing, cajoling her mother to eat little now and then, providing sweet things for Beloved as often as she could to calm her down. ” At the beginning of the book, we would have never seen Denver helping out her mother. She was very dependent on Sethe and Sethe was always taking care of and serving Denver. Because of Beloved, Denver is forced to take over the motherly role and take care of Sethe.
Leaving 124 by all by herself helped form Denver into a courageous and independent young adult. Although these moments caused hardships in Denver and Sethe's life, they were essential for the growth of Denver. If it weren’t for these moments, Denver would have never broken out of her shell or grown up into a young adult capable of taking care of herself and others. Beloved first coming into the family and Denver’s first journey away from 124 were the main turning points that helped Denver develop her quest for identity.
Author: Marshall Vasquez