The Development of Denver

Argument: Denver is the true protagonist of Beloved.

Throughout Toni Morrison's Beloved, the narration constantly switches perspective between a number of characters, from Sethe to Paul D to Denver even to the deceased titular Beloved herself. However, despite the alternating perspectives, one could easily assume that Sethe is the main character of Beloved. Several key events center around her and every character has some connection to her. However, I posit that Denver is the true protagonist of Beloved.

Beloved is a novel about time. The novel is constantly flashing back to past events, often with repercussions that stick with them through to the present, specifically in the form of Beloved, who is a constant reminder of the consequences of actions. However, the flashbacks seem to be when Sethe's story happens. Her rape, her escape, going through labor, killing Beloved, all of these key events in her life don't take place in the present-day of Morrison's novel. The present-day of Beloved takes place when Sethe has settled down and has much less worries. If Morrison wanted to write a story entirely about Sethe's adventures, she could've, and just ended it shortly after Denver's birth. Instead, that flashbacks seems to end not long after Denver's birth, making it seem as if it is a set up for Denver's larger story, not Sethe's.

Unlike Sethe, the major problems within Denver's life take place within the present day. At 18 years of age, Denver can't leave the residence and is constantly by her mother's side. She spent a span of time not being able to speak and even when she started to, many of the things she says would probably be preferred to be left unsaid by her family. Her relationship with Paul D, a generally beloved (heheh) character, is very shaky to begin with, with her taking an immediate dislike to the man. Not to mention the fact that her only friend is an unpredictably violent ghost. The conflicts of the present-day novel are almost entirely Denver's making the journey hers.

And it is a tremendous journey. By the end of the novel, Denver is able to not only leave the house but do so with an arguably sunny disposition about her. Beloved is gone, allowing her to make friends with a boy that sent her into a social coma. Her relationship with Paul D improves greatly. Denver goes from a brooding recluse to an outgoing adult by the end of the novel. Sethe, on the other hand, has much less development as a character. Although truth about her comes out and she resolves her issues with Paul D, she has changed little from the beginning of the novel. In many ways, this is actually a coming-of-age novel, regarding how Denver grows through her problems.