Literary Analysis

Dehumanization is seen in both Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Beloved by Toni Morrison. My theme of Dehumanization is very significant in both novels. In Uncle Tom's Cabin the dehumanization is more towards the slaves and how they were treated by there slave owners. How poorly and unfair there lives were going through the slave trades, living with slave owners, and being separated from family. In Beloved, the theme of Dehumanization is seen more through what Sethe had gone through in her life. There were many instances where a slave was demoralized, degraded or abused throughout Beloved and in Uncle Tom's Cabin as well.From how she was treated by Paul D, the death of baby Suggs. Paul D and Sethe experienced the worst  part of slavery then the rest of the characters. When they were under the roof of Mr.Garner, they were treated like human beings. But when Mr.Garner had died, everything changed. The whole part with the rooster. That the "rooster is better and stronger then him, and he has been degraded so low that he considers the rooster to be a king"(86). Paul D then thinks he is weak, that the animals is better and stronger then he is. Paul D says "Mister was allowed to be and stay what he was, but i wasn't allowed to be or stay what I was"(86). Meaning Paul D lost his true abilities that define him as human. Which is dehumanizing to him, because everyone should be able to be and stay what they want and have the abilities that make him human. Sethe taking the life of Baby Suggs is dehumanizing to Baby Suggs. All her chances of life were ripped away from her because of Sethe's choices. Baby Suggs is similar to Uncle Tom, they both had their chance at life taken away from them. They still try to help everyone as much as possible even if they aren't happy. They stick around and never give up, unlike some of the characters in both Novels. Beloved has a lot of power. Power over everyone, and power to the past like the slave owners in Uncle Tom's Cabin. They had power over the slaves and Beloved pretty much had power over anyone she crossed paths with.  Paul D says " I couldn't... I had a bit in my mouth"(69). An example of how Paul D was dehumanized and physically abused. This took place when Sethe tried confronting Paul D about the rape that happened, but because he had the bit in his mouth it prevented him from speaking and couldn't communicate which is physically dehumanizing to him and making him feel like an object. He can't be free from the bit, he can't communicate with Sethe, he is more or less trapped and is stuck like property.
  In Uncle Tom's Cabin, Eliza was told her son harry was going to be sold and separated from her to new slave owners. They had no choice, but had to do whatever there current slave owner said. In fear, Eliza fled to save her child Harry from being sold. The slaves tried to beg for food, but there was a "law that forbid anyone for giving slaves food". Tom was tossed around and put into jail while they traveled places so he wouldn't try and run away. How dehumanizing these slaves were treated  was seen in both novels. I was surprised to see the dehumanization theme in Beloved, but it is definitely there.