Symbolism in BelovedIn the novel Beloved, the author, Toni Morrison, attempts to promote a variety of different themes and ideas by symbolizing them in events and minor situations. This symbolism is evident throughout the novel and is very crucial to the understanding and analysis of the text. The ice skating scene is a good example of this. Morrison uses this scene to represent the slow but steady deterioration of the family living in 124 and to foreshadow the ultimate demise of the family unit. Morrison repeatedly writes, “No one saw them fall,” and yet, in reality, they were falling and falling quickly (Morrison 174). There are a number of details, including the setting, Sethe's emotions, the choice of shoes/ice skates worn by each of the three female characters, and the ultimate goal of reaching heaven, that demonstrate this idea. The ice skating scene takes place on a frozen stream, not far from 124. The ice is apparently solid, providing a somewhat firm surface on which to skate. Unfortunately, the ice is slippery. It is symbolic of the three women in the story. They all have a strong foundation, a genuine love for each other, and yet no matter how hard they try to stand tall and proud, they always end up slipping and falling on the ice. The frozen stream represents the family's future. The ice will melt slowly, but steadily, as the weather warms and time passes. As the ice melts, so does the solid base that supports the skaters and family members will have nowhere to stand. As the story unfolds, it becomes more and more apparent that Sethe is emotionally unstable. Beginning with his life in Sweet Home, dealing with the daily trials of sla...... middle of paper...... loneliness and solitude. By isolating Beloved and herself from the rest of the world, Sethe attempted to hide from the ugliness that existed outside of 124. "They allowed themselves to be lulled into false confidence because they knew each other," even neglecting the necessities of life (Finkbeiner 1999). ). Sethe and Beloved each had a pair of shoes, with Beloved having two skates and Sethe having two shoes. Denver State was tougher. She was forced to skate on one skate, which was very unstable. In order to stay on her feet, she was forced to reach out to the community for help, reaching out to people outside of 124. Through this act, she was able to bring healing to the family. By reaching out to the community, she was able to combat the horrors of loneliness and racism. Works Cited: Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York, Penguin Books USA Inc., 1988.