The imagery of the door in exist west are repeated multiple times. Hammid talks about them being complete darkness, people crawling out exhausted, unsure of whats on the end. But yet they are still willing to walk through. Rather than a magical door, I think Hamid is really just using these to express what real-world immigration looks like for those seeking asylum. People may give massive amounts of money, like as seen in the agent, to someone they do not know, purely out of hope that they can trust them. They are smuggled around in precarious situations and horrible conditions simply for the chance at a better life. As seen in those border x rays were people sew themelves into car seats, lay down in oil tanks, and go to great measure simply for a chance. And many times when they finally make it out, they arent greeted wth the amazing world they think of. This is clearly emphasized in the rest of the novel.
Date: November 11, 2025
A big idea that has resurfaced for me through my reading of Beloved by Toni Morrison has been how psychological trauma continues to radiate in our lives, even if the traumatic event is over.
Sethe’s traumas from the past don’t just disappear, even if she escaped from the plantation she was sold to. Her traumas linger and consistently pop up in her daily life (shown through countless flashbacks), regardless of her “freedom.” So, is she truly free?
Free from the long days and nights at Sweet Home, sure, but not free from her aches of the psychological trauma that came with it. The memories of what Sethe endured continue to haunt her, shaping how she thinks, acts, and gives and receives love. Every interaction she has with Denver, or Paul D, or even Beloved, is an interaction dulled by her suffering.
The flashbacks that Sethe frequently try to suppress only make the memories stronger. What might this say about our own lives? In my opinion, it shows us that the more we try to bury our trauma, the more it will take over out lives. As I continue reading, I wonder how might Sethe’s recurring memories of her enslavement and the supernatural feel of the book tie into her life.
Morrison beautifully demonstrates that trauma does not simply end when physical freedom is gained, but is carried with you for the rest of your life.
In my opinion, Beloved, (the book itself), serves as a jarring reminder that as much as slavery may be overlooked, we as a society must remind ourselves of the immense pain people went through beyond the physical aspects.