Close Reading: The Nature of Nurturing a Child

All I knew was I had to get my milk to my baby girl. Nobody was going to nurse her like me. Nobody was going to get it to her fast enough, or take it away when she had enough and didn't know it. Nobody knew that she couldn’t pass her air if you held her up on your shoulder, only if she was lying on my knees. Nobody knew that but me and nobody had her milk but me. I told that to the women in the wagon. Told them to put sugar water in cloth to suck from so when I got there in a few days she wouldn't have forgot me. The milk would be there and I would be there with it.

Pg. 19

“They used cowhide on you?

And they took my milk

They beat you and you was pregnant?

And they took my milk

Pg. 20

What caught my attention from the expert was how much Sethe cared for her daughter Beloved. There is a lot of repetition with the “milk” in how it must be given to the baby even when she is gone and not near the baby. The milk is a symbol that a part of Sethe will always be with the baby. Breast milk is something only mothers have and it’s something that babies need on a daily to feed. She also repeats how “nobody” can ever replace her because she is the only one that can care for her daughter. Nobody can take the role of a mother because it's not an easy job it’s a responsibility that only brave women can take. On the next page it explains the reason to why Sethe brought up the discussion of why it's important to take care of her daughter. She tells Paul D that the “boys” took her milk, it's like a part of her dignity was removed, something very valuable was taken from her. What I mean by something valuable, I’m referring to how much her milk meant to her because the milk is a reminder of Sethe’s presence to the baby. Since they took her milk her baby is in danger of the memory of her own mother.

This passage connects back to feminism because it analyzes the role of a mother. It describes Sethe’s role in the book which is a protective women over her children. Women are brave in their own ways and being a mother is one of them. Sethe makes the effort to always be there for her baby girl at whatever cost. Women care for their children with so much love and patience. Typically children become closer to their mothers than fathers because mothers go beyond themselves to keep their children happy and healthy. Personally, I have a stronger bond with my mom then with my dad thats because my mom has nurtured me since birth and has given up everything for my happiness. Although my dad has done the same a mother's love is infinite.