In Toni Morison’s’ novel, Beloved, the main character Seth, is a former slave who chooses to kill her baby girl rather than allowing her to be exposed to the physically, and emotionally damaging horrors of a life spent in slavery. There is no other way to say it: she murdered her child. By killing her child, so dear to her heart, the question arises whether Seth acted out of true love or selfishness. The …showed first 75 words of 534 total…

…showed last 75 words of 534 total…to where it was, and I couldn't let her or any of em live under School Teacher. That was out"(163). Seth’s love for her children is apparent, yet she still shifts the burden of responsibility away from herself. She acknowledges that it was a "selfish pleasure" to make something for her daughter, yet Seth refuses to admit any selfishness in her act of murder. She is indignant and frustrated with Paul D. confronting her: