I chose to focus this optional journal on metal, one of the motifs Morrison uses throughout the text of Beloved. Morrison uses this common substance, metal, to illustrate her themes involving slavery and emotional repression. If you think about metal and the images that it can bring to mind, you begin to see Morrison’s intent. Metal is a basic element with an abundance of characteristics that add to the emotional might of its symbolism. …showed first 75 words of 744 total…

…showed last 75 words of 744 total…reinforces her point by detailing the chain as "hand forged"—this chain was built for a specific purpose and this purpose was sanctioned by human hands. In fact, the words "hand forged" are repeated several times; first, to show the impact of Paul’s experience, and then to emphasis a point that will slowly evolve in the reader’s mind— that which we are horrified to read about was wholly created and maintained by humans.