Themes

When significant issues are ignored or neglected they will soon resurface as much worse matters. Each person in this novel has a terrifying past tied to memories of slavery and the trauma they faced as not being people but worth less than livestock. Many of these men and women have chosen, like Sethe and Paul D, to repress the past. There really can't be a solution to this problem of the past if the people that cling to its memory also turn their backs on it in disgust.They each must learns to accept and deal with the past . Only then can a future be found.

Race and racism- and possibly what does it mean to be human. This is amplified by the actions of Schoolteacher and what he promotes through his students. Much of the novel focuses on a community of ex-slaves and how they manage to get on track with their lives. But this man tries to blur the line between how African-slaves are characterized as animals. The novel also addresses the concern of whether it is better to endure the injustices of an unfeeling people or to fight against them.

Freedom is a theme and what it would take to become free. We must look at the actions Sethe partook in to keep her, and her children's freedom- was it worth it? Halle worked difficult hours on top of his slavery to buy his mothers freedom not soon after he has a family then goes crazy still as a slave. Can it really be considered freedom if it is bought? What does freedom mean to us if the memories of being forced into slavery haunt every corner in the new life because we are all vulnerable to out minds.

Perhaps the theme of guilt or strong emotions can lead to the thorough demise. We see Sethe initially weakened or broken down by her overpowering memories and emotions linked to those. In countries that partake in war do we not see examples of emotion breaking or strengthening them? Think about Germany in the Holocaust, or the U.S in its own wars- especially after Pearl Harbor.