Beloved 101-146

 In the beginning of this reading, Sethe describes how she misses Baby Sugg’s soothing and protective presence. She recalls that Baby Suggs brought the black community together as she preached self-love in an atmosphere of hatred and intolerance. As she sat in the Clearing and people gathered around, she preached, “in this here place, we flesh; flesh that weeps, laughs: flesh that dances on bare feet in grass. Love it” (103). In an attempt to feel Baby Suggs’s loving presence once again, Sethe travels to the Clearing. Sitting on the old rock, Sethe calls for the touch of the fingers of her deceased-mother in law. She begins to feel fingers down her spine, but the fingers turn violent and Sethe feels that she is being choked. Once Beloved sees the bruises on Sethe’s neck, she touches them with “cool and knowing fingers” and begins to kiss them, but Sethe pushes her away and states, “You too old for that” (115). The fingers that once comforted her and then strangled her are another supernatural embodiment of Sethe’s past. Sethe seeks comfort by dwelling in memories of Baby Suggs, but lingering in the past is dangerous and suffocating. Denver accuses Beloved of choking her mother. Perhaps metaphorically, Beloved’s presence is choking her mother because Sethe is constantly reminded of her dead baby and is unable to break the chains that enslave her to her own past. 

In the next chapter, Paul D. recalls his time spent as a prisoner after attempting to kill Brandywine. He is chained with 45 other men who all work all day and sleep in wooden cages at night. Although they never speak to each other, somehow they understand each other through the looks in their eyes and subtle tugs on the chain. Together in bondage and shared oppression, these men create a strong community and brotherhood. After a huge rain storm, the dirt turns to mud and the prisoners seize an opportunity to escape. This chapter illustrates the importance of community in dealing with the horrors of slavery. However, we can see Paul D’s hope and spirit dwindle throughout his journey. Morrison describes, “Eighty-six days and done. Life was dead. Paul D beat her butt all day every day till there was not a whimper in her.” Paul D believes that, in order to survive as a slave, it is necessary that all independent thoughts, hopes, and memories are buried deep down. 

One night, Beloved enters the cold house where Paul D. is sleeping and asks him to sleep with her. He refuses her, but she eventually seduces him. Beloved’s identity is further complicated by this action, but we can see that her identity fluctuates and exploits the deep desires of Sethe, Denver, and Paul D. Denver desires a sister after she has lost all her siblings. Sethe wishes for her dead baby to come back to life. Finally, Paul D. desires a sexual partner.