Beloved Summary
Description
Here you will find a Beloved summary (Toni Morrison's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Beloved Summary Overview
In 1873, Cincinnati, Ohio, a past slave, Sethe, stays with her 18-year-old daughter, Denver. Sethe's mother-in-law, Baby Suggs, had lived with them until her death eight years prior. Before Baby Suggs’ demise, Sethe's two sons, Howard and Buglar, had left home. Sethe thinks they were scared off by a malicious ghost that had tormented their home for years. Denver, on the other hand, is fond of the ghost, believed to be her deceased sister's spirit. One day, Paul D, an old acquaintance from Sethe's days on Mr. Garner’s Sweet Home plantation in Kentucky, shows up. His visit triggers suppressed memories in Sethe's mind, and from this point forward, the narrative alternates between the present in Cincinnati and past events in Kentucky, revealed through the characters' fragmented flashbacks. Sethe, the central character, hails from the Southern States, born to an African mother she never met. At age 13, she was sold to the Garners, who operated Sweet Home and offered a somewhat gentler form of slavery. Other male slaves desired Sethe but never dared to touch her. Their names were Sixo, Paul D, Paul A, Paul F, and Halle. Sethe chose to marry Halle, partly because of his kindness in purchasing his mother's freedom. They had two children, Howard and Buglar, and a baby daughter whose name was never revealed. When Sethe left Sweet Home, she was pregnant with her fourth child. After owner Mr. Garner's death, his widow, Mrs. Garner, enlisted her cruel and racist brother-in-law, known as the 'schoolteacher,' to help manage the plantation. His tyranny forced the slaves to plot an escape. The 'schoolteacher' and his nephews, however, foiled the slaves' getaway, capturing Paul D and Sixo. The schoolteacher murdered Sixo and returned Paul D to Sweet Home, where Paul D saw Sethe, whom he thought he'd never see again. Despite being violated by the schoolteacher's nephews who stole her breastmilk, Sethe was determined to escape. Her husband, Halle, who had witnessed the event, was left in a state of shock and despair. After Sethe reported the incident to Mrs. Garner, the schoolteacher whipped her, ignoring her pregnant state. Fatigued and injured, Sethe still escaped, and with the help of Amy Denver, a white girl who nursed her back to health and assisted in delivering her baby, Sethe made it to Cincinnati to reunite with her children. In Cincinnati, Sethe enjoyed 28 peaceful days, until the schoolteacher reappeared, intending to take her and her children back. In a desperate attempt to save her children from a life of degrading slavery, she tried to kill them, but only her oldest daughter died. Sethe ensured her daughter's gravestone was engraved with "Beloved". After a short period in jail, a group of white abolitionists secured her release, and she returned to her home, now avoided by the community due to its past. Meanwhile, Paul D had endured hardship as part of a chain gang in Georgia before a lucky rainstorm allowed him to escape and eventually find his way back to Sethe in Cincinnati. Upon Paul D's arrival, the series of events in the present time sequence begins. As Paul D moves in, he dispels the house's resident ghost, further isolating Denver. Sethe and Paul D's hopeful future together is disrupted when they encounter a peculiar young woman, Beloved, who many believe to be the embodied spirit of Sethe's deceased daughter. Beloved manipulates and controls Paul D, leading to his departure. In his absence, Sethe and Beloved's relationship intensifies, and Sethe becomes obsessive about pleasing Beloved. The situation worsens, prompting Denver to leave the house for the first time in twelve years in search of help. The community rallies to exorcise Beloved from the house, and in the ensuing confusion, Beloved vanishes. Following these events, Paul D returns to find Sethe, who has resigned herself to death, mourning Beloved. Sethe considers Beloved her greatest loss, but Paul D reassures her, stating, "You your best thing, Sethe." The novel concludes with a warning that this is a tale best forgotten as the town, and even the residents of the house, have erased Beloved from their memories as if she were a disturbing dream.
chapter 1
Set in 1873 Cincinnati, Ohio, Sethe, a former slave, and her daughter Denver inhabit a house haunted by the specter of Sethe's dead baby. Sethe's mother-in-law, Baby Suggs, who died eight years prior, also lived with them. Baby Suggs, worn out by slavery and the loss of her eight children, died shortly after Sethe's sons Howard and Buglar fled the house due to unsettling encounters with their deceased sister's ghost. Sethe strives to forget her painful past, which is particularly tied to Sweet Home, a Kentucky plantation where she was enslaved. An unexpected visitor, Paul D, a former fellow slave from Sweet Home, arrives. Their reunion is disrupted when Paul D encounters the ghost of Sethe's baby, causing a surge of grief. Sethe reveals she had the word 'Beloved' engraved on the infant's tombstone, mistaking the preacher's words during the funeral for a sign. Paul D has had feelings for Sethe since she became part of Sweet Home at thirteen to replace Baby Suggs, whose freedom was purchased by her son Halle. Sethe was expecting another child, Denver, during their escape from Sweet Home. The whereabouts of Halle, who got separated during the escape, remains unknown. Witnessing the interaction between Sethe and Paul D makes Denver feel isolated, resulting in an emotional outburst. Denver feels trapped in the haunted house, which is shunned by the community. Sethe, however, refuses to move, vowing never to flee again. Sethe recounts being whipped before escaping to Cincinnati to reunite with Baby Suggs and her children. Her scars, she was told, resemble a chokecherry tree. She reveals how the men who beat her took her baby's milk before she fled. Paul D comforting Sethe agitates the ghost, which he manages to expel from the house. Denver, who considered the ghost her only companionship, feels a sense of loss.
chapter 2
Paul D, after a quarter-century of longing for Sethe, finds their physical union underwhelming. In Sethe's bed, he dismisses her scarred back as unattractive. His mind wanders to Sixo, another Sweet Home slave, who would travel extensively for his lover, unlike Halle and the Paul brothers who were smitten by Sethe. Although Baby Suggs bore eight children from six men, only Halle, the youngest, was spared from being taken away. Baby Suggs felt her age made her freedom, bought by Halle, insignificant. Sethe feels a familiarity in Paul D's gaze, reminiscent of Halle’s brotherly love, rather than a possessive love. She recalls her union with Halle, their request for a wedding laughed off by Mrs. Garner. Without any official ceremony, Sethe made herself a dress to commemorate their union. Their love was consummated in a cornfield, with the rustling corn stalks signaling to the other men at Sweet Home that Sethe had chosen Halle. That night, they ate corn from the stalks disturbed by Sethe and Halle's liaison.
chapter 3
Denver often retreats to her "emerald closet", a sanctuary in the bushes, for solitude and introspection. Once, she noticed her mother, Sethe, praying alongside a spectral white dress, suggesting the baby ghost has intentions, which she suspects Paul D has disrupted. When Denver questioned Sethe about her prayer, Sethe responded with her belief that "nothing ever dies" and that the past can reoccur both in memory and in reality. Sethe's primary objective is to safeguard Denver from confronting such painful relics of the past. During her escape from Sweet Home while pregnant with Denver, Sethe was found by Amy Denver, a white girl who had just finished an indentured servitude. Amy, who was on her way to Boston to buy "carmine" velvet, helped Sethe give birth and rejuvenated her severely injured feet. Sethe named her child after Amy, a tale that Denver cherishes. Following the incident where Denver saw the ghost next to her mother, Sethe revealed schoolteacher, Mrs. Garner’s brother-in-law who took over the farm after Mr. Garner's death. Schoolteacher recorded his observations about the slaves and asked eerie questions that Sethe believes permanently shattered Sixo's spirit. While Paul D fixes the furniture he broke during his brush with the ghost, he hums tunes from his time in a Georgian chain gang. His reunion with Sethe unlocks suppressed parts of his mind, leading him to decide to stay at 124. Sethe discloses to Paul D that schoolteacher tried to take her and her children back to Sweet Home after her escape, but she chose prison instead. Due to his own painful memories of incarceration, Paul D does not press for more details. His decision to stay brings Sethe some optimism for the future.
chapter 4
Denver's question about Paul D's stay duration upsets him, and although Sethe is embarrassed by Denver’s words, she defends her against Paul D's criticism. This strong defense of her daughter makes Paul D believe that Sethe's love for Denver is too deep, something he finds risky. According to him, former slaves should love cautiously to save some for others who come into their lives after losing loved ones. Paul D assures Sethe that she can delve into her past without fear because he will support her. He encourages Denver and Sethe to join him at a local carnival tailored for Black people. At the event, Denver finds herself enjoying, contrary to her expectations. The carnival attendees greet her warmly, contrary to her expectations of contempt. Paul D's exuberance at the carnival wins him favor among the crowd, helping Sethe and Denver feel part of the community again. His outgoing nature also helps him make friends and seek employment. He finds the portrayal of the “Wild African Savage” quite amusing, claiming to have known the man back in Roanoke. Throughout the visit to the carnival, the overpowering scent of decomposing roses is inescapable. Sethe observes that their shadows merge on their journey to and from the carnival, giving the illusion of holding hands. She takes this as a positive omen of future happiness.
chapter 5
A fully clothed woman emerges from a stream and slumbers under a mulberry tree, later shifting to a tree stump near 124's entrance. Paul D, Sethe, and Denver discover her when they come back from the carnival. Sethe experiences a sudden, uncontrollable urge to relieve herself, reminiscent of her waters breaking prior to Denver’s delivery. The woman, named Beloved, is brought inside by Denver and Paul D. She guzzles water and has no memory of her past, her skin as soft as an infant's. Denver observes that Here Boy, the dog mutilated during the baby ghost's tantrum, is missing. Beloved dozes off for four days, only waking up to request water. As she sleeps, Denver tends to her with an obsessive dedication. Beloved's presence unsettles Paul D. He remarks that though Beloved behaves and sounds unwell, she doesn't display any apparent signs of sickness. He tells Sethe that he saw Beloved lift a rocking chair with one hand, claiming Denver also saw it. When he asks Denver, she denies witnessing anything.
chapter 6
Beloved starts to form a peculiar bond with Sethe, finding a curious enjoyment in hearing about Sethe's past. When Beloved inquires about Sethe’s “diamonds,” Sethe reveals that she had crystal earrings, a wedding gift from Mrs. Garner. Sethe also talks about her unusual wedding dress. While Sethe is fixing Denver’s hair, Beloved questions her about her mother. Sethe admits that she didn't see her mother often. She recalls a moment when her mother showed her a circle and cross branded on her skin, markers to identify her if she ever died. When Sethe asked for similar markings, her mother rebuked her. Sethe conveys that she only comprehended her mother’s actions after bearing a mark herself. Sethe speaks of her mother’s execution and is hit by a forgotten memory. She had rushed to her deceased mother, but another enslaved woman, Nan, pulled her away. Nan, speaking in their native language, revealed that they had been transported in the same ship. They were both violated by the white crew, but Sethe’s mother discarded any children she had with the white men. Sethe, the child of a Black father, was spared and named after him.
chapter 7
Beloved's radiant allure unnerves Paul D, prompting him to probe into her history. Sensing Beloved's unease, Sethe steps in and reprimands Paul D for his harsh questioning. During the ensuing argument, they mention Halle and Paul D reveals why Halle didn't reunite with Sethe as planned. He discloses that Halle, hidden in the barn loft, witnessed Sethe's assault by Schoolteacher's nephews and was so traumatized that he couldn't move. Sethe is initially outraged that Halle didn't step in, but Paul D clarifies that the incident left Halle mentally broken. He recollects seeing Halle sitting in a daze, his face smeared with butter. At the time, Paul D didn't know what had transpired in the barn and was perplexed by Halle's state. However, an iron bit in his mouth stopped him from asking Halle anything. Outside, Sethe and Paul D talk about the humiliation of wearing the bit. Paul D confesses that the hardest part was being watched by the farm rooster, Mister, who seemed to have more freedom. These are the kind of memories Paul D keeps suppressed in the metaphorical "tobacco tin" of his heart.
chapter 8
Sethe and Paul D are relaxing on the porch while Beloved and Denver enjoy a dance indoors. Denver is curious about Beloved's name origin and she explains it's her "in the dark" name. Beloved describes her existence in the dark as being small, hot, and filled with others, some of whom were deceased. She refers to a bridge and water and when queried about her return, she says it was to see Sethe's "her face," to Denver's disappointment. Denver requests Beloved to keep her true identity hidden from Sethe. When Beloved retorts with anger, insisting that Denver shouldn't dictate her actions and reaffirming her need for Sethe, the two sit in awkward silence. Eventually, Beloved asks Denver to recount her own birth story, which Denver narrates while observing Beloved's keen interest. Denver's tale involves Amy Denver discovering the pregnant Sethe and recognizing a chokecherry tree pattern in Sethe’s fresh wounds. After tending to her injuries, they find shelter for the night. The following day, they locate a faulty boat by the river. While boarding it, Sethe goes into labour. The newborn Denver seemed lifeless, but Amy manages to elicit a feeble sound. The day ends with Sethe by the riverside expecting an opportunity to cross into Ohio, following Amy's departure.
chapter 9
Overwhelmed by Paul D's troubling revelations about Halle, and feeling the absence of Baby Suggs's comforting presence, Sethe, along with Denver and Beloved, visit a place known as the Clearing. This is where Baby Suggs, prior to her depression, would incite collective emotional release within Cincinnati's Black community through tears, laughter, and dance, before preaching the importance of self-love and acceptance. Sethe remembers meeting Baby Suggs for the first time at 124, after the birth of Denver. She had been helped across the Ohio by Stamp Paid, a Black man she saw fishing with his sons. Stamp Paid signalled to Ella, a fellow Underground Railroad operator, that Sethe needed assistance. Ella, noticing Sethe's attachment to Denver, warned her against loving something too much. When she reached 124, Baby Suggs bathed her and let her meet her boys and her crawling daughter. Sethe treasured the 28 days she spent as part of the Cincinnati community, feeling complete ownership over herself in the Clearing for the first time. While sitting at the Clearing, on Baby Suggs's old rock, Sethe is overwhelmed by a violent sensation of being strangled, following a comforting, imagined touch of Baby Suggs. Denver is alarmed, and Beloved comforts Sethe, her breath smelling of milk and touch reminiscent of the baby ghost. Sethe is startled and pushes Beloved away, only to later be accused by Denver of strangulation. Beloved, angry, blames the choking on the 'circle of iron,' not herself. It is revealed that Denver had once attended school lessons with other Black children, hosted by Lady Jones. She was perturbed when a classmate, Nelson Lord, asked her if her mother had been imprisoned for murder. Before she could get a response from her mother, Denver went 'deaf', which only ended when she heard the baby ghost's footsteps. The ghost had since grown angry and abusive, causing Denver to fear Beloved's potential influence on Sethe, despite feeling captivated by her. Denver seeks Beloved's forgiveness for their fight and sees her observing two mating turtles.
chapter 10
Paul D landed in a Georgia prison for trying to murder Brandywine, the man schoolteacher had sold him to. The prison housed forty-six Black men who were confined in underground boxes at night and faced sexual violation and grueling labor during the daytime. Paul D's persistent trembling eased only when he was engaged in chain gang work and singing. During a persistent rainstorm, the earth became muddy, enabling the prisoners to orchestrate an escape. Bound by a single chain, they reached a camp of sickly Cherokees, who freed them from their chains. The Cherokees guided Paul D towards the north, advising him to trace the blossoming flowers as the warmth of spring moved from south to north. In Delaware, he met a weaver woman and lived with her for a year and a half. With time, he buried his harrowing memories of the prison and Sweet Home in “the tobacco tin lodged in his chest.”
chapter 11
Paul D is consumed by an unexplainable unease at 124 Bluestone Road, which forces him to only find rest outdoors. He discerns that Beloved is controlling his movement within the house, treating him as if he were a toy. One chilling night, Beloved approaches Paul D, where he has sought refuge in the cold house, imploring him, “I want you to touch me on the inside part. . . . And you have to call me my name.” Despite his best attempts to defy her peculiar control, Paul D succumbs and sleeps with her, consequently breaking the tin tobacco box. He keeps repeating the term “red heart” incessantly.
chapter 12
Denver's bond with Beloved deepens, with Denver becoming reliant on Beloved's attention. She's terrified that she has no identity outside of Beloved. Despite her initial belief that Beloved is her reincarnated daughter, Sethe now thinks she's a recent escapee from years of enslavement, similar to Ella's experience of being trapped and violated by a white father and son. Beloved often leaves Denver feeling isolated as her focus tends to shift elsewhere unless directly engaged. Beloved doesn't interact as much with Denver as she does with Sethe, and Denver has no interest in the past stories Sethe shares at Beloved's request. Denver is aware of Beloved's nocturnal visits to Paul D's quarters in the cold house because she's seen her go there. On a particular day, Denver and Beloved venture into the cold house for cider. Unexpectedly, Beloved vanishes, leaving Denver distraught and convinced that Beloved is gone for good. Her fears are quelled when she finds Beloved in front of her, smiling. Beloved comforts Denver, saying, “This the place I am.” Suddenly, Beloved collapses, moaning quietly and staring at a dark spot where she claims she can see “her face.” When questioned by Denver, she cryptically responds, “It’s me.”
chapter 13
Paul D recalls schoolteacher's demeaning treatment at Sweet Home, which makes him question his masculinity. He sees a similarity between Beloved's influence and schoolteacher's oppression. To combat this, he considers sharing his experiences with Sethe. He confronts her outside her workplace, yet lacks the bravery to admit his feelings of inadequacy. Instead, he shocks both Sethe and himself by proposing they have a child together. As snow falls, they indulge in lighthearted banter on their way home. Beloved, eager to see Sethe, intercepts them, absorbing Sethe's focus and leaving Paul D feeling isolated and bitter. Yet, Sethe disrupts Beloved's hold by insisting that Paul D return to their shared bed. Sethe rejects the idea of having a child with Paul D, believing that motherhood, without freedom, can be fatal. She questions Paul D's motives, suspecting jealousy of Denver and Beloved and a desire for his own family. Nevertheless, she understands she's attempting to rationalize her refusal to bear more children.
chapter 14
Soon after Sethe escorts Paul D to the upper floor, Beloved implores Denver to get rid of him. However, Denver warns Beloved that Sethe would get upset with her if Paul D departs. Suddenly, one of Beloved's teeth dislodges, making her worry if her body will start to disintegrate. She struggles to feel whole and integrated whenever Sethe is not around. Overcome with emotion, Beloved sheds tears and Denver comforts her. All the while, the snow outside 124 continues to mount.
chapter 15
Upon her entry at 124, Stamp Paid presented Sethe with two buckets of delectable blackberries. The gift prompted Baby Suggs to bake pies, leading to a spontaneous festivity that attracted ninety people. Despite the joy, resentment brewed among the crowd as they equated the lavishness of the feast with Baby Suggs’s undeserved self-importance. A foreboding sense of a "dark and coming thing" was felt by Baby Suggs, but the negative atmosphere made by the townsfolk obscured her intuition. The tale then goes back to Sweet Home. Despite the pain of leaving her only grown child, Baby Suggs let Halle purchase her freedom, understanding how vital it was for him. After departing from Sweet Home, she discovered the allure of liberty. During her journey to Cincinnati, she queried Mr. Garner about why he and his wife addressed her as Jenny. He informed her that Jenny Whitlow was listed as her name on her bill-of-sale. She revealed that her real name—Suggs was her husband’s surname, and he referred to her as “Baby.” Mr. Garner dismissed Baby Suggs as a name unfit for a free Negro and transported her to Ohio to introduce her to the Bodwins, abolitionist siblings who gave her shelter at 124 Bluestone Road in return for household labor. Baby Suggs was left in the dark about the fate of her missing children.
chapter 16
Approximately a month following Sethe's arrival at 124, schoolteacher, his nephew, the sheriff and a slave catcher unexpectedly showed up. In the woodshed, they discovered Sethe's bleeding sons, Howard and Buglar, sprawled in the sawdust. Sethe was holding her "crawling already?" daughter, whose life she'd ended with a saw. Stamp Paid intervened just in time to save Denver from meeting a similar fate. Seeing that the children could not serve as slaves, schoolteacher deemed there was nothing of value at 124 and departed. While Sethe's older daughter was no more, Baby Suggs managed to tend to the boys’ injuries and fought with Sethe for Denver’s life. Denver was fed by Sethe, unknowingly consuming her dead sister’s blood along with her mother’s milk. Subsequently, Sethe was taken to jail with Denver in her arms by the sheriff.
chapter 17
Stamp Paid presents Paul D with a newspaper sketch of Sethe. However, Paul D denies the image is of Sethe, declaring, “That ain’t her mouth.” Since Paul D is illiterate, Stamp Paid narrates Sethe's tragic past to him. Stamp Paid, however, omits certain aspects of the tale. He withholds the detail of Sethe seizing her children and fleeing to the shed “like a hawk on the wing." He also neglects to mention the intentional failure of the community to alert Sethe of the schoolteacher's arrival due to envy and resentment.
chapter 18
Upon finding the newspaper article, Paul D confronts Sethe who starts pacing the room, revealing her past in a whirlwind manner. She explains that when she fully realized her children were completely her own to cherish, her love for them intensified. When she noticed schoolteacher's hat nearby one day, panic engulfed her, and her sole thought was, “No. No. Nono. Nonono.” She asserts that ending her children's lives was her method of shielding them from the brutalities of slavery she had suffered, ensuring their safety. Paul D retorts that her love is “too thick,” which creates a gap between them. He criticizes her, implying she behaved like an animal when she attempted to kill her offspring by saying: “You got two feet, Sethe, not four.” His unease escalates when he spots Beloved on the stairs. Subsequently, he departs from 124, with Sethe's farewell being a simple “So long.” She understands, despite his silence, that Paul D won't be returning.
chapter 19
Stamp Paid regrets revealing Sethe's secret to Paul D, causing his departure from 124. He feels responsible for Sethe and Denver due to his affection for their relative, Baby Suggs. He recalls Baby Suggs's hopelessness which he couldn't alleviate. He visits 124, disturbed by confusing voices he hears there and hesitates to enter without notice. Sethe, trying to appear unaffected by Paul D's absence, takes Beloved and Denver ice-skating. Overwhelmed by hints, Sethe accepts Beloved as her revived daughter, choosing to live only in the present. Back at 124, Stamp Paid gathers courage to knock but gets no response. He sees Denver and an unfamiliar woman, whose presence makes him uneasy. Hearing from his friend Ella about Paul D's hardship, he criticizes her and the community's lack of aid. Stamp Paid questions his distance from 124 and his obligation to Baby Suggs's family. His past, where he was forced to let his master's son sleep with his wife, led him to believe he owed nothing to anyone and changed his name from Joshua to Stamp Paid. Sethe works in a restaurant, occasionally stealing due to the grocer's discrimination. She's reminded of Sixo stealing a pig at Sweet Home and defending himself using clever reasoning. This memory sets off a sequence of painful recollections about Sweet Home, slavery, and schoolteacher's brutal actions. Sethe remembers schoolteacher treating slaves like animals, exploiting them, and preventing Halle from earning his family's freedom. She recalls Halle stating that there was no difference between the rule of Mr. Garner and schoolteacher at Sweet Home. Stamp Paid leaves 124, haunted by the unintelligible voices he attributes to the angered spirits of enslaved people. He reflects on slavery's dehumanizing effects on everyone, including whites. By classifying Black people as savages, whites induce fear and anger in them, leading to their own brutal behavior. This 'jungle', he believes, touches everyone, but only occasionally reveals itself, like the voices from 124.
chapter 20
Chapter 20 kicks off a series of internal monologues. Sethe is the first to speak, uttering, “Beloved, she my daughter. She mine.” She feels the need to justify her actions to Beloved, hoping that her daughter will comprehend why she took her life. Confusion takes over Sethe when she doesn't immediately recognize Beloved as her reincarnated daughter, a distraction she attributes to Paul D. Sethe spends the chapter reflecting on the profound impact of maternal love. She recollects the hanging of her mother, the reasons behind which remain unknown to her. She speculates that her mother might have tried to escape, leaving Sethe behind. Sethe prefers to think that her mother was as dedicated as she is. After Beloved's death, Sethe had the desire to join her in the grave, but she knew that she had to stay strong for her remaining children.
chapter 21
In this section, Denver acknowledges her deep bond with Beloved, saying "Beloved is my sister." She discloses her fear for her mother, Sethe, stemming from the terrifying past event of Sethe trying to kill her children. This fear, Denver admits, drove her siblings, Howard and Buglar, to flee. Yet, Denver sees Beloved's return as a support, as they both await their father's return. She feels it's her duty to shield Beloved from Sethe. Denver recalls Baby Suggs' descriptions of Halle - painted as an angel who loved with extreme intensity, which scared Baby Suggs due to the vulnerability it created. Denver's young life has been shaped by this fear of her mother and the anxious expectation of her father's return.
chapter 22
Beloved's disjointed first-person narrative forms the third part of the introspective monologues. She starts with, "I am Beloved and she is mine." Her disconnected recollections are of crouching among corpses. She talks about thirst and hunger, death and illness, and "men without skin." She believes everyone is attempting to discard their bodies. Next, Beloved's attention shifts to a woman whose face she desires because it's her own. The remaining part of her monologue is occupied by her efforts to "join" with this woman. She expresses a wish to remove the "iron circle" from the woman's neck and repeatedly refers to her "sharp earrings" and "round basket." As the chapter concludes, Beloved finds herself "in the water," and neither she nor the woman wears the iron circle anymore. She feels absorbed by the woman and suddenly becomes her. She visualizes herself swimming away, stating, "I am alone." Following her emergence from the water, she needs to locate a place to exist. Upon opening her eyes, she spots the "face [she] lost." She asserts that "Sethe's is the face that left [her]." Beloved concludes her monologue with, "now we can join a hot thing."
chapter 23
Beloved's dialogue mingles with Sethe and Denver's, resulting in a unique flow of words. She confesses to Sethe that after being distant, they have reconnected, and she returned from the beyond for her. Fearing the return of the skinless men, she is comforted by Sethe's assurance of their absence. Denver, however, cautions Beloved about loving Sethe excessively. Despite Beloved admitting her deep love for Sethe, Denver vows to shield her. Beloved implores Sethe to never abandon her again, to which Sethe obliges. Beloved expresses her distress over Sethe's previous departure and the pain it caused her.
chapter 24
Paul D, currently residing in a church basement, is overwhelmed by sorrow. He looks back on his past and recalls his only known family, his half-brothers Paul A and Paul F, since he has no memory of his parents. Having met numerous large Black families in his life, he always enjoyed learning about their relations. He reflects on Mr. Garner's claim of treating his enslaved men like "real men" and compares it to schoolteacher's cruel and dehumanizing treatment. Paul D now begins to share Halle's doubts about the significant difference in their lives under these two men. Paul D's despair is somewhat fueled by his earlier hope of creating a future with Sethe, a goal he now sees as too ambitious, leading to his downfall. He traces the root of his misery back to the failed escape attempt when schoolteacher took Halle and Paul A's places, leading to his and Sixo's capture. Sixo's lover, the Thirty-Mile Woman, managed to escape, and Sixo's unpredictable behavior upon capture convinced schoolteacher of his uselessness. As schoolteacher tried burning Sixo alive, he laughed and repeatedly screamed “Seven-O!”, referring to the unborn child of the Thirty-Mile Woman. Following this event, Paul D was forcibly returned home where he met Sethe, who despite the recent fiasco, was still determined to escape. This meeting marked their last encounter, and Paul D presumes Sethe's violation and the theft of her milk occurred soon after. Post the unsuccessful escape, Paul D realized his own worth was nine hundred dollars, profoundly altering his self-perception. He ponders over Paul F and Sethe's worth and questions the value of his life since the botched escape, wondering if joining Sixo in the fire would have been a better choice.
chapter 25
Stamp Paid encounters Paul D in a church, where Paul D is attempting to drown his sorrows in alcohol. A white man queries them about a woman named Judy from Plank Road, and despite recognizing her, Stamp Paid pretends not to. The white man scolds Paul D for his disrespect of the church before departing. Stamp Paid proceeds to share a personal story with Paul D about his young master sleeping with his wife, Vashti, for a year. He confesses he didn't lay a finger on Vashti during that period and reveals an occasion when she returned to him that evoked a strong desire in him to harm her physically. Rather than succumbing to this, he chose to change his name. The men's conversation shifts to the events at 124. Stamp Paid admits his presence when Sethe attempted to kill her kids. In her defense, he insists she merely wanted to "outhurt the hurter." Paul D confesses that he finds Sethe unnerving, but Beloved terrifies him even more. When Stamp Paid questions whether Beloved was the reason for his departure from 124, Paul D remains silent.
chapter 26
Beloved becomes a burden to Sethe, sapping her vitality. Sethe's tardiness earns her a job loss. With food running low, Sethe forfeits her share for Beloved, who in turn plumps up as Sethe grows thinner. Beloved mimics Sethe to the point where Denver struggles to tell them apart. Sethe seems to regress into childlike behavior while Beloved dominates her like a mother. Any assertion of self from Sethe is met with violence from Beloved, leading to relentless fights. Sethe recounts her hardships for her children, but Beloved accuses her of abandonment. Denver fears Beloved might kill Sethe. Taking a bold step, Denver decides to venture beyond 124 for help, after gaining encouragement from Baby Suggs’ spirit. Her destination is Lady Jones, her former tutor's house. Lady Jones, a light-skinned woman with yellow hair and gray eyes, is a part of the Black community. She detests her hair and marries a dark-skinned man to compensate. She believes everyone, including her children, abhor her. Denver omits details about Beloved, informing Lady Jones about Sethe's illness and asking for work in return for food. Unable to provide a job, Lady Jones shares Sethe's plight with the church congregation. Denver starts finding food gifts in front of 124, each bearing the name of the donor. As Denver returns the containers, she builds connections with the society. Lady Jones also offers Denver weekly reading lessons. As issues at 124 persist, Denver seeks help from the Bodwins. The Bodwins' maid, Janey, identifies Denver as Baby Suggs' kin. On hearing about Beloved from Denver, Janey spreads the word, leading to Denver landing a job with the Bodwins. A figurine at the Bodwins' house, a coin-bearer slave labeled "At Yo’ Service" unsettles Denver. Ella, hearing Denver's account, views Beloved as just retribution for Sethe's past actions but believes the past should remain buried. Having had a similar experience to Sethe, she empathizes with her. Ella mobilizes around thirty Black women to cast out Beloved from 124. They head to Sethe's house, where Denver awaits Mr. Bodwin for her work pick-up. As the women start singing, Sethe and Beloved join them on the porch. The women spot a frail Sethe next to a beautiful, naked, pregnant woman. Seeing Mr. Bodwin approaching, Sethe confuses him for the schoolteacher and lunges at him with an ice pick. Beloved and Denver are left on the porch as the women try to stop Sethe from attacking Mr. Bodwin. The next chapter, narrated by Stamp Paid, reveals that Ella stops Sethe, and the women manage to control her. When they look back, they find Beloved gone.
chapter 27
Stamp Paid updates Paul D about the current happenings at 124. He mentions the absence of the voices he previously heard and Beloved's vanishing after Sethe's attempted assault on Mr. Bodwin. A boy described seeing a naked woman with fish-like hair in the forest, but she has not been seen again. Paul D queries Denver about her belief that Beloved was her reincarnated sibling. Denver affirms this belief, yet occasionally feels Beloved was something more. Denver is now working for Miss Bodwin, who is educating her with the aim of sending her to Oberlin College. Denver cautions Paul D about treating Sethe gently due to her fragile state. Paul D reflects on his multiple escapes in life as he approaches 124. Arriving at 124, Paul D realizes that Beloved has gone for good. He finds Sethe in Baby Suggs's bed looking vacant. He fears Sethe might be giving up on life like Baby Suggs did. He offers to assist Denver in caring for her. Sethe mourns that her “best thing” has abandoned her again. Paul D is perplexed by the spectrum of feelings Sethe stirs in him. He recollects how Sixo once said his Thirty-Mile Woman arranged his scattered parts back into order. He believes Sethe does the same for him, helping him overcome the shame of his past. He remarks that being with Sethe lessens the impact of his tormented memories. He proposes they need more “tomorrow” to counterbalance the weight of “yesterday.” Holding her hand, he advises Sethe not to see Beloved's exit as the loss of her “best thing.” He assures her that she, not her children, is her “own best thing.”
chapter 28
Beloved is viewed by all as a nightmare they wish to erase from memory. She embodies an unrelenting loneliness that cannot be calmed or dismissed, ever wandering and consuming. Sethe, Denver, and Paul D struggle to forget Beloved longer than the rest of the town. But soon, they too find that they cannot recall or echo a single word she uttered. They even begin to question if she indeed ever existed.
