Beloved Chapter Summary, Overviews and Analysis

Part 1: Chapter 1: Summary: This chapter begins in the setting of 124 Bluestone Road in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sethe and her daughter Denver live here and eight years prior Sethe’s mother in law, Baby Suggs, died soon after Burglar and Howard ran away (from the haunted house). The baby ghost attacked Here Boy (Sethe’s dog), he took out his eyes and broke his legs. Sethe is clearly quite tough as she pops the eyes back in and sets his legs. While Baby Suggs was dying she asked for scraps of colour to alleviate her sadness. After her death, Denver suggested they move to escape the haunted house. Sethe responds by saying that she will never run from anything ever again. The ghost haunting the house died as a young child. When Sethe went to go to get the name engraved on the tombstone, she paid with ten minutes of sex. Sethe got the word “Beloved” engraved because she never named her child and at the funeral, the preacher began the service with “Dearly Beloved.” The tombstone is the colour pink representing a luxury that death came to the child. When Sethe is in her backyard she slips into a flashback (triggered by a tree in her yard) of boys at Sweet Home (the plantation) hung on sycamore trees. When her mind returns back to present she sees Paul D who was a fellow slave at Sweet Home 18 years prior. Paul D came to visit Baby Suggs when he realizes she passed away he is still very happy to see Sethe. Sethe invites him to the house for a meal where he sees “red light,” Sethe explains the ghost is sad and not evil. Through their conversation, it becomes clear to the reader that Sethe crossed the Ohio river in 1855 while escaping the plantation with three kids and pregnant. Sethe was whipped, raped, and her breast milk was stolen. This all happened under Schoolteacher who was hired after Mr. Garner died and Mrs. Garner was sick (tumour on the neck the size of sweet potato). Sethe begins to cry when confiding in Paul D about the assault that happened to her. Sethe shows Paul D her Cherrytree scar on her back (whipping) and licks and kisses the scars. This makes the ghost furious who in turn starts making sounds, Paul D screams and bangs the table around to scare the ghost away. Denver is upset with Paul D because Sethe is flirting with him and he scares the ghost away, these are her only two companions. Chapter 2: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe and Paul D going upstairs to have sex after the unrewarding sex they become resentful of one another. Sethe is deprived of having no sexual dreams while Paul D’s dreaming of Sethe had been too long and too long ago. While laying in bed, Paul D decides Sethe’s scars on her back are ugly and unattractive, Paul D says that her scars are not a tree, just scars. Sethe says it is a tree because her past (at Sweet Home) is a part of her, also it represents the beauty in her past at the plantation. Paul D goes into a flashback of his slave brothers and Sixo’s attempt (failed) to cook potatoes. Sixo goes on a 17 hour (walking) journey to meet up with a woman. While Sixo was going to see his girlfriend, Halle and the Paul brothers would leave after Sethe. The next day the Paul brothers cover for Sixo’s fatigue. The reader learns through a flashback that out of all eight of Baby Suggs (and six different fathers) Halle (the youngest) was the only child not taken from her. Sethe has a flashback of when she and Halle wanted to marry. Sethe asked Mrs. Garner if there would be a wedding and Mrs. Garner just laughed. Sethe decided to make herself a dress to mark the occasion. Sethe and Hally had sex in the cornfield, the swaying of the corn stalks informed the other slaves that Sethe had made her choice. The slaves go to eat the corn from the fallen stalks (Mr. Garner thought they had fallen from raccoons). Chapter 3: Summary: The chapter begins with Denver and her loneliness because her only companion is trapped in her own memories (Sethe). Denver goes to where she is comfortable in her backyard in the shade formed by bushes that smell like cologne (she spilled some there once). Once when Denver was going back into the house, she saw Sethe in Baby Suggs room praying, there was a mystical white dress beside Sethe that had its arms around her waist. Denver interrupted this to mean that the baby ghost has a plan. Through a flashback, the reader learns many details about Sethe’s escape from Sweet Home. Due to Sethe’s swollen ankles (pregnant with Denver), she had collapsed in the forest. Whitegirl Amy Denver, who was on her way to Boston to buy carmine (red) velvet, ran into Sethe and helped her get shelter. When they had shelter Amy elevated Sethe’s ankles and massaged them. Sethe told Amy that her name was Lu, in fear that Amy would report her. Amy later helps Sethe deliver Denver (in a canoe). Paul D asks Sethe if it is okay with her if he attempts to find work in the town they are living in, Sethe is more than happy about this. Paul D asks Sethe if Denver will be okay with this arrangement because Denver seems to be upset about Paul D’s company. Sethe says that Denver will be fine. Sethe also confides in Paul D that schoolteacher found her years ago and instead of returning to the plantation she and Denver (since Denver was an infant) went to jail together. Apparently, in jail, the rats tried to eat everything but Denver. Chapter 4: Summary: The chapter begins with Denver offending Paul D when asking him when he will leave. Sethe is very upset with Denver but also does not allow Paul D to talk bad about her. Paul D goes on to say that Sethe can safely think of her past because he will be there to protect her and catch her if she falls. Paul D has $2 and decides to take Sethe and Denver to the coloured people’s carnival. They all have a great time. Paul D is extremely outgoing, he greets everyone he meets and he makes connections that can lead to jobs in the future. Sethe returns the smiles of all the people as she walks. Denver is overjoyed with all the socialization (sways with delight) and questions why she very disliked Paul D. Sethe, Paul D, and Denver’s shadow appear to hold hands as they walk back to the house. Denver interprets this as a promising happy future, she is moving beyond the hatred of Paul D. Chapter 5: Summary: The chapter begins with a fully dressed woman (wearing a rich person hat) emerging from the stream and laying down under the mulberry tree. When Sethe, Paul D, and Denver return from the carnival and they see her Sethe immediately has to pee. This need to pee reminds Sethe of when her water broke (pregnant with Denver) and it almost caused the canoe (which she gave birth on) to sink. This lady who says her name is Beloved is feverish and sick. They give her water (which she drinks a lot, causing Paul D to think she has Cholera) and Denver nurses her to the best of her ability. Beloved skin is smooth like a baby’s and she has no memory of the past. Sethe realizes that the dog Here Boy is missing (he was attacked by the ghost; eyes popped out and legs dislocated) Beloved notices the two orange tiles on the quilt (same as Baby Suggs), colour is life, hope, and luxury. Beloved remains weak. Paul D claims that Beloved is actually healthy as he and supposedly Denver witnessed her picking up the rocking chair. Denver denies that she saw this breaking any bond between her and Paul D. Chapter 6: Summary: This chapter begins with Beloved walking Sethe home from work, it becomes very clear to the reader that Beloved is extremely attached to Sethe. Sethe who usually hates talking about the past love telling Beloved stories about her time as a slave. Beloved asks Sethe what has happened to her “diamonds” (referring to her earrings). Sethe responds by saying that she was once given crystal earrings from Mrs. Garner. She was given the earrings as a wedding gift, also because Mrs. Garner felt a little bad that she laughed when Sethe asked about wedding arrangements. Sethe says that Baby Suggs pierced her ears to wear the earrings but they are now gone. Sethe has a flashback to the preparation of her wedding dress (made out of stolen material, mainly pillowcases and mosquito nets). As Beloved watches Sethe tend to Denver’s hair she asks about Sethe’s mother. Sethe explains that she did not know her mother as she rarely saw her. Sethe does remember one memory of when her mother showed her a cross and circle branded into her. She showed this so Sethe would be able to identify her if need be. Sethe asked if she could be branded too, her mother slapped her, Sethe realized later why when she got a mark of her own. At the end of the chapter Denver questions why Beloved knew to ask Sethe “Where are your diamonds? Your women never fix up your hair? And tell me about your earrings.” Chapter 7: Summary : Paul D is very disturbed by Beloved’s “shining” sexuality. He mentions this and interrogates Beloved about her past until Sethe interrupts him. Paul D plans on going to town and talking to the other Black people about finding a house for Beloved. While Paul D is asking Beloved questions, she starts to choke on a raisin. Denver holds her hands off her neck while Sethe smacks her back. Denver takes Beloved up to her room to watch her rest. After Sethe gets mad at Paul D and in their argument Halle comes up. Paul D explains to Sethe that the reason why Paul D did not meet Sethe during their escape was that he was traumatized. Halle was traumatized from being in the loft of the barn when (in that barn) Sethe had her milk stolen. Sethe was initially very mad that Halle did not intervene. Paul D explained that a man is not an “axe,” and Halle could not have fought off all the Schoolteacher’s nephews. Halle was completely shattered after witnessing this. Paul D said that he found Halle churning butter with his face smeared with it. At the time Paul D did not know what had caused Halle’s breakdown and he could not find the courage to ask. Paul D and Sethe discuss their horrible shame of wearing the bit (metal gag). Paul remembers that the worst part of it was seeing the farm’s rooster (named Mister) freely walking, more free than the slaves. Paul D says that he stores his bad memories in an old tobacco can in his heart. Chapter 8: Summary: This chapter begins with Denver and Beloved dancing together. After dancing, Denver asks Beloved how she got her name. Beloved responds by saying that it is her name in the dark. Denver then goes on to ask Beloved what it is like in the place before 124 Bluestone, what it is like in the dark. In the dark, Beloved says that she is curled up and small. In the dark, it is hot and very crowded with people, some of which are dead. Beloved describes a bridge of water. Then Denver asks why beloved came back, Beloved answer is to see Sethe’s face. Denver wishes that she was the main reason Beloved came back. Denver tells Beloved not to tell Sethe who she really is. Beloved gets really mad and tells Denver never to tell her what to do again. Beloved tells Denver that she doesn’t need her, she only needs Sethe. Beloved asks Denver to tell her about her birth. Denver tells Beloved how Amy Denver found and helped Sethe. She cleaned the wounds on her back and told Sethe it was like a chokecherry tree. Amy thinks that Sethe will die in the night, against all odds Sethe survives the night. In the morning, Amy helps Sethe down to the river. When they get to the river they find a boat and an oar. While Sethe steps into the boat her water breaks. Amy delivers the baby (Denver). At first, it seems that the baby died or will not make it, but Amy is able to coax a whimper out of her. Amy asks Sethe to promise that the baby will know all about the lady who brought her into the world. Sethe decides to call the baby Denver. Later in the evening, Amy leaves Sethe by the Ohio River for a chance to cross. Chapter 9: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe missing Baby Suggs and being disturbed by Paul D’s message about Halle (butter on his face). Sethe decides to go to the Clearing, which is where Baby Suggs used to pray and preach. Baby Suggs used to pray then yell for the children to come out of the woods (surrounding the clearing), she would tell them to laugh. Then she would yell for the men and she told them to dance. Finally, she yelled for the women and told them to cry. Soon the children would dance, the men would cry, and the women would laugh. By the end the women would dance, the men would laugh, and the children would cry. After Baby Suggs preached about selflove. She told the people to love their hands that had been bound by slavery, love their mouths that had been silenced by slavery, love your straight unnoosed neck, and most of all to love their hearts. Sethe goes into another flashback of when she was left by Amy, she was walking holding on to her newborn (who was only wearing Amy’s underwear) when she stumbled upon a man and a boy. The man pointed to a rock, Sethe sat down on it and fell asleep. When she woke up the man took the baby and wrapped her in the boy’s jacket (who complained but gave in), the man then gave the baby to the boy to hold. The man led Sethe and the boy holding the baby to an empty house, he left them there. On his way out he put a marker on the house so Ella (another organizer of the underground railroad) would know that there were a person and child trying to escape slavery. Soon Ella came and brought Sethe and Denver to Baby Suggs house. Baby Suggs gave Denver to young women in a bonnet and took Sethe upstairs to take care of her (before she could see her boys). Baby Suggs bathed her, aided her, took care of her, and made clothes for her. Sethe was soon reunited with her children. So out of the flashback, Sethe is in the Clearing with Denver and Beloved, she is sitting on the rock Baby Suggs used to pray on. Sethe closes her eyes and feels Baby Suggs massaging her back, the hands-on her back soon becomes violent and Sethe is being strangled. Beloved caresses and kisses the bruises on Sethe’s neck. Sethe realizes Beloved’s breath smells like milk and her hands feel like the baby ghosts. Alarmed Sethe pushes Beloved away and tells her she is too old for that. Later on, Denver tells Beloved that she saw her strangle Sethe, Beloved runs away angry saying it was “the circle of iron.” Denver then goes into a flashback of how when she was seven she attended school with other African American children at Lady Jones’s house. Denver had attended for a year when a Nelson Lord (a classmate) asked if Sethe had gone to jail for murder. Before Sethe could answer Denver went deaf before she could hear the answer. Denver’s deafness was cured by the baby ghost’s first appearance which was when she was climbing the stairs. After this appearance, the ghost became physically abusive, spiteful, and angry. Denver is now worried about what Beloved might do to Sethe, she thinks she cannot stop anything from happening because of how captivated she is by Beloved. Denver goes to apologize to Belove, she finds Beloved watching two turtles mate. Chapter 10: Summary: This chapter begins with Schoolteacher selling Paul D to a man named Brandywine, Paul D attempts to kill him. Paul D is sent to prison. The prison had 46 inmates (all African American men). The inmates were locked up in small boxes underground, they were sexually abused and subject to chain gang (a group of convicts chained together while working outside the prison) work during the days they were there. While Paul D was imprisoned he began to tremble chronologically, this trembling only stopped when he was working and singing in the chain gang. One night there was a lot of rain and it caused the ground to turn to mud. All the inmates dove into the mud to escape (if one failed they all would die). The inmates left together and went to a Cherokee camp where the natives broke their chains. Paul D asked how to get to the Free North, they told him to follow the blooms of flowers as summer was approaching. When Paul D was in Delaware he lived with a weaver woman (pretended to be her nephew) for 18 months. As time went on, Paul D locked up his memories of Sweet Home and prison in the old tobacco tin lodged in his chest. Chapter 11: Summary: This chapter begins with Paul D feeling uncomfortable in every room in the house. He eventually will only sleep outside. Paul D realizes that Beloved is moving him around. One night, Beloved finds Paul D and tells him that she wants to be touched on the inside by him, and she wants him to call her by her name, at first, he resists about eventually gives in and has sex with her. This marks the moment the tin tobacco box in his heart breaks open. Chapter 12: Summary: In this chapter, Denver's love and obsession for Beloved grows. Denver realizes this and worries that she has “no self apart” from Beloved. Sethe ignores her previous thoughts of Beloved being her dead daughter and believes that she was kept in captivity for many years and she has forgotten because of the shock. Sethe compares this to Ella who was kept in captivity and continuously raped by a white man and his sons. Denver feels rejected by Beloved and begins to feel alone again. Even when Beloved is with her she seems to daydream and is not fully present. Beloved becomes very close with Sethe. Denver notices Beloved goes to the “cold house” where Paul D lives at night. One day, Beloved and Denver are in the cold house (getting cider) and Beloved backs away from Denver, Denver who can no longer see Beloved thinks that she is gone forever (gone back to where she came from) and begins to cry. Denver opens her eyes and sees Beloved. Beloved tells her “This the place I am,” and Denver asks her to clarify and she says “it’s me.” Chapter 13: Summary: In this chapter Paul D reflects on Schoolteachers arrival. Paul D begins to question the validity of his manhood. He does this because Schoolteacher used to force him to do this. Paul D decides to tell Sethe about his relationship with Beloved because he worries about how Beloved manipulates him and this reminds him of the Schoolteacher’s abuse. Paul D goes to Sethe’s restaurant to go and tell her that he is not a man. Sethe thinks that Paul D is going to tell her he is leaving. Paul D spontaneously asks her if she wants to have a baby with him. Paul D and Sethe laugh and flirt on the walk home. Beloved is waiting for Sethe and when she and Paul D arrive Beloved captivates Sethe's attention from Paul D (who is upset about this). She breaks the spell” by telling Paul D to start sleeping in her bed again. Sethe decides not to have a baby with Paul D because “[u]nless carefree, motherlove was a killer.” Sethe wonders why Paul D asked her, she thinks that he is jealous of her family with Denver and Beloved. She then shuts these thoughts down because she realises she is probably justifying her decision. Chapter 14: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe taking Paul D upstairs, Beloved begs Denver to drive Paul D away, but Denver says that that would make Sethe very mad at Beloved. One of Beloved’s teeth falls out and she worries that the rest of her body will soon fall apart. Beloved does not feel complete when Sethe is around. Denver takes Beloved into her arms. Chapter 15: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe remembering how when she first arrived at the 124 house Stamp Paid gave her a tonne of blackberries. Baby Suggs decided to use the berries to make some pie, soon this turned into a celebration with 90 people. The people (who had celebrated long into the night) grew jealous and angry, to these people the excess of the feast symbolized Baby Suggs unwarranted pride. During this event Baby Suggs sensed a “dark and coming thing” but with all the people there are judgement and perception was clouded. Baby Suggs has a flashback to her leaving Sweet Home, although letting Halle buy her freedom meant leaving the only child she had left, she agreed to leave because it meant so much to him. When Mr. Garner drove her to Ohio and explained why he and his wife called her Jenny; it was the name of her bill-of-sale. Baby Suggs then explains the origin of her real name, her husband's name was Suggs and he also called her Baby, so “Baby Suggs.” Mr. Garner tells her the name Baby Suggs is not an appropriate name for a free African American. Mr. Garner delivers Baby Suggs to the Bodwins who gave her the house at 124 Bluestone in exchange for domestic work. Baby Suggs tries and fails to find her lost children. Baby Suggs greatly enjoys her freedom. Chapter 16: Summary: About one month after Sethe escapes from Sweet Home the sheriff, Schoolteacher, a slave catcher, and nephew go to 124 Bluestone road to catch Sethe and her children. When they walked in they found Buglar and Howard on the floor covered in blood (appeared to be dead), Sethe holding a dead (nameless baby) baby, and the other baby (Denver) being held by the heels. Sethe was getting ready to swing Denver into the wall to kill her too. Stamp Paid grab Denver. Schoolteacher decided there was nothing to claim as the boys were “dead,” the baby was dead, Sethe was too far emotionally gone, and Denver wouldn’t survive without her mother to tend to her. They decided to leave while the sheriff stayed behind to manage the situation. He tried to get Sethe to come with him without him having to touch her (mainly the blood). He ultimately decided to leave and bring a wagon. Baby Suggs came in, stitched up the boys, and traded Denver with the dead baby in Sethe’s arms (for nursing). When Baby Suggs realised the dead baby’s blood was on Sethe’s breast she tried to try to get Denver away so she wouldn’t ingest the dead baby’s blood. Sethe pushed Baby Suggs on the ground and Denver drank the milk/blood. When the sheriff came back to pick up Sethe and Denver, Sethe held her head up high as if she were proud of what she did. The neighbours looked at this with shock, disgust, and confusion. Baby Suggs wanted to run after the wagon and get Denver because she was concerned that Sethe would try to hurt and kill Denver again. Chapter 17: Summary: In this chapter Stamp Paid shows Paul D the newspaper that reports Sethe’s killing of her baby and the attempted murder of her other children. Paul D at first denies it is her and then after Stamp Paid reads (Paul D can’t read) the article he accepts the truth. Stamp Paid does not tell Paul D how fast she grabbed her children and ran to the woodshed, he also does not tell him that the neighbours neglected to warn Sethe that Schoolteacher was coming, they did this out of jealous spite. Chapter 18: Summary: This chapter begins with Paul D asking Sethe about the newspaper. Sethe tells Paul D that at that time she just loved her children so much, now she could love her children fully because they were fully hers. She loved them so much that when she saw Schoolteachers hat outside she decided she would do whatever it meant to prevent them from slavery. She said that the thought of her children enduring the torture she lived through was an unbearable thought and decided they would have to die because really dying was the only way they could be saved. Paul D tells Sethe that her love is “too thick.” He then tells Sethe that she has two legs instead of four legs alluding to the fact that her actions make her a monster. Pauls D feels very distanced from Sethe and his anxiety increases when he sees Beloved on the staircases. Paul D leaves and Sethe says to him “so long,” he doesn't say anything back so she realizes he is gone forever. Part 2: Chapter 19: Summary: This chapter begins with Stamp Paid feeling guilty when he finds out that Paul D left 124. He feels that he should not have told Paul D without considering the welfare of the family. Stamp Paid reflects on his duty to Sethe’s family through his relationship with Baby Suggs. Stamp Paid also reflects on how sad he was watching Baby Suggs go through her depression in her old age. Stamp Paid thinks of how he tried to convince Baby Suggs to continue preaching but she replied by saying that she was too sad because of the white men in raiding her house. Stamp Paid decides to go to 124 for the first time since Baby Suggs death. When he approaches the door he is confused about how to enter, he usually enters houses without knocking as a privilege for the good he does for his community. The narrator then changes to Sethe. She decides to take Denver and Beloved ice skating to show that she is not upset about Paul D leaving 124. After Sethe hears Beloved hum a song that she made up to sing to her children, this proves to her that Beloved is her child that passed away. Sethe decides to forget her past and not think of the future as her child has been resurrected. The narrator shifts back to Stamp Paid. Stamp Paid goes to 124 but he cannot bring himself to actually knock on the door. Finally, Stamp Paid knocks on the door. No one answers, he looks into the house and sees Denver sleeping in front of the fire. He also sees Beloved, her presence disturbs him. He then goes to Ella’s (the neighbour) house and asks about Beloved. Ella tells him to go to the church because that is where Paul D is. Stamp Paid scolds Ella for not letting Paul D stay with her. Stamp Paid claims he made that the community is not accepting Paul D and the new women (Beloved). Stamp Paid feels that he does owe anything to Baby Suggs' family as he has not been by the house for so long. Stamp Paid reflects how he was forced to give his wife to his master's son when he was a slave, because of the horrible gift of his wife he feels he is free from all obligation. This is why he changed his name from Joshua to Stamp Paid. The narrator then changes back to Sethe. Sethe spent the whole morning at work cooking. After she decides to steal some food as she does occasionally. She does this because she wants to avoid the racism that is present at the local grocery store. She is obviously ashamed of stealing. Sethe remembers how Sixo stole a pig from Sweet Home. When Schoolteacher caught him, Sixo explained that he was improving Schoolteachers property by nurturing himself so he could work better on the fields. Schoolteacher said “definitions belonged to the definers—not to the defined” and whipped him to teach him this lesson. Chapter 20: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe saying “Beloved, she my daughter. She mine.” Sethe feels that she needs to explain everything to Beloved so she understands why she was murdered by her own mother. Sethe is confused why she did not realise who Beloved was for so long, she decides the distraction of Paul D is the cause. Throughout this chapter Sethe reflects on motherly love. She has a flashback to her mother's death. Her mother was hanged but Sethe does not know why her mother deserved this sentence. Sethe thinks that maybe her mother attempted to escape but denies this thought saying that her mom was loving as she is and would never leave Sethe. Sethe then has another flashback to the moment after Beloved death, she wanted to lie in the grave with her and die. She could not do this as she had to be strong for her other three children. Chapter 21: Summary: This chapter begins with Denver saying out loud that Beloved is her sister. Denver knows that she ingested some of her sister's blood as a baby (with breast milk). Denver claims that she loves Sethe out of fear for the same fear that caused her brothers to run away. The fear is that the feeling that motivated Sethe to kill her baby will return one day. Denver thinks that the reason Beloved came to 124 to help Denver wait for Halle to come. Denver believes that she has to protect Beloved from Sethe. Denver tries her best to remember everything that Baby Suggs told her about her father. Baby Suggs told Denver that she is worried that Halle loves too much and that worries her because she fears that makes him a target. It is important to note that Denver has never feared Sethe and she has never fantasized about the arrival of her father, Chapter 22: Summary: This chapter Beloved has a flashback to the time where she was sitting among dead bodies. She felt during this era of her life hunger and thirst, she witnessed illness and the dead, and men without their bodies. Beloved remember people trying to escape and leave their dead bodies behind. Beloved remembers seeing a woman, she wanted this woman's face saying that it was hers. Beloved tries her best to join this woman's body. Beloved notices the women's sharp earrings and round basket. Beloved wants to remove the iron collar from the woman's neck to free her. One day Beloved is in the water and she and the women are together with the iron collar as they are free. Beloved says that the woman swallows her and she then has the woman's body. Beloved in the water and notices she is alone. She wakes up to see Sethe’s face, Beloved says that Sethe’s face is the fact that she left behind and now that they are together they can “join a hot thing.” Chapter 23: Summary: This chapter begins with Beloved claiming that she and Sethe found one another. She decides to tell Sethe that she comes from the other “side” for her; Beloved admits that she remembers Sethe from before. Beloved tell Sethe that the man without the skin is going to come back. Sethe comforts her by saying that he will not. Beloved is warned by Denver not to love Sethe too much, Beloved says it's too late. Denver promises to protect Beloved. Beloved asks Sethe never to leave her again and Sethe agrees. Beloved is upset that Sethe once left her and hurt her. Chapter 24: Summary: At the beginning of this chapter Paul D is still living in the church basement, he realizes that his only family is Paul A and Paul F (his half brothers). Paul D does not remember his mom and he has never met his dad. Paul D thinks of how when he met large African American families and how he loved to hear their stories of how they all were related. Paul D thinks of how Mr. Garner would say he treated his slaves like “real men.” Paul D hated how Schoolteacher emasculation and dehumanization treatment, Mr. Garner treated his slaves more humanely. Paul D questions the slaves conditions with both slave owners. Paul D claims he is upset because of his falling out with Sethe, he believes they could build a beautiful life together. Paul D reflects that he sets his goals to high and that causes him to have “great falls.” Paul D has a flashback to when he and his fellow slaves attempted to escape but failed. Halle and Paul A did not make it at the right time and because of this they were caught by Schoolteacher, his nephews, and some other white men. Sixo’s girlfriend did escape and that made Sixo mentally ill. This mental illness was so severe that Schoolteacher believed he would not be a suitable slave. Schoolteacher tried to burn Sixo alive, Sixo laughed, during this, he screamed “Seven-O. '' Seven-O was the name of the fetus that was in Sixo’s uterus. When Paul D was taken back to Sweet Home he saw Sethe for the last time as she still wanted to run after this experience. Paul D thinks that she was raped and her milk was stolen right after this. Paul D thinks of how he “fetched'' nine hundred dollars. Paul D thinks of how much Paul F’s price was and how much Sethe’s would be. Paul D wonders if he should have joined Sixo in the fire. Chapter 25: Summary: In the beginning of this chapter Stamp Paid goes to the church to see Paul D. He discovers Paul D is drinking obsessively. A Caucasian male stops by and asks them if they know Judy who lives on Plank Road. Stamp Paid knows Judy but decides not to say anything. The white man makes a rude comment to Paul D for drinking at church, then he leaves. Stamp Paid tells Paul D that his wife Vashti slept with their master, and during that year he refused to touch her. Stamp Paid wanted to break her neck when she visited him one day and told him that she was back for good. Instead of killing her, he changed his name. Stamp Paid then admits to Paul D that he was at 124 when Sethe killed her child. Stamp Paid stood up for Sethe and said that she wanted to “outhurt the hurter.” Paul D tells Stamp Paid that he is scared of Sethe but he is also more scared of Beloved. This chapter ends with Stamp Paid to ask Paul D if he left 124 because of Beloved, Paul D did not answer. Chapter 26: Summary: This chapter begins with Sethe losing her job. Food becomes scarce at 124, Sethe gives her food portions to Beloved. Beloved gets fat while Sethe starves. Beloved begins to dress in Sethe’s clothes and begins to act like her. They are so similar Denver struggles to tell them apart. Sethe begins to act like a child while Beloved begins to act like a mother. When Sethe acts assertively Beloved throws fits and breaks things. Sethe and Beloved always fight. When Sethe says that she has suffered for her children Beloved says that she left her behind. Denver thinks that Beloved is going to kill Sethe. Denver decides to leave her home for the first time in 12 years to find help. Denver goes to Lady Jones’ (her former teacher) house. Lady Jones has blond hair and gray hair, she is African American, and she was chosen to go to a coloured girls school in Pennsylvania because of her lighter skin. Lady Jones dedicated her life to teaching children who cannot be chosen to go to these schools. She hates the colour of her hair because she feels it makes her lack her African roots, so she married the darkest skinned man she could find. Lady Jones believes that everyone (including her family) hates her because of the colour of her hair. Denver explained to Lady Jones that Sethe is sick because of her hunger, she does not mention Beloved. Denver asks if she knows of any jobs that Sethe could do to provide food for herself and her family. Lady Jones does not know of any jobs but she tells everyone at her church about Sethe. Many people begin to bring food baskets and plates of food to 124. The people leaving the food leave their address so that Denver can return the containers. Denver becomes close to the community. Lady Jones offers to teach Denver to read. Although 124 is no longer lacking there is still trouble at the house. Denver goes to the Bodwins for a job, she tells the African American maid Janey about Beloved. Janey tells the town about Beloved. The Bodwins give a job to Denver. When she leaves their house she is disturbed by the site of a statue. The statue is a slave with coins in its mouth. At the base of the statue there is a sign that says, “At Yo’ Service.” Ella hears the story about Beloved. She believes that Sethe deserves to be punished for her actions but she believes this kind of punishment is unfair as the past should stay in the past. Ella feels bad for Sethe as she once did not care for her child. The child was born from hate as Ella was impregnated during the time she was locked up and consistently raped by a father and his sons. Ella gets a group of people together to perform an exorcism on Beloved. The chapter ends with Denver waiting for Mr. Bodwin to pick her up for work when the group comes to her house. Chapter 27: Summary: This chapter begins with Stamp Paid telling Paul D about the event at 124. Beloved left during the chaos of Sethe trying to attack Mr. Bodwin. An old man says that he know longer hears Beloved’s voice at 124. A little boy witnessed a naked woman with hair made of fish running through the forest. No one has seen Beloved since this event. Paul D is reunited with Denver. He asks Denver if she believes that Beloved was her sister, Denver responds by saying that Beloved was her sister but she was also more than that. Denver continues to work for Miss. Bodwin. Miss Bodwin is giving her academic advice in hopes to send her to Oberlin College. Paul D is planning to go to 124 to visit Sethe, Denver tells him to be very nice to her since she is still recovering. When Paul D returns to 124 he thinks of all the times he has escaped in his life. He escaped from Sweet Home, from Alfred, Georgia, from the North and South sides during the civil war (he worked for both), even after the war he thought he was free but he saw dead African Americans (including women and children) all over the streets so he had to run again. After thinking of all these tragic events he wonders why he felt that he needed to escape Sethe. When Paul D goes into 124 he finds Sethe lying on Baby Suggs bed, he fears that she is lying there just waiting for death as Baby Suggs did. Sethe says that her best thing has left her again. Sethe makes Paul D feel a range of emotions, he thinks of Sixo saying that the thirty-mile woman made him feel like she took the “jumbled pieces” of him and gave it back to him in order. Paul D feels the same and realizes his feelings for Sethe. Sethe helps Paul D stop being ashamed of himself and his past. When Paul D is with Sethe his memories of being treated like an animal (the collar and muzzle) no longer make him feel like his manhood was stolen. Paul D tells Sethe that they need to start looking towards the future instead of the past to make their lives bearable and happy. Paul D tells Sethe that she should think of Beloved leaving as her losing her best thing because Sethe, not her children, is her “own best thing.” Chapter 27: Summary: This chapter discusses how everyone in the community tries to forget Beloved. Obviously Sethe, Denver, and Paul D take longer to forget Beloved but after time they can no longer remember things she said and cannot repeat or remember anything she ever said. The community thinks Beloved represents unappeasable loneliness that cannot be removed. After a time the community, Sethe, Denver, and Paul D cannot even remember if Beloved was ever really there, almost as if the events were just a dream (or nightmare).