Beloved's 'Flashbacks': Chapter Analysis

After reading and evaluating this chapter, I think Flashbacks is a good chapter title. This chapter provides two flashbacks: one to Sethe’s arrival and first days at 124 Bluestone and one to Baby Suggs’ release from slavery. Stamp Paid, who rowed Sethe and Denver to freedom, comes to check on Sethe twenty days after her arrival. He goes out to gather blackberries for Sethe to eat. When he returns with two full buckets, he shares the berries with everyone and puts one in the mouth of Denver, as a blessing. Baby Suggs was afraid to celebrate the arrival of her new grandchild. She thought the party might jinx the safe return of Halle. When she does decide to celebrate and throw a party, it does not go well. The neighbors who attended the celebration become jealous of Baby Suggs. They are particularly envious that she was bought out of slavery early and has her own home now. In her concern over the safe arrival of Halle, Baby Suggs thinks back to the time that she and the ten year old came to Sweet Home. The title that I am giving this chapter is Murdering of the Children. Details of Beloved’s murder are presented. When Sethe sees the four white men coming, she goes crazy. She knows that they have arrived to take her and her children back to slavery. Rather than allowing her children to be
Paul D, driven to a deep despair about his life, wonders why he has not died sooner. Now sleeping in the church and drinking himself into greater misery, he feels isolated and in great pain. He knows opening his heart to Sethe has made matters worse for him; he feels exposed and worn down. When Stamp Paid approaches and offers to help, Paul D grows sarcastic and suggests that perhaps Stamp Paid can arrange for Judy, the town prostitute, to take him in. After listening to Stamp Paid’s stories, Paul D asks how much a black person can endure. Stamp Paid, with resignation, says that they must all endure as much as they