CHAPTER 14

Summary

In this chapter, Denver sits at the table and watches Beloved sucking her forefinger. When Denver mentions Paul D, Beloved asks her to make him go away. Denver says that Sethe would be upset if Paul D left. DenverÂ’s response clearly upsets Beloved. She reaches into her mouth and pulls out a back tooth. She thinks that she is falling to pieces and that parts of her are going to start dropping off. She begins to cry as the snow falls around 124 Bluestone.

Notes

In this short chapter, Beloved feels she is losing control over Paul D. She has noticed that he and Sethe seem to be happy together once again, and she assumes that they are upstairs making love. As a result, she begs Denver to make Paul D go away. When Denver responds that Sethe would be upset if Paul D left, Beloved is miserable. She reacts to her pain by inflicting more pain on herself. She reaches into her mouth and pulls out one of her back teeth. Beloved feels like she is falling to pieces. In truth, the loss of the tooth is the beginning of her dissolution.

It is significant that it is snowing outside. The power dynamics in the house will be influenced by the snow imagery. The snow is capable of isolating the occupants of 124 Bluestone and forcing them to deal with their pasts and their relationships to each other.

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