TIME LINE OF THE PLOT

1795
Baby Suggs, HalleÂ’s mother and SetheÂ’s mother-in-law is born a slave

1835
Sethe is born to “Ma’am,” the only name given to her mother

Halle is born to Baby Suggs

1838
The Garners purchase Baby Suggs and Halle to work at Sweet Home in Kentucky

1848
Halle buys the freedom of Baby Suggs by doing extra work

Sethe arrives at Sweet Home as a replacement for Baby Suggs

1849
Sethe marries Halle; they consummate their marriage in the cornfield

1850
Sethe gives birth to Howard

1851
Sethe gives birth to Buglar

1853
Mrs. Garner hires Schoolteacher to run Sweet Home after the death of her husband

1854
Sethe gives birth to Beloved

1855
Sethe sends Buglar, Howard, and Beloved to live with Baby Suggs, for she is afraid they will be sold away from her.

Paul D, Sixo, Halle, and Seth plan to escape from Sweet Home

Sethe, pregnant with her fourth child, is attacked by the nephews of Schoolteacher, who suck the milk from her swollen breasts;Sethe is beaten by the nephews when she tells Mrs. Garner about the attack

Schoolteacher kills Sixo and Paul A

Sethe leaves Sweet Home

Sethe gives birth to Denver with the help of Amy

Sethe goes to 124 Bluestone to find Baby Suggs

Sethe tries to kill her children to save them from slavery

Beloved dies, but Buglar, Howard, and Beloved survive

Sethe is taken to jail for murder, and Denver is with her; Sethe and Denver are released from prison

Beloved ghostÂ’s takes up residence at 124 Bluestone

1856
Paul D is captured and locked up in Albert, Georgia

1857
Sethe takes a job at SawyerÂ’s Restaurant

1862-1863
Denver attends Lady JonesÂ’ school; she is dismissed when it is learned that she and Sethe spent time in jail

1865
Buglar and Howard leave home; Baby Suggs dies

1873
Paul D comes to SetheÂ’s house in Cincinnati; Beloved arrives at 124 Bluestone; Beloved seduces Paul D.

1874
Paul D leaves Sethe when he learns she killed her child

1875
Sethe tries to stab Edwin Bodwin with an ice pick when he tries to take Denver from her;

Beloved vanishes; Paul D returns

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