Chapter 9 “Headin‟ „cross?” [Stamp Paid] “Yes sir,” said Sethe “Anybody you know coming?” “Yes ...

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Stamp Paid
Chapter 9 This is the first appearance of Stamp Paid
“Headin‟ „cross?” [Stamp Paid] before we know his name. Before he even
“Yes sir,” said Sethe knew who Sethe was (or perhaps he did know
“Anybody you know coming?” because of Baby Suggs), he immediately
“Yes, sir.” helped her and was kind to her. From the way
he spoke to the boy, we can see that he is a
“She must have slept sitting up, because when man of integrity. If not, then his loyalty to
next she opened her eyes the man was standing Baby Suggs is just as apparent.
in front of her with a smoking-hot piece of
fried eel in his hands. It was an effort to reach Whoever the boy was, whether he was a son or
for, more to smell, impossible to eat. She nephew, Stamp Paid spoke to him like a
begged him for water and he gave her some of teacher or father figure which is often (in the
the Ohio in a jar. Sethe drank it all and begged minds of most), with a tone of strong moral
more. The clanging was back in her head but conviction. Such as when he says: “And if you
she refused to believe that she had come all can do it, then go on „way somewhere and
that way, endured all she had, to die on the don‟t come back” served to shame to boy for
wrong side of the river.” thinking so selfishly. In this way, not only does
Stamp Paid‟s kindness show, since he makes
The man watched her streaming face and sure Denver, who‟s just a baby vulnerable to
called one of the boys over . the cold, won‟t die, but he is also an adult
“Take off that coat,” he told him. figure which the boys can look up to.
“Sir?”
“You heard me.” Stamp Paid is moreover like a caretaker. He
… always lends a hand to those who need help, as
The old man sighed and, after a pause, said, in this case, when Sethe is about to die of thirst
“You want it back, then go head and take it off and is starving he gives her plenty of water and
that baby. Put that baby naked in the grass and some fried eel. This scene also shows the
put your coat back on. And if you could do it, importance of community. This theme often
then go on „way somewhere and don‟t come arises around Stamp Paid and it is he who
back.” saves Sethe and Denver.
Chapter 9 It was a strange addition to mention that Stamp
“Evening came and the man touched her touched her shoulder and it really stood out
shoulder.” because it doesn‟t say that he said anything
right after or that the touching served any
purpose. This brief moment of human affection
really reveals to us the kind of person he is and
how in touch Stamp is with his humanity.??? I
thought it just meant that Stamp was lightly
waking Sethe up.
Chapter 9 This is where Stamp finally introduced
“Wait here. Somebody be here directly. Don‟t himself. We can see that even as Sethe
move. They‟ll find you.” [Stamp] thoughtfully asked for his name, seemingly in
“Thank you,” she [Sethe] said. “I wish I knew gratitude, we can still see Stamp‟s kindness in
your name so I could remember you right.” how he quickly brings the focus back to her
“Name‟s Stamp.” He said. “Stamp Paid. Watch and her newborn child, Denver.
out for that there baby, you hear?”
Chapter 15 Though it was only a short time after Sethe and
“It was Stamp Paid who started it. Twenty days her baby arrived at 124, we are given a
after Sethe got to 124 he came by and looked at depiction of Stamp Paid‟s kindness and love
the baby he had tied up in his nephew‟s jacket, once again. It states that the motivation behind
looked at the mother he had handed a piece of his collecting the berries was “for some private
fried eel to and, for some private reason of his reason of his own.” Every little detail in this
own, went off with two buckets to a place near long and elaborate scene only further
the river‟s edge that only he knew about where emphasized the kind of person Stamp is, letting
blackberries grew, tasting so good and happy us know that he may very likely continue to be
that to eat them was like being in a church. Just the good, compassionate and thoughtful
one of the berries and you felt anointed. He character that he is. If traveling 6 miles (a long
walked six miles to the riverbank; did a slide- way) to and back with two buckets (a heavy
run-slide down into the ravine made almost harvest) full of blackberries that make you feel
inaccessible by brush. He reached through the “anointed” while ruining his clothes and
brambles lined with blood drawing thorns thick enduring cuts and “suffering mosquitoes, bees,
as knives that cut through his shirt sleeves and hornets, wasps, and the meanest lady spiders”
trousers. All the while suffering mosquitoes, doesn‟t show sincerity and love, I can‟t say
bees, hornets, wasps, and the meanest lady what does. As to why Baby Suggs would laugh
spiders in the state. Scratched raked and bitten, at that, I‟m guessing she thought his honest
he maneuvered through and took hold of each consideration adorable. Overall, the choice
berry with fingertips so gentle no a single one words served to show the magnanimity of
was bruised. Late in the afternoon he got back Stamp Paid‟s good will and we once again see
to 124 and put two full buckets down on the the theme of community arise.
porch.
Chapter 15 In this quote we are given understanding of the
“Buglar, Howard, the woman in the bonnet and well-roundedness of Stamp Paid‟s skills while
Sethe came to look and then laughed along also discovering how the other characters think
with Baby Suggs at the sight of the sly, steely of him. I find that they think him a very
old black man: agent, fisherman, boatman, multitalented and strong person who can
tracker, savior, spy, standing in broad daylight endure many things since they say that he had
whipped finally by two pails of blackberries.” “finally been whipped by two pails of
blackberries.” They probably also think very
highly him (as in very important) because he
does so much for all of them (being an “agent”
or “spy” or “savior”).

Chapter 15 Upon Stamp Paid allowing Denver to sample
“Paying them no mind, he took a berry and put the berries that caused so much effort to
it in the three-week-old Denver‟s mouth. The harvest, the women are at first horrified.
women shrieked. However, like before, we can tell that Stamp
„She‟s too little for that, Stamp.‟ Paid found joy in his efforts by giving his hard
„Bowels be soup.‟ work to the little baby Denver and we see that
„Sickify her stomach.‟ Baby Suggs recognizes the love behind it as
But the baby‟s thrilled eyes and smacking lips well. It is clear that there is already a kind of
made them follow suit, sampling one at a time fatherly love in Stamp Paid that brings us to
the berries that tasted like church. Finally Baby wonder if it‟s just from his love for children or
Suggs slapped the boys‟ hands away from the if he has a particular connection with Denver
bucket and sent Stamp around the pump to from having met her under the circumstance of
rinse himself. She had decided to do something meeting Sethe right after birth. However, later
with the fruit worthy of the man‟s labor and his in the novel, we see that Stamp Paid and
love. That‟s how it began.” Denver have a deeper connection because
Stamp Paid had wrapped a jacket around her to
keep her warm when she was just a baby, he
had given her blackberries, and he saved her
when Sethe was about to kill Denver.
Chapter 15 We can tell that Stamp Paid is a man that keeps
“The quiet clok clok clok of wood splitting his word. He had promised Baby Suggs that
reminded her [Baby Suggs] that Stamp was he‟d chop firewood for her and he fulfills that
doing the chore he promised to the night promise the next day.
before.”
Chapter 17 In this scene, Stamp Paid reveals a news article
“From the solemn air with which Stamp to Paul D about Sethe. It was about her
unfolded the paper, the tenderness in the old murdering her child and Paul D believed that
man‟s fingers as he stroked its creases and Stamp showed it to him to frighten him. He
flattened it out, first on his knees, then on the inferred this from his “solemn air.” To us, we
split top of the piling, Paul D knew that it know that Stamp Paid is not someone who tries
ought to mess him up. That whatever was to hurt people, so his “solemn air” was just an
written on it should shake him.” emotional reaction to the memory of Sethe, and
… it indicates Stamp‟s good will behind his
“A hundred yards from the crying pigs, the two action. There is a good chance that he showed
men stood behind a shed on Western Row and this article out of a sense of duty to Paul D. He
it was clear why Stamp had been eyeing Paul may have felt that since he was living with her,
D this last week of work; why he paused when he had a right to know what she did. And when
the evening shift came on, to let Paul D‟s he decided to show it to him, he did it in the
movements catch up to his own. He had made middle of the work, which shows his urgency
up his mind to show him this piece of paper— and deliberation. We can see that Stamp Paid
newspaper—with a picture drawing of a has a sense of duty to doing what he believes is
woman who favored Sethe except that was not right, as hard as the task may be.
her mouth. “
Chapter 17 His original intention was to tell Paul D about
“Stamp started with the party, the one Baby what Sethe did, but he spent quite a long time
Suggs gave, but stopped and backed up a bit to talking about the berries that he harvested to
tell about the berries—where they were and give to Baby Suggs, Sethe, and her newborn
what was in the earth that made them grow like before he could get to the main point. Perhaps
that. he was afraid to get to the point, or he felt that
„They open to the sun, but not the birds, „cause helping Paul D understand how drastically
snakes down in there and the birds know it, so things changed would have eased the impact of
they just grow—fat and sweet—with nobody the news. It could also have been because he
to bother „em except me because nobody go in was too distracted by his own reminiscence of
that piece of water…And next morning I come the good days of the past that he simply failed
over, like I promised, to do it.‟” to get to the point before he realized that Paul
D was in too strong a denial to listen to what
Stamp had to say to him.
Chapter 17 After the third time Paul D announced that he
“Stamp Paid looked at him. He was going to refused to believe that the article was about
tell him about how restless Baby Suggs was Sethe (or refused to believe in what Sethe did),
that morning, how she had a listening was Stamp Paid considers telling him everything
about her; how she kept looking down past the about what happened the day she did it, but the
corn…Young and deft with four children one paragraph was not really about him trying to
of which she delivered herself the day before tell Paul D as much as it was about Stamp
she got there and who now had the full benefit telling himself through his own thoughts of
of Baby Suggs‟ bounty and her big old heart. what he believed happened that day. He
Maybe they just wanted to know if Baby really mentions the four riders who came and “he was
was special, blessed in some way they were going to tell him that, because he thought it
not. He was going to tell him that, but Paul D was important: why he and Baby Suggs both
was laughing, saying, „Uh uh. No way. A little missed it.” In this statement, we can somewhat
semblance round the forehead maybe, but this feel an underlying guilt within Stamp Paid
ain‟t her mouth.‟” about not noticing the riders coming in time. In
his own mind, it seemed that if he was going to
tell Paul D, he was ready to justify himself.
Repeatedly, he says the word “why” which
indicated that he thought he understood the
reason for everything that happened that day.
He gets to reason in his mind, that “it wasn‟t
from the exhaustion from a long day‟s gorging
that dulled them, but some other thing—like,
well, meanness—that let them stand aside, or
not pay attention.” In a way he was putting
blame on the community that Baby Suggs was
so kind to. Despite all she had done for them,
perhaps the main emotional burden that Stamp
help existed in how unfairly she was treated
and at the same time, by making this assertion,
he was shifting the blame that he may have
been afraid Paul D would place on Sethe to
those who did not warn the coming of the four
white horsemen. Stamp‟s theory on why they
did not make this effort was some kind of
spitefulness toward Baby Suggs. This
contention brings back the theme of the
importance of community. He comes to the
conclusion that their inaction to the situation
may have been some kind of test of Baby
Suggs power to handle things on her own,
since she seemed to be so “holy” and “blessed
in some way they were not.”
Chapter 17 This is after Paul D denied the possibility of
“So Stamp Paid did not tell him how she flew, Sethe killing her baby for a fourth time. It was
snatching up her children like a hawk on the then that the sentences began to repeat that
wing; how her face beaked, how her hands Stamp did not tell Paul D anything. Evidently
worked like claws, how she collected them it was due to the fact that he wasn‟t trying to
every which way: one on her shoulder, one listen in the first place or that he was
under her arm, on by the hand, the other adamantly rejecting anything Stamp said. But
shouted forward into the woodshed filled with even as he thought of how he decided not to
just sunlight and shavings now because there say anything, in his mind and to the readers he
wasn‟t any wood…Nothing else was in there said it all because it was important for us to
except the shovel—and of course the saw.” know what Stamp Paid saw.
Chapter 17 Despite his final attempt to make Paul D
“So Stamp Paid didn‟t say it all. Instead he realize what Sethe had done, he read the news
took a breath and leaned toward the mouth that article to him that probably formally told the
was not hers and slowly read out the words story, but the fact that we do not hear what the
Paul D couldn‟t. And when he finished, Paul D news article wrote suggests to us that what
said with a vigor fresher than the first time, really mattered wasn‟t what the article said, but
„I‟m sorry, Stamp. It‟s a mistake somewhere what Stamp (by having witnessed it firsthand)
„cause that ain‟t her mouth.‟ knew to have happened and didn‟t say. And
Stamp looked into Paul D‟s eyes and the sweet interestingly enough, Paul D‟s “conviction” for
conviction in them almost made him wonder if Sethe that she would never do such a thing was
it happened at all, eighteen years ago, that so strong that it in turn somewhat caused doubt
while he and Baby Suggs were looking the in Stamp‟s memory of what happened.
wrong way, a pretty little slavegirl had
recognized a hat, and split the woodshed to kill
her children.”
Chapter 18 In this tiny quote was a brief mentioning of
“This here Sethe talked about safety with a Stamp Paid and pretty much a summary of
handsaw…. Suddenly he saw what Stamp Paid everything that Stamp was trying to attempt in
wanted him to see: more important that what the previous chapter. Because of Sethe saying
Sethe had done was what she claimed. It scared it herself and justifying her murder, Paul D
him.” now realized that it was true.
Chapter 19 The beginning of chapter 19 was fairly
“124 was loud. Stamp Paid could hear it even straightforward in what Stamp Paid was
from the road. He walked toward the house feeling and it was obviously implied that he
holding his head as high as possible so nobody felt at fault for Paul D‟s choice to leave 124
looking could call him a sneak, although his after telling him the truth.
worried mind made him feel like one. Ever
since he showed that newspaper clipping to
Paul D and learned that he‟d moved out of 124
that very day, Stamp felt uneasy.”
Chapter 19 Now we can clearly see Stamp‟s guilt mainly
“Having wrestled with the question of whether lies in what he believes he had done to Sethe,
or not to tell a man about his woman, and which was having taken away her potential
having convinced himself that he should, he happiness by driving away Paul D (which we
then began to worry about Sethe. Had he know isn‟t the truth since Paul D wasn‟t really
stopped the one shot she had of the happiness a listening to him that day). What is revealed
good man could bring her? Was she vexed by about Stamp Paid is that he is a thorough
the loss, the free and unasked-for revival of thinker and a very considerate man (although
gossip by the man who helped her cross the we should have already inferred that from the
river and who was her friend as well as Baby earlier chapters). Not only does he feel that he
Suggs‟?” had done Sethe and Baby Suggs wrong, but the
thoughts that he has is not all that different
from a sinner‟s guilt, because he was once so
good to her, but he believes he had now
“gossip[ed]” behind her back.
Chapter 19 The continual self blame and guilt he takes
“I‟m too old,” he thought. “for clear thinking. rather hard and it reveals affection to his past
I‟m too old and I seen too much.” that he thinks may be the reason for his choice.
He is not justifying himself any longer, but
scolding himself.

Chapter 19 There is a fight going on inside of Stamp
“He had insisted on privacy during the Paid‟s conscience. He is trying to discover
revelation at the slaughter yard—now he himself by thinking about his actions and
wondered whom he was protecting. Paul D motives and comes to the conclusion that he
was the only one in town who didn‟t know. was being secretive about it because of Sethe
How did information that had been the and he is, as we all know, very guilty for it.
newspaper become a secret that needed to be This causes him to think back into the past
whispered in a pig yard? A secret from whom? again, as if trying to find out what had changed
Sethe, that‟s who. He‟d gone behind her back, his motives from committing to a “holy
like a sneak. But sneaking was his job—his purpose” to being a gossipy fool.
life; though always for a clear and holy
purpose.”
Chapter 19 Here we can see that he is thinking about the
“Before the war all he did was sneak: runaways past, but more than that, he recognizes his own
into hidden places, secret information to public wisdom and knowledge (but not in an arrogant
places. Underneath his legal vegetables were way). We are given a brief history of his work
the contraband humans that he ferried across in the underground railroad. Through it we
the river. Even the pigs he worked in the spring learn that his work was a big deal (very
served his purposes. Whole families lived on imperative) to many people because he
the bones and guts he distribute to them. He continually risked his life to help people move
wrote their letters and read to them the ones and used his literacy and knowledge to benefit
they received. He knew who had dropsy and they families he saved. It repeats over and
who needed stovewood; which children had a over again that he knew many things and many
gift and which need correction. He knew the people through his work (“knew the
secrets of the Ohio River and its banks; empty secrets…the best dancers, the worst speakers”).
houses and full; the best dancers, the worst It all seemed to be proof to himself that he had
speakers, those with beautiful voices and those not forgotten the past and was therefore the
who could not carry a tune. There was nothing moral center of the story because among all the
interesting between his legs but he remembered characters, Stamp Paid had a clear
when there had been—when that drive drove understanding of slavery and how it affected
the driven—and that was why he considered himself and his past whereas everyone else
long and hard before opening his wooden box seemed intent on running away from it or
and searching for the eighteen-year-old trying to escape and forget. Somehow, though
clipping to show Paul D as proof.” all these memories, he that knew what he did
was well thought out (and even deemed
necessary), but that did not ease his guilt on the
matter.
Chapter 19 As said before, Stamp Paid‟s main guilt is in
“Afterward—not before—her considered his belief that he was not considerate of Sethe,
Sethe‟s feelings in the matter. And it was the but now he also believes that he was too nosey
lateness to this consideration that made him for sticking himself into her business. In truth,
feel so bad. Maybe he should have left it alone; it may not have been Stamp Paid‟s right to tell
Maybe Sethe would have gotten around to Paul D about Sethe. It was Sethe‟s duty to do
telling him herself; maybe he was not the high- that, but nevertheless, we know that Stamp had
minded Soldier of Christ he thought he was, good intentions and never meant to harm
but an ordinary plain meddler who had anyone‟s happiness by telling the truth. The
interrupted something going along just fine for great pain that is bringing himself to think
the sake of truth and forewarning, things he set these things is the fact that “now 124 was back
much store by. Now 124 was back to like it to like it was before Paul D” and he is afraid
was before Paul D came to town—worrying that because he drove Paul D away, he had
Sethe and Denver with a pack of haunts he brought about the return of evil spirits, which
could hear from the road.” we know not to be true because it was the evil
of Beloved (on top of Sethe‟s telling of the
truth) that drove Paul D away. Overall Stamp
Paid is a kind and responsible old man, even if
his belief that he should take responsibility for
everything is a little arrogant of him.
Chapter 19 The consideration he puts for Denver is also a
“Even if Sethe could deal with the return of the revelation of his love for her. Ever since seeing
spirit, Stamp didn‟t believe her daughter could. her the moment shortly after she was born, “it
Denver needed somebody normal in her life. made him partial to her.” He once again
By luck he had been there at her very birth reflects back on the berries which symbolized
almost--before she knew she was alive--and it the good things of the world hidden among
made him partial to her. It was seeing her, pain and danger and how he shared that
alive, don't you know, and looking healthy four goodness with everyone including Denver and
weeks later that pleased him so much he her arrogantly claimed that it was because he
gathered all he could carry of the best gave her those berries that that was “the reason
blackberries in the county and stuck two in her she was still alive.” But it is possible that he
mouth first, before he presented the difficult meant that figuratively when he said this. The
harvest to Baby Suggs. To this day he believed berries were like a reminder of the good things
his berries (which sparked the feast and the of the past hidden among the pain of slavery
wood chopping that followed) were the reason and madness and by sharing that with Denver
Denver was still alive. Had he not been there, (who had never been in slavery) may have
chopping firewood, Sethe would have spread provided her the strength to live one even after
her baby brains on the planking. Maybe he knowing what her mother had done to baby
should have thought of Denver, if not Sethe, Beloved and her brothers. Stamp Paid also
before he gave Paul D the news that ran him takes credit for having saved Denver from
off, the one normal somebody in the girl‟s life being thrown into the wall and in remembering
since Baby Suggs died. And right there was the all those time he protected Denver may have
thorn.” given him a sense of obligation to protect
Denver as well. Ironically Denver could care
less about Paul D because her focus at the time
was entire shrouded with Beloved. Stamp Paid
at the very end of the paragraph, then
remembered his commitment to Baby Suggs.
Chapter 19 He calls Baby Suggs “the mountain to his sky”
“Deeper and more painful than his belated which must have meant she was the world to
concern for Denver of Sethe…Although he him and because of the holy and “blessed”
heard its voiced from the road. person she seemed to be he believe that “it was
the memory of her and the honor that was her
due that made him walk straight-necked into
the yard of 124.” All in all, the greatest
motivation he had in going to 124 to apologize
was Baby Suggs.
Chapter 19 There is a bit of reference here to the Fugitive
“He had stepped foot in this house only once Slave Act of 1950, that claims that slaves are
after the Misery (which is what he called the property of their owner and it declared that
Sethe‟s rough response to the Fugitive Bill) all runaway slaves be brought back to their
and that was to carry Baby Suggs, holy, out of masters. Stamp Paid and Baby Suggs must
it. When he picked her up in his arms, she have had very deep relationship since he had
looked to him like a girl, and he took the the honor of taking Baby Suggs‟ dead body out
pleasure of knowing she didn‟t have to grind of the house. “Grind[ing] her hip bone” can be
her hip bone anymore—that at last somebody taken in the figurative sense of the pain in life.
carried her.” Stamp Paid is a little happy that Baby Suggs no
longer has to suffer anymore and that she
doesn‟t have to carry her own weight, “that at
last somebody carried her.” This thought
shows how awful their past was that death
would be an escape from the pain it caused.
Chapter 19 Rather than feeling like he lost a precious
“Had she waited just a little she would have seen friend, Stamp Paid feels “more put out with
the end of the War, its short, flashy results. They her.” This means ?????????
could have celebrated together; gone to hear the
great sermons preached on the occasion. As it was,
he went alone from house to joyous house drinking
what was offered. But she hadn't waited and he
attended her funeral more put out with her than
bereaved.”
Chapter 19 Stamp tries to have Baby Suggs buried in the
“Sethe and her daughter were dry eyed. Sethe had Clearing, where she encouraged people to love
no instructions except "Take her to the Clearing," themselves. However, he isn‟t allowed to and,
which he [Stamp Paid] tried to do, but was
instead, she is buried next to Beloved, which is
prevented by some rule the whites had invented
ironic since after her death, Beloved represents
about where the dead should rest. Baby Suggs went all of slavery.
down next to the baby with its throat cut--a
neighborliness that Stamp wasn't sure had Baby
Suggs approval.”
Chapter 19 We can see a deep gap between Sethe and the
“The setting-up was held in the yard because community at this point. The community
nobody besides himself would enter 124—and doesn‟t want anything to do with Sethe
injury Sethe answered with another by refusing because she killed her child and this creates a
to attend the service Reverend Pike presided rift that keeps Sethe from ever moving on.
over. She went instead to the gravesite, whose Stamp Paid, however, doesn‟t seem to mind
silence she competed with as she stood there Sethe like the community does. He‟s not
not joining in the hymns the others sang with judgemental and he understands Sethe‟s
all their hearts. That insult spawned another by situation and the reason she killed Beloved in
the mourners: back in the yard of 124, they ate the first place. This is how he and the
the food they brought and did not touch theirs community are different; Stamp Paid helps his
and forbade Denver to.” people no matter what and he stays concerned
with Sethe after all the years that have passed.
Chapter 19 Although Stamp Paid is different from the
“So Baby Suggs, holy, having devoted her freed townspeople because he stays concerned with
life to harmony, was buried amid a regular dance of Sethe, we can see that he‟s still affected by
pride, fear, condemnation and spite. Just about them because he‟s always around them. “Pride
everybody in town was longing for Sethe to come
goeth before a fall” comes from Proverbs
on difficult times. Her outrageous claims, her self-
16:18 in the bible and it means that pride will
sufficiency seemed to demand it, and Stamp Paid,
bring destruction on oneself. The community
who had not felt a trickle of meanness his whole
believed that Sethe is snobbish because of her
adult life, wondered if some of the "pride goeth
“self-sufficieny” and thinks it would serve her
before a fall" expectations of the townsfolk had
right if she were ever to “fall.” Stamp Paid
rubbed off on him anyhow--which would explain
why he had not considered Sethe's feelings or reasons that it was the community‟s effect on
Denver's needs when he showed Paul D the him that he didn‟t consider Sethe‟s feelings.
clipping. “

Chapter 19 We see that one of the reasons that Stamp Paid
“He hadn't the vaguest notion of what he would do feels so guilty is that Sethe and Denver are
or say when and if Sethe opened the door and “Baby Sugg‟s kin.” He was good friends with
turned her eyes on his. He was willing to offer her Baby Suggs and feels that damaging Sethe‟s
help, if she wanted any from him, or receive her
image is damaging to that of Baby Suggs as
anger, if she harbored any against him. Beyond
well. At this point, Stamp Paid doesn‟t seem to
that, he trusted his instincts to right what he may
have a plan. He doesn‟t seem to have any
have done wrong to Baby Suggs' kin, and to guide
experience in this area since he has always
him in and through the stepped-up haunting 124
been helping the townspeople and has never
was subject to, as evidenced by the voices he heard
done anything, prior to this, that offended
from the road. Other than that, he would rely on the
power of Jesus Christ to deal with things older, but anyone or required an apology. ???don‟t
not stronger, than He Himself was.” understand “he would rely on the power of
Jesus Christ to deal…”
Chapter 19 Stamp Paid, for some reason, is able to hear the
“Out on Bluestone Road he thought he heard a three women in 124 talking. He is able to
conflagration of hasty voices--loud, urgent, all understand Sethe because he was also put in
speaking at once so he could not make out what the position where he also wanted to kill his
they were talking about or to whom. The speech loved one (his wife, Vashti). This may be why
wasn't nonsensical, exactly, nor was it tongues. But he is able to hear what they are thinking.
something was wrong with the order of the words
and he couldn't describe or cipher it to save his life.
All he could make out was the word mine. The rest
of it stayed outside his mind's reach.”

Chapter 19 Don‟t really know what this says about Stamp
“Yet he went on through….Private Paid
conversation that takes place between women
and their tasks.”
Chapter 19 Stamp Paid is known for being helpful around
“Stamp Paid raised his fist to knock on the door he the community. He has done a favor for a lot of
had never knocked on (because it was always open the townspeople and he has been welcomed to
to or for him) and could not do it. Dispensing with
all of their homes because he‟s helped them
that formality was all the pay he expected from
before and he‟ll do something for them when
Negroes in his debt. Once Stamp Paid brought you
he visits. Because of this, Stamp Paid is not
a coat, got the message to you, saved your life, or
used to the cold atmosphere, the whispering
fixed the cistern he took the liberty of walking in
and indecipherable words, and the closed door.
your door as though it were his own. Since all his
He can‟t get himself to welcome himself into a
visits were beneficial, his step or holler through a
doorway got a bright welcome. Rather than forfeit home so secretive and unfriendly.
the one privilege he claimed for himself, he
lowered his hand and left the porch.

Over and over again he tried it: made up his mind
to visit Sethe; broke through the loud hasty voices
to the mumbling beyond it and stopped, trying to
figure out what to do at the door. Six times in as
many days he abandoned his normal route and tried
to knock at 124. But the coldness of the gesture--its
sign that he was indeed a stranger at the gate--
overwhelmed him. Retracing his steps in the snow,
he sighed. Spirit willing; flesh weak.”

Chapter 19 Stamp Paid had always thought that Baby
“Fingering a ribbon and smelling skin, Stamp Paid Suggs was just retreating and avoiding being
approached 124 again. “mocked and rebuked” after the incident when
„My marrow is tired,‟ he thought. „I been tired all
Sethe killed Beloved and that “she just up and
my days, bone-tired, but now it's in the marrow.
quit.” However, now that Stamp is in this part
Must be what Baby Suggs felt when she lay down
of his life when “[his] marrow is tired” he
and thought about color for the rest of her life.‟”
understands that Baby Suggs did have a good
… Now, eight years after her contentious funeral
reason. She had been born into slavery, all her
and eighteen years after the Misery, he changed his
children are no longer with her, and after being
mind. Her marrow was tired and it was a testimony
to the heart that fed it that it took eight years to such a great helper in her community, her
meet finally the color she was hankering after.” community “[held] itself at a distance…it
could wear out even a Baby Suggs, holy.” It