The black community played a major role in Beloved, especially with their interactions with Sethe. After Sethe's escape from slavery, she traveled to Cincinnati to reunite with her children and mother-in-law, Baby Suggs. She arrived at 124, a house constantly filled with people and happiness. "Where not one but two pots simmered on the stove; where the lamp burned all night long. Strangers rested while their children tried on their shoes. Messages were left there, for whoever needed them was sure to stop in one day soon." (Morrison, 87) Sethe was enveloped with love and security, while Baby Suggs, the local spiritual leader, became the driving force in the community, gathering the people together to preach self love and respect. "When warm weather came, Baby Suggs, holy, followed by every black man, woman and child who could make it through, took her great heart to the Clearing..." (Morrison, 87)

Twenty days after Sethe's arrival, Stamp Paid brought them two huge buckets of delicious blac

Sethe, with the help of Baby Suggs and the community, began to build a life for herself and children, but her dreams were soon shattered when the Schoolteacher came into her yard. Because of her fear of returning to slavery and her sense of hopelessness, Sethe resorted to animal brutality, ending her daughter's life so as not to endure one of degradation and abuse. She acted on instinct, never thinking of the consequences and never asking for forgiveness or help. After that nothing was ever the same. "124 shut down and put up with the venom of its ghost. No more lamp all night long, or neighbors dropping by. No low conversations after supper. No watched barefoot children playing in the shoes of strangers. Baby Suggs, holy, believed she had lied." (Morrison, 89) People stayed away from 124, fearing the bad spirit and aura emanating from and inhabiting it. Everything that Baby Suggs had preached, believed, and lived had been thrown in her face and decimated, thus causing her to lose the spirit and will to live.

With the death and burial of Baby Suggs came the final insult to the community.

Sethe, after being released from jail, never looked to the community for help or sympathy, but walked arrogantly with her head held high, and in the eyes of the community, what was empathy and compassion soon turned into condemnation and disdain. The community, though n

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Approximate Word count = 922
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)