Toni Morrison implies that women are caretakers, regardless of the personal relation. Earlier in the novel, we learned that Sethe’s maternal bond with her daughter was broken when her milk was stolen. However, she still showed more charismatic qualities towards Denver than she did towards herself. This selflessness was inherited to Denver in chapter four, when a strange woman showed up, distressed and feverish. Denver learned the importance of patience and became, “a model of compassion” (Morrison 54). Denver evidently took care of Beloved when she, “tended her, watched her sound sleep, listened to her labored breathing” (54), however Paul D had suspicion over her brand new shoes, extreme thirst and lack of answers to his questions. Sethe, like Denver, let Beloved into her house and would not stand for Paul D rudeness. Therefore, the female roles in the novel are portrayed to help one another, while Paul D and Halle are more egotistical with views facing inwards. …show more content…
Sethe and Paul D do not discuss past events, since slavery floods most of the memories. Sethe advised to Denver that, “Today is always here, tomorrow never” (60), portraying the urgency to only live in the present and not worry about the future. Sethe, who, “was not interested in the future” (70), did not want to think about the constant responsibilities to fulfill in the days to come. Sethe did not want to have to worry about when Beloved would leave and where she would live. Therefore, it was inevitable for Sethe and other character’s to take one step at a