While reading Beloved the majority of the book was very confusing and didn't make very much sense, however chapter 10 to me was the most interesting chapter because I understood what was happening but it also made contributions to the overall background of Paul D. Another reason why I loved chapter 10 as much as I did is because it was the first time in the novel that I appreciated all the details and nuances of Morrison's writing. Primarily the depictions of the Cherokees and the struggles they faced put the whole story into perspective and even helped my understand how slavery was depicted in the story even more.
In this chapter we see as Paul D is sent to a chain gang after attempting to kill the man he is sold to by school teacher. We are given almost no reason to why he attempted the murder other than “other than Halle, Sixo, Paul A, Paul F and Mister.” Meaning that after the loss of all his close “friends” Paul had nothing other to do than lash out. The chain gang itself seems to be one of the most depressing moments throughout the book. The depiction of the housing that is given to the slaves, originally instill dread in me as a reader but as the housing is eventually used as the method of escape it becomes the light in the darkness. The way that Morrison describes the chain gang makes it very clear how terrible the treatment was, from rape to overall deprivation it really expands the scope of the horrible treatments of slavery. One of the high (Ha) points of the chapter is Hi man. Hi man is a very mysterious character throughout the chapter, he leads the slaves in the chain gang and during the escape becomes the leader and most knowledgeable. Hi man helps organize the escape as he is the first to “pull the chain.”
The escape from the chain and the events that follow after it was one of the most impressive parts of the chapter. It was very interesting that Morrison decided to make the escape possible using rain. It almost gives me a vibe that throughout the book “nature” is trying to fight against slavery, kinda proving that it is morally wrong. The idea that nature is trying to help Paul D is continued when as he is attempting to escape to the north he is told to follow the bloom of trees. Not only is it factually correct that blooms move northward it is yet another example of how nature is trying to help Paul escape the hardships of slavery.
The primary help that the slaves received during the escape was from the Cherokee sick camp. The way the Morrison describes the Cherokee’s is very interesting and is essentially a micro history lesson of oppression.”In between that calamity and this, they had visited George III in London, published a newspaper, made baskets, led Oglethorpe through forests, helped Andrew Jackson fight Creek, cooked maize, drawn up a constitution, petitioned the King of Spain, been experimented on by Dartmouth, established asylums, wrote their language, resisted settlers, shot bear and translated scripture.” In that one sentence alone Morrison gives us everything that we need to know in order to understand why the Cherokee helped the slaves, and what happened to them since essentially the discovery of america. The fact that the Cherokee had been abused by the white man allowed them to understand the terrible treatment of the slaves and gave them reason to why they should help. The Cherokee continued to help and house the slaves until only Paul is left. Finally they give Paul instructions on how to get to the free north and bid him good luck.
The last sentence of the chapter also gives us even more information on Paul D as a character he puts all his experiences and people from his past into a “tobacco tin” which he will not open for anyone especially Sethe. This chapter as a whole gives us a lot of important information regarding Paul D and it helps explains some of his actions as the novel progresses.
