: The novel opens with the striking line, " 124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom ," establishing that the home is haunted by the spirit of Sethe's deceased daughter.
: The novel ends with the haunting repetition of the title, " Beloved ," which serves as a final acknowledgement of the lives and stories that were "disremembered and unaccounted for." The Beloved
: Paul D provides a pivotal moment of healing for Sethe when he tells her, " You your best thing, Sethe. You are ." This reinforces the idea that her worth is inherent, not defined by her role as a mother or her history as an enslaved person. : The novel opens with the striking line, " 124 was spiteful