Stamp Paid, previously known as Joshua, worked for his name, yet once he had paid his ‘debts’ he still felt responsible for others in the community. Stamp Paid’s heart towards Baby Suggs’ family, in a community that seemingly did not put forth the same, spoke true to his character. Stamp was of immense emotional intelligence, everything that he had gone through built him stronger, leading him to support those around him even further. Stamp knew Baby Suggs’ family, and once he found Paul D. living there he contemplated for quite some time to tell him of Sethe’s past. Even though he had nowhere near the same depth of connection to Paul D. as he did to Sethe, he still felt responsible for him. He felt obligated to partially enlighten Paul D. of Sethe’s history as well as responsible for him after the outcome that stemmed from Paul D. 's learning.
After Paul D. left 124, instead of finding a house to stay at with another member of the community, he chose to stay in the cellar of the church. True to Stamp Paid’s character, he endured a sort of burden to ensure that Paul D. had somewhere better to stay as well as a feeling of disgust from those around with the thought of no one offering him refuge. Upon meeting with Paul D., Stamp questioned him if this location of shelter was by choice, and when Paul D. admitted it was, Stamp admitted “That’s a load off. I thought everybody gone crazy,” (Morrsion 272). His anger towards the locals diminished, yet Stamp still wanted to make sure Paul D. wasn’t alone. Whether or not it was Stamp’s place to tell Paul D. the story behind Sethe’s outcasting, the guilt he felt afterwards made him come further forth and share a vulnerable story himself.
Stamp Paid’s name wasn’t just a randomly generated title, it was decidedly earned in Stamp’s eyes for the trials he had worked past. Sat on the steps of the church, Stamp told Paul D. the origin story of how his name came to be. He had worked past his wife’s relations with his master’s son, finding his ‘debt’ to the universe as collected and worked through. Even now, with Stamp’s peaceful and emotionally intelligent way of life, he still admits to himself that he “should have killed him. She said no, but I should have. I didn’t have the patience I got now, but I figured maybe somebody else didn’t have much patience either–his own wife,” (Morrison 274). Stamp recognizes his emotional development, acknowledging his lengthened patience, but at the time he still thought of others throughout the horrific situation his wife was in. His master’s wife was still a topic of consideration for him, he considers what the rape of his wife and others meant to her, debating her ‘patience’. There is only so much one can take, and after the occurrences that Stamp fought to remain composed through, he left, and after that he helped others leave too. Throughout the book, the readers never met a point in which Stamp wasn’t considerate of others.
The escape of slavery, for many in the town of modern day Cincinnati, wouldn’t have been possible without Stamp Paid; his connection to everyone in that town was on an emotionally deepend plane. Stamp was there to help Sethe cross the river and step forth into freedom, he was there to celebrate with Baby Suggs once her family was safe, and he was there when she passed away. Stamp knew this family, he was a vital role throughout all of their lives, and so when he repeatedly tried to confront Sethe he directly couldn’t. “Stamp Paid raised his fist to knock on the door he had never knocked on (because it was always open to or for him) and could not do it,” (Morrison 203). He never got to talk to Sethe for once he finally knocked on the door, there was no answer. Stamp knew this family, he knew what Sethe had done and what she was capable of, and yet he still knocked on the door. He had the patience of the world for what he had been through and he needed not to owe anyone anything further, but he still continued to be an active support for those around him.
Morrison, Toni. Beloved. Vintage, 2007.
Hi Annika,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Stamp Paid's dedication to the community is commendable. Like you pointed out, Stamp Paid tried his best to look out for everyone when he could. Even after he paid his "debts" he still felt immense pressure to help everyone who needed help, including Sethe, who was ostracized by the rest of the town. Instead of excluding her like everyone else, Stamp Paid not only knocked on her door, but also empathized with her actions. His emotional intelligence and kindness make him stand out among the rest of the characters around Sethe.
I love this extended tribute to the monumental character that is Stamp Paid. One of the most beguiling and in some ways disappointing aspects of the story surrounding the "Misery" at 124 is the way the community both fails to warn Baby Suggs and her family, and the way they ostracize Sethe after the event. We get the sense that this total rejection has never sat well with Stamp Paid, and I especially appreciate his vocal relief when he realizes that the minister HAS offered Paul a place to stay--Paul has chosen to stay in the church cellar as a form of penance or self-denial: otherwise, "everyone would have gone crazy," and he can't conscience a community that won't be there for Paul D in his time of need. The interaction you cite, with Paul and Stamp at the steps of the church, is one of my favorite in this book: in a novel that is so concerned with the retention of "manhood" or humanity after the violations of slavery (see Paul D), Stamp Paid is unambiguously a "man," completely without "Garner's say-so."
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting to see how various characters are attempting to pay off "debts" from their actions. Stamp Paid, as you explained, is attempting to compensate for his perceived failure to protect his wife. After leaving Sethe, Paul D regrets his actions and chooses to isolate himself in the church cellar as a display of shame -- a sort of self-inflicted punishment meant to compensate for his actions. Sethe herself attempts to justify the "debt" incurred in killing Beloved by smothering her with love when she returns to the physical world.
ReplyDeleteStamp Paid's character is definitely one to commend! The example of him knocking on the door really stood out to me; despite the unanimous backlash Sethe faced, he supported her regardless. He continuously helped members in his community, and without his presence, it'd be hard to imagine what Sethe and the rest of the community's stories would be.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad someone chose to write about Stamp Paid! He was one of my favorite characters in beloved, and I think he is so underappreciated. He is a character with such a commendable moral compass and I find the soft spot in his heart for Baby Suggs' family beautiful, especially the care he shows towards Denver.
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