Memory, Rememory, and the Power of the Past

In Chapter 9, Sethe goes to the Clearing to make a decision about whether or not to let Paul D stay.  Sethe wanted guidance from Baby Suggs; the Clearing is where Baby Suggs used to preach.  At the Clearing, Baby Suggs reaches down from heaven to massage Sethe's shoulders, and then Beloved continues in real life.  This reminds Sethe of Baby Suggs taking care of her after Denver was born.  After crossing the Ohio River and reaching the house on Bluestone Road, Sethe was excited to see her three other children again.  Recalling these memories triggers a thought for Sethe - a connection between Beloved and her dead baby.  This is a challenge for Sethe because she is mixing events from the past with the present, which is confusing to her.