Beloved

Main Characters and Their Development

• Sethe — the main character, a former slave who escaped from a plantation and lives in house 124. She struggles with past traumas and guilt over killing her daughter to save her from slavery. Sethe gradually learns to forgive herself and accept her history.
• Denver — Sethe's daughter, born free. She is isolated and lonely but finds her strength and independence throughout the narrative, stepping out of her mother's shadow and becoming more self-reliant.
• Paul D — a former slave from the same plantation as Sethe. He comes to house 124 and tries to help Sethe cope with her past. Paul D also battles his own demons and traumas but ultimately finds a path to healing.
• Beloved — the ghost of Sethe's daughter, who returns in the form of a young woman. She embodies the past that won't let Sethe rest. Beloved becomes increasingly demanding and destructive until Sethe realizes the need to let go of the past.