Close Reading...

“The jump, though Paul D, from a calf to a girl wasn’t all that mighty. Not the leap Halle believed it would be. And taking her in the corn rather than her quarters, a yard away from those who had lost out, was a gesture of tenderness. Halle wanted privacy for her and got public display. Who could miss a ripple in a cornfield on a quiet cloudless day? He, Sixo and both of the Pauls sat under Brother pouring water from a gourd over their heads, and through eyes streaming with well water, they watched the confusion of tassels in the field below. It had been hard, hard, hard sitting their erect as dogs, watching corn stalks dance at the moon. The water running over their heads made it worse.” (Morrison 32)

The passage starts when Paul D. is lying next to Sethe after having had sex and he recalls what life was like when they were both back at Sweet Home. “The jump… from a calf to a girl wasn’t all that mighty.” Starting the passage with this statement reveals how the rest of the passage will be talking about how slave women were held in a higher regard than slave men at Sweet Home. Comparing a “girl” to a “calf” and stating that they are practically equal conveys how the men at Sweet Home had to have sex with calves so as to not feel an overwhelming desire to have sex with Sethe, and in turn be called a rapist. Also, although sex with calves is disgusting to think about, it was a respectable choice to retain the innocence of Sethe and give her some respect. Because of their actions they can be seen as dehumanized because they are abusing animals in such a horrific way. Additionally, they are becoming dehumanized because of their actions with cows, but they are forced to take these actions because they are slaves and have no freedom. Therefore all of the actions that they take, in any respect, are restrained and constricted by society.

As the passage continues, it talks about how Halle took Sethe away from others “a gesture of tenderness,” when he went to have sex with her. This “tenderness” proves that although the men do not have much respect for themselves, they do however, have an immense respect for the women even though they are slaves. Similarly, they have respect for each other. Halle understand how difficult and almost torturous it is for the men because he was once in that position. This act of “tenderness” was not only directed at Sethe. It was also meant for the men at Sweet Home so that they did not have to be tortured further through having to witness his private actions with Sethe.

While thinking back to the time when Paul D. witnessed Halle and Sethe have sex he states, “it had been hard, hard, hard sitting their erect as dogs.” This sentence that was placed at the end of the passage was simply another attack at the men at Sweet Home. It further dehumanizes the men because they are being compared to “dogs.” They are seen as animals who their main goal is sex and because they are not able to gain this from women they turn to cows and turn into beasts or dogs. Additionally, because they are able to see what Halle is doing with Sethe and they continue to watch it, it reveals how little respect they have for the act. This can be seen throughout the entire passage. They first talk about having sex with cows at the beginning of the passage, and then the passage concludes with them intently watching Halle have sex with Sethe. All together this degrades the men and makes them be seen in a much lower regard than women are, even thought the men are of better social standings then the women are.

Overall, this passage reveals that men are dehumanized because of their actions at Sweet Home. Similarly, they women are raised above the men and looked with more respect, even though the are slaves. Finally. this passage reveals that no matter how hard the men try, and even if their actions are done with the intent to be kind, their actions never truly have entirely positive results because there is always some negative, or degrading aspect to all of their actions.