Were Paul D.'s actions appropriate?

I honestly do believe that Paul D’s reactions toward the killing of Beloved were very appropriate. Who wouldn’t feel horrified and disturbed by this gruesome murder? It was no surprise to all when the first line of Chapter 17 read, “That ain’t her mouth” (Beloved 154), referring to Paul’s disbelief that Sethe could do such a ghastly thing. Even after Stamp Raid continued to read the article out loud, Paul just kept shaking his head "No way", this is not the Sethe he used to know.

What’s interesting is the fact that the only person who truly didn’t understand the motive for what Sethe did is a man. In fact, Paul D. is the only male character in the novel that Toni Morison explores in depth. After all, he does move into the 124 household. After coming in terms with reality of Sethe’s murder in Chapter 18, Paul’s previous image of her quickly deteriorates in his eyes. He mentions, “This here Sethe talked about safety with a handsaw. She didn’t know where the world stopped and she began” (Beloved 164). Paul D. just can't grasp the obvious contradiction between Sethe's want to save her children and murder. But the interesting thing is, it makes perfect sense to Sethe and only Sethe. But to Paul, Sethe's problem is in the fact that she cannot realize that her actions are not justifiable.

I have to disagree with you, Rachel, because his actions were appropriate indeed. Just because they connect through sharing Sweet Home memories together does not mean that Paul D. will automatically understand Sethe's motive for commiting infanticide. He did in fact try to understand by keep asking her the sole reason for the murder, but Sethe just kept pushing him away. However, she kept refusing to see herself from an outside point of view, and just defending her motive by repeating the same thing over and over again, “They ain’t at Sweet Home. School teacher ain’t got them” (Beloved 165). Of course Paul never gave birth and does not possess that maternal instinct, how in the world is he expected to feel Sethe? He’s just a man who sees a mother as a protector, one who does everything in her ability to keep her children alive, not cut their throat with a handsaw. To him, murder of children is a violation of the code of ethics. For Paul. D, being a mother means loving you children in moderation, which is what he means when he says, “ You love it too thick” (Beloved 164). This is the reason why he cannot calmly agree with Sethe and tell her she's justified in murder. Paul D.'s intial reaction is appropriate to the horrid act Sethe commited.
~Eugenia