The Sweet Home Men Character Analysis

In the novel, Paul D is a prominent character who is instrumental in developing Morrison’s theme, the disposition of manhood is acquired by having a true sense of identity.
Since Paul D relies on Mr. Garner to identify as a man, he does not have the self-worth to endure when Schoolteacher takes over Sweet Home. Paul D, in despair, tells Sethe how he "wasn’t allowed to be and stay" what he was while the chicken Mister was allowed to (Morrison 86). He even goes further and says that even if Mister was cooked, it would not make any difference and Mister would still be Mister.By comparing himself to a creature of smaller intelligence, Paul D paints a picture of how low schoolteacher regarded the Sweet Home Men. schoolteacher treated them worse than animals, leaving a kind of emptiness in Paul D. Because of this mishandling by schoolteacher, Paul D loses the individuality he thought he had with Mr. Garner. Paul D also goes farther and says that even death would not return his identity. Ultimately, this saying by Paul D shows that he thinks that he is so defiled that even God cannot help him. It could also mean that Paul D believes that he has lost himself so much, there is not even a small chance of him going to Heaven. Either way, Paul D holds the belief that he is beyond saving. After schoolteacher captures Paul D , he discusses with his nephew and the slave catcher how much he is worth. schoolteacher laments that “he would have to trade” him for $900 (Morrison 267). Paul D takes Schoolteacher’s statement to heart because he is used to being treated like other livestock by him. Because he has always let others determine his value, he does not have the self-regard to brush off

schoolteacher’s statement on his monetary value. This low suppliance of self esteem causes him to look down on who he is. By not having any self worth, Paul D blocks himself from developing to who he is meant to be. Till he learns to value himself, Paul D will not obtain the disposition of a man that he really wants.
Because of the fear of his traumatic and painful past, Paul D cannot settle down and discover who he really is. He decides to lock all of this appalling memory inside of a “tobacco tin buried in his chest” (Morrison 113). Because of the suffering that Paul D went through schoolteacher, he tries to hide and escape from the painful memory of this past. He is frightened of what will happen when all his pent up emotions escape the tin in his heart, so he does not realize that his past is what makes him who he is in the core. In order to progress to who he really is and find himself, Paul D will have to accept that the things he does not like exist in the real world. This acceptance will help him discern the good from the bad and let him decide he wants his values to be. How he reacts to these distressing experiences is what determines how much of a man Paul D is.Because Paul D does not want to settle down just to experience pain again, he decides to only "love just a little" (Morrison 45). Paul D decides to go through a life of numbness so that he will not be heartbroken like in Sweet Home ever again. However, this decision does not help him settle down in one place because he does not know himself yet to feel comfortable in any one place. This decision of his is why he does not understand Sethe's decision to sacrifice her children in order to save them from a life of slavery and exhaustion. He compares her to an animal and accuses her of loving her children too much. He thinks that a slave or former slave should not love something or someone too strongly because he or her is not used loving. This accusation from Paul F creates a forest between Paul D and Sethe. A Man who recognizes his purpose in life opens himself up for anything, while also preparing for the worst that can happen. By hiding his wants and ambitions, he is hurting himself because he will not gain any sense of identity. Therefore, he cannot call himself a man. After Paul D has this Epiphany, he returns back to Sethe and allows himself to love her completely. Also, although he does not agree with Sethe killing her child, he begins to understand why she did it and forgives her for it. He finally decides to settle down and discover who he is with Sethe.
Through his search for self-worth, Paul D finds that he cannot experience happiness and stability without acknowledging his past.

He also learns that he should not stop himself from loving for fear of hurt. Thus, the disposition of manhood is acquired by having a true sense of

identity.