Part Two: Chapters 24–25 Summary: Chapter 24 Paul D, who has
been sleeping in the basement of the local church, is filled
with despair. He reflects on his past and notes that his two
half brothers, Paul A and Paul F, are the only family he has
ever known. He does not remember his mother and never saw his
father. Throughout his life, whenever he met large black
families living together, he loved to hear them describe to him
how they were related. Paul D’s thoughts turn to Mr. Garner, who
always said that he treated his slaves as real men. In his mind,
Paul D has contrasted schoolteacher’s emasculating and
dehumanizing treatment of him and his fellow slaves with the
more humane treatment of Mr. Garner. Now Paul D begins to follow
Halle in questioning whether there was any difference in the
slaves’ condition under the two men. Paul D partially blames his
despair on his previous belief that he could build a life with
Sethe. He believes that he set his goals too high and has
consequently suffered a great fall. Yet