Risky, thought Paul D, very risky. For a used-to-be-slave woman to love anything that much was dangerous, especially if it was her children she had settled on to love. The best thing, he knew, was to love just a little bit; everything, just a little bit, so when they brok its back, or shoved it in a croaker sack, well, maybe you'd have a little love left over for the next one.
In Toni Morrison's "Beloved," Paul D reflects on the peril of emotional attachment, particularly for someone like Sethe, a former slave. He perceives the act of loving deeply as a dangerous gamble, especially when it comes to her children. This weight of love comes with the potential for profound loss, which is an inherent risk given their traumatic past. Paul D believes that a more cautious approach of loving only a little can safeguard against the pain of loss.
This perspective highlights the struggle of former slaves who grapple with deep emotional scars and the fear of vulnerability. By advocating for a restrained form of love, Paul D suggests that emotional self-preservation becomes essential in navigating a world where loss is commonplace. He implies that if one loves less intensely, they may retain some capacity to endure future heartbreak, which reflects a nuanced understanding of survival in a harsh reality.
