Stamp Paid Character Analysis in Beloved

Stamp Paid is a former slave who works on the Underground Railroad and helps bring Sethe to 124 by ferrying her across the Ohio River. Late in the novel, he tells Paul D about Sethe’s murdering her child, which causes Paul D to leave 124. Stamp Paid feels guilty for his part in Paul D’s abandonment of Sethe, and works to make amends.

Stamp Paid Quotes in Beloved

The Beloved quotes below are all either spoken by Stamp Paid or refer to Stamp Paid. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Yet [Denver] knew Sethe’s greatest fear was...that Beloved might leave.... Leave before Sethe could make her realize that far worse than [death]...was what Baby Suggs died of, what Ella knew, what Stamp saw and what made Paul D tremble. That anybody white could take your whole self for anything that came to mind. Not just work, kill, or maim you, but dirty you. Dirty you so bad you couldn’t like yourself anymore. Dirty you so bad you forgot who you were and couldn’t think it up.

Related Characters: , , , , , ,

Page Number and Citation: 295

Explanation and Analysis:

Stamp Paid Character Timeline in Beloved

The timeline below shows where the character Stamp Paid appears in Beloved. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...met a black fisherman who gave her food and water. The man introduced himself as Stamp Paid and ferried Sethe across the river, where a woman named Ella found her and took... (full context)

Stamp Paid visits soon after Sethe’s arrival and, seeing her healthy baby, goes to a nearby stream... (full context)

Storytelling, Memory, and the Past Theme Icon

Back in the present, at the slaughterhouse where Stamp Paid and Paul D both work, Stamp Paid shows Paul D a news clipping about Sethe... (full context)

Stamp Paid plans to tell Paul D about the day Sethe killed her child, how the four... (full context)

Stamp Paid approaches 124, feeling bad that he has caused Paul D to leave the house. He... (full context)

Stamp Paid approaches 124 again, remembering how Baby Suggs became exhausted and stopped her gatherings at the... (full context)

Stamp Paid finally works up the nerve to knock on Sethe’s door, but no one answers. He... (full context)

Stamp Paid believes that the noises of 124 are the voices of angry, dead slaves and ex-slaves.... (full context)

Stamp Paid arrives at the Church and meets with Paul D, who is attempting to drink away... (full context)

Stamp Paid says he wants to make up for showing Paul D the news clipping about Sethe.... (full context)

Stamp Paid tells Paul D that he was at 124 on the day Sethe killed her child.... (full context)

Paul D and Stamp Paid discuss the day when the singing women came to the house and drove away Beloved,... (full context)

Everything you needfor every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Everything you need for every book you read.

Stamp Paid Character Analysis

Stamp Paid Quotes in Beloved

Stamp Paid Character Timeline in Beloved

Everything you need
for every book you read.