ribes his heart as a "tin tobacco box." After his shocking experiences at Sweet Home and at the prison camp in Alfred, Georgia, he locks away his feelings and memories in this box, which has, by the time Paul D arrives at 124, rusted over completely. He operates only the part of his mind that helps him walk, eat, sleep, and sing. Since then he decided he would love nothing too deeply. By separating himself from his emotions, Paul D hopes to protect himself from further emotional damage. In order to secure this protection, Paul D gives up much of his humanity by foregoing feeling and gives up much of his self by keeping his memories inside. Although Paul D is convinced that nothing can pull the lid of his box open, his strange, dreamlike sexual encounter with Beloved caused the box to burst and his heart to glow red once aga
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