Sethe's Choices

Sethe reacts in two different ways when a white man comes into her yard. The second time the danger is imagined, but no less real in her own mind. The first time, four armed men are coming, prepared to find her and drag her and her children back to slavery, or if absolutely necessary kill them. From a typical perspective, there would not seem to be any real choice: she could try hiding, running, or even attacking, but in every case there is still a good chance she would fail. Usually that would be the end of the choices, but Sethe finds a way out that absolutely ensures none of her children would be taken: she kills them, or at least attempts to. Setting aside all the moral implications, it was the strongest choice she could make. The second time, Sethe attacks Mr. Bodwin with the icepick, even while she is being brainwashed by Beloved and seeming smaller, almost as if Beloved is stealing part of Sethe's being. 

While I can't agree with the actions themselves (the second one was unnecessary, and the first, well, at best morally ambiguous) I do admire that Sethe takes action, very decisively. Especially in the second case, when Beloved has such a strong hold on her and doesn't want her to leave, Sethe decides to attack who she probably believes is schoolteacher. It's a very unwise choice, but it's still a strong-willed one.