There seems to be a lack of humanity within the community that Sethe is raising her children in. Earlier in the novel, a little boy taunts Denver over the fact that her mother went to jail. Denver was shunned by both the community and herself, refusing to even hear confirmation of her mothers' wrongdoings, instead, going deaf. I mean, what kind of a person do you have to be to blatantly walk up to a little girl and say something like "Your mom went to prison, right? Haha." Today, that kid would have gotten into trouble, and the suspended for playing imaginary war with his friends (but that's a different issue). But no, nothing happened to that little boy, perhaps encouraging his behavior. Denver dropped out of school, that day being her first and only, and refused to go back. The community is already a negative environment that she turns herself away from.
And what's with the community not saying anything about the Schoolteacher coming to take away Sethe and her children into slavery and then judging her when she kills her children? Half of the community are freed slaves! It isn't like they couldn't relate to her situation and feel sympathetic for her! What, was it because Baby Suggs gave them too much food to eat at the celebration the day before? That's some sense of entitlement if I ever did see it (and I have, I work in a sit-down, middle-class restaraunt for crying out loud).
The community shuns Sethe and her children, eventually causing the ultimate downfall of her household, for reasons that are superficial and ridiculous.
Community, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.
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