beating back the past, and life

Sethe is practicing the maintenance of beating back the past throughout what we've read so far. How does that relate to Paul D's killing of Life? It is death via beating. It is close in proximity, in order to beat the past, it has to be right in front of you. What is gained and what is lost via the death of life, and the death of the past? How does Paul D's more figurative killing of Life relate to Sethe's killing of the life of her baby?

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