Sword: a weapon (as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority(173)
While Stamp Paid was making up his mind to visit 124 for Baby Suggs’
sake, Sethe was trying to take her advice: to lay it all down, sword and shield. Not just to acknowledge the advice Baby Suggs gave her, but actually to
take it.
coercive power
