THE SUBJECT OF ENSLAVEMENT AND QUEST FOR SOCIAL IDENTITY IN TONI MORRISON’S BELOVED

Abstract

The study focuses on clear disconnection between the American dream and the reality of black people’s life, as seen by their history in America both before and after freedom. The Pulitzer-winning book Beloved by Toni Morrison awakens the ghost of slavery in American history, which has been long forgotten. It implies that the boundaries of the American dream life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as originally stated in the Declaration of Independence are part of the darkness. The ideal of showing love to all people that is, supporting and confirming their existence for their own sake as well as the sake of a just society is not included in that formulation. Morrison's novel focuses on the problems of love, as suggested by the study. Morrison's decision to Centre her investigation of love around a mostly forgotten historical event Margarita Garner's murder of her children to prevent their return to slavery is one of the mysteries the novel presents. Margaret Garner is the inspiration for the main character, Sethe's, narrative