Cultural Identity in Beloved

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison in terms of cultural identity through post-colonial perspective. In Beloved which deals with slavery in America in nineteenth century, by portraying a true history of a Black slave mother, Morrison reflects the voice of voiceless, sufferers, and others who are shut from any contentment in life. She represents bluntly the unpleasant experiences of constructing identity in the shadow of racism. The novel illustrates the hardships and pressure grieved by the slaves of a farm called Sweet Home in the period of the Civil War focusing on the misery of Sethe's poor, depressed family. In this study, the factors affecting African American identity and the process of constructing the cultural identity of African Americans are discussed through viewing the period`s deep-seated developments.