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Abstract
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Toni Morrison's Beloved, a novel that centers on the protagonist Sethe's terrifying memories and the haunting presence of her slain child, explores the psychological and cultural ramifications of slavery. Morrison uses the lens of postcolonialism to examine themes of historical trauma, identity, and the aftermath of oppression, much like Edward Said did with colonial power structures. The book critiques the ways that slavery still afflicts African American communities and reveals the deep scars left by this systemic abuse.
In applying Edward Said's theories to Beloved, the focus is on how Morrison confronts the power dynamics between oppressors and the oppressed. Using Said’s concept of cultural hegemony, we can analyze how slavery, much like colonization, imposed dehumanizing identities on African Americans, erasing their narratives. Morrison counters this by giving voice to the silenced histories and memories of the enslaved, with the character of Beloved representing the inescapable past that refuses to be forgotten. This approach demonstrates the power of narrative to resist dominant cultural forces.
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