Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ Portrays an Institutionalized Dehumanization of the Slaves.

Answer

 Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ portrays an institutionalized dehumanization of the slaves.  -Elucidate. 

Toni Morrison’s (1931-2019) “Beloved” (1987 ) is a powerful novel that explores the deep scars left by the institution of slavery. One of the central themes of the novel is the dehumanization of slaves. It is portrayed in stark and painful detail through the characters’ experiences. Slavery not only strips away the humanity of the slaves but also leaves lasting psychological and emotional damage.

Slavery turns Humans into Property: In “Beloved,” slaves are treated as property rather than human beings. This is evident in how Schoolteacher, a cruel and calculating slave owner, views the slaves at Sweet Home. He categorizes their “human” and “animal” characteristics. It reduces them to mere objects of study rather than recognizing their humanity. Sethe recalls overhearing Schoolteacher instructing his nephew, saying, 

I told you to put her human characteristics on the left; her animal ones on the right. And don’t forget to line them up

This dehumanizing practice shows how slaves were seen as less than human. They were valued only for their labor and treated as commodities.

Dehumanization Through Violence: Violence is a tool used to enforce the dehumanization of slaves. Sethe’s memories of the violence she endured at Sweet Home are a constant reminder of her lack of agency and humanity. The novel describes how Sethe was brutally beaten and had her breast milk stolen by the Schoolteacher’s nephews. He treated her like an animal.  This act of violence is not just physical but also deeply symbolic.

Psychological Scars and Loss of Identity: The psychological impact of slavery is profound and lasting. Paul D, another former slave from Sweet Home, struggles with the memories of his past and the concussion he has survived. He tries to suppress these memories. He metaphorically describes it as a “tobacco tin” lodged in his chest. 

By the time he got to 124 nothing in this world could pry it [tobacco tin] open

This imagery of “tobacco tin” highlights how slavery has not only dehumanized Paul D but has also left him emotionally scarred and unable to express or confront his pain.

Fragmented Families and Motherhood: Slavery’s dehumanization extends to the destruction of families and the denial of motherhood. Sethe’s reflection on her mother, who was forced to discard her children born of rape by white men. It illustrates the harsh reality. 

She threw them all away but you

Sethe’s experience of being separated from her children shows how slavery tears families apart. To protect her child from slavery, Sethe made the heartbreaking choice to kill her. This shows how slavery disrupts natural family bonds and puts mothers in impossible situations.

The Ghost of Slavery’s Past: The haunting presence of Beloved shows that the dehumanization of slavery doesn’t end with freedom. Beloved represents the child who Sethe killed to protect from slavery. She shows the deep trauma and guilt that Sethe still feels. Sethe believes that Beloved is the spirit of her dead daughter, returned to haunt her. This belief shows how the past controls Sethe’s life and keeps her in pain and regret.

 I only need to know one thing. How bad is the scar?

This question symbolizes Sethe’s inability to escape the wounds of her past.

In Termination, Toni Morrison’s Beloved powerfully depicts the institutionalized dehumanization of slaves and its lasting impact on their lives. Through the experiences of Sethe, Paul D, and other characters, the novel illustrates how slavery reduces humans to property and destroys families. Even after gaining physical freedom, the emotional and mental chains of slavery remain. These chains continue to haunt those who suffered its horrors.