Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part C (2024)

In “Beloved”, Toni Morrison's magnum opus, home transcends the physical dwelling to complex strata of psychological and emotional spaces within which the self should sustain an always-reconfigured identity and experience. It looks into how Morrison defines the idea of home through three interlocking dimensions: the physical, the psychological, and the emotional. Specifically, it looks at how the house becomes a symbol of haunting legacy in the form of slavery and trauma by analyzing the central physical space in the novel, 124 Bluestone Road. This research furthers an investigation into the psychological meaning of home to the central character, Sethe, concerning exploring how experiences of enslavement influence her sense of belonging and herself through experiences of memories. Finally, we consider the emotional repercussion of 'home' embedded in the relationships and interior problems of the characters, focusing on how such a search for this safe, nurturing space is reflective of broader themes of survival, identity, and healing. By very broad analysis, this paper seeks to establish how Morrison has used the notion of home to underscore the complexity of post-slavery existence and the quest that seeks personal and communal redemption.