The Restoration of History through Magical Realism in Toni Morison's Beloved

Abstract

Abstract

One of the most significant narrative devices, magical realism, emerged in postcolonial literature for a number of reasons. Many authors have used it in their works for a variety of purposes. Toni Morison, one of the most important postcolonial writers, has utilized this technique in her novel Beloved to reconstruct the history of enslaved African-Americans. For this purpose, she has used magical realism as a valuable tool to defy the prevailing command of history. The history of slavery significantly influences the psyche of the characters, i.e. Sethe, Baby Suggs, and Paul. D. This study highlights the response of black people to re-establish their history and re-narrate it from their own viewpoint. The textual analysis technique employed in the book, within the context of postcolonial theory, shows how Toni Morrison gives voice to the marginalized and restores history.

      Keywords: Magical Realism, historiography, postcolonialism