The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South
Toni Morrison’s novel <i>Beloved</i> includes a namesake character representing both Christianity and African cosmology. Beloved is neither straightforwardly good nor evil but serves as a dualistic and spiritual symbol. Though one could interpret Morrison’s narrative to support a postmod...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/171 |
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| author | Charity L. Gibson |
| author_facet | Charity L. Gibson |
| author_sort | Charity L. Gibson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toni Morrison’s novel <i>Beloved</i> includes a namesake character representing both Christianity and African cosmology. Beloved is neither straightforwardly good nor evil but serves as a dualistic and spiritual symbol. Though one could interpret Morrison’s narrative to support a postmodern religious multiplicity of voices, the potentially problematic theology still allows the readers to engage in useful discussions about the spiritual and cultural inheritance of the American South. Morrison’s narrative is only compatible with a Christian or African religious lens through recognizing symbolization as a representation of cultural manifestations rather than an endorsement of multiple worldviews. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eaf5b0774584416c9d761c3b6fa31b4a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-eaf5b0774584416c9d761c3b6fa31b4a2025-08-20T02:44:39ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-02-0116217110.3390/rel16020171The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American SouthCharity L. Gibson0College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO 65737, USAToni Morrison’s novel <i>Beloved</i> includes a namesake character representing both Christianity and African cosmology. Beloved is neither straightforwardly good nor evil but serves as a dualistic and spiritual symbol. Though one could interpret Morrison’s narrative to support a postmodern religious multiplicity of voices, the potentially problematic theology still allows the readers to engage in useful discussions about the spiritual and cultural inheritance of the American South. Morrison’s narrative is only compatible with a Christian or African religious lens through recognizing symbolization as a representation of cultural manifestations rather than an endorsement of multiple worldviews.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/171MorrisonAfrican religionChristianitypostmodernism<i>Beloved</i> |
| spellingShingle | Charity L. Gibson The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South Religions Morrison African religion Christianity postmodernism <i>Beloved</i> |
| title | The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South |
| title_full | The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South |
| title_fullStr | The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South |
| title_short | The Duality of Toni Morrison’s <i>Beloved</i>: Postmodern Religious Symbols That Highlight the Inherited Legacy of the American South |
| title_sort | duality of toni morrison s i beloved i postmodern religious symbols that highlight the inherited legacy of the american south |
| topic | Morrison African religion Christianity postmodernism <i>Beloved</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/2/171 |
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