The cast. Slavery in the Civil War and the African American struggle throughout history influence the author of Beloved in all of her works. Born in Lorain, Ohio, on February 18, 1931, Chloe Anthony Wofford became one of the most influential and inspiring authors of the century. The second child of four, Chloe was extremely independent and eventually changed her name to Toni. After leaving home, he attended Howard University and Cornell University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts, respectively. Marrying Harold Morrison in 1958 brought Morrison great joy, but they divorced in 1964. From that relationship she was blessed with two beautiful children, Harold and Slade. He often uses his children's names in his works, such as Harold's in Beloved. Morrison has written 7 novels, including The Bluest Eye, Beloved and his last novel to date, Love. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to Morrison for Beloved, as well as the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Race Relations in 1988. Morrison also received the American Book Award in 1988, making Beloved one of his most decorated novels. Breaking many barriers in the field of art, the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Morrison. This made her the first African American to win the award. Beloved is his most recognized novel across the country and was rated one of the best novels of the last 25 years by the New York Times. The first-hand account of slave life in the United States after the Civil War is described through the use of imagery. and symbols in Beloved. Sethe, a runaway slave, reaches freedom at her mother-in-law's home but is chased by her former owner. Acting recklessly and not wanting a life of slavery for his children, Set...... middle of paper ......t with the only energy and determination they had to achieve freedom, the lyrics of Beloved explains that “asserting possession of [your] liberated self was not” an obstacle to the weak (Morrison 111-112). The way slaves were treated while confined to their owners' lands scarred them until their deaths. Gender neutrality has led to safety concerns and enabled cooperation through physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Animal inclinations were shown in all slaves like Sethe when she killed her children. The identity crisis also arises from the acts of slave owners and constitutes a great obstacle to the acceptance of freedom. Despite all their hardships, slaves had the willpower to never stop trying to love themselves and others. Slaves only wanted freedom and acceptance once out of slavery, however, they could have neither without having both.