The theme of slavery in Beloved by Toni Morrison is a profound exploration of its dehumanizing effects and the lasting trauma it inflicts on individuals and communities. Through the experiences of Sethe, Paul D, and other characters, Morrison illustrates the physical and psychological scars left by slavery. The novel delves into the struggle to reclaim identity and humanity in the face of such profound cruelty, emphasizing the enduring impact of past injustices on the present and future.

The novel opens with the haunting presence of Sethe's dead child in her home, signified by the line "124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom." This reflects Sethe's troubled past and the collective suffering of slaves. The house, number 124, embodies unresolved memories of slavery, which persist until Sethe, with community support, begins to heal. The ghost of Beloved symbolizes the suffering of countless slaves and the memory of slavery's horrors. It is only when the community comes together that Sethe can move on and rid 124 of its vengeful spirits.

Baby Suggs' words highlight the deep-seated pain and suffering inherent in the slave experience. She articulates the inescapable condition of suffering endured by those who survived slavery:

Anybody Baby Suggs knew, let alone loved, who hadn't run off or been hanged, got rented out, loaned out, bought up, brought back, stored up, mortgaged, won, stolen or seized.

This quote underscores the intrinsic pain of being Black in America during slavery, challenging the notion of America as a land of freedom and opportunity. Baby Suggs' perspective reveals a vision of "two Americas," where the reality for descendants of slaves starkly contrasts with the traditional American narrative.

The novel also explores the bond between slave mothers and their children, a relationship fraught with love and fear. Mothers in the slave community faced the constant threat of their children being taken away or forced into slavery. This fear led some, like Sethe, to make the harrowing decision to kill their children to spare them from a life of torture and hard labor. This aspect of the novel highlights the extreme measures taken by slave mothers to protect their children from the horrors of slavery.

Slavery's dehumanizing effects are vividly depicted through Sethe's and Paul D's recollections of their time at Sweet Home. The schoolteacher's view of slaves as less-than-human is evident in his instructions to categorize Sethe's characteristics as human or animal. Paul D's experience with the three-spoke collar and iron bit further illustrates the brutal treatment slaves endured. He reflects on how even a rooster named Mister had more freedom than he did:

Mister was allowed to be and stay what he was. But I wasn't allowed to be and stay what I was. Even if you cooked him you'd be cooking a rooster named Mister. But wasn't no way I'd ever be Paul D again, living or dead. Schoolteacher changed me. I was something else and that something was less than a chicken sitting in the sun on a tub.

This passage underscores the loss of identity and humanity experienced by slaves, highlighting the profound impact of slavery on their sense of self.