Beloved is a novel by Toni Morrison that was published in 1987. The novel is about a woman, Sethe, who was a slave in the antebellum South and who escapes to Ohio after she kills her infant daughter rather than have her returned to slavery.
The title of the novel refers to the ghost of Sethe's daughter, whom she calls Beloved. The ghost is a symbol of Sethe's loss and her guilt. It haunting presence reminds her of what she has done and what she has lost.
The character Beloved also represents the pain and suffering of all slaves. She is a reminder of the atrocities that were committed against them. Her very existence is a testament to their resilience and strength.