Contrasting treatment of slaves in BelovedSlavery has always been known as a relationship between one person entirely under the domination of another person. One of the horrible cases of slavery took place in the Americas between the 15th and 19th centuries. At this time, Europeans living in the New World were enslaving black people in Africa. White Europeans enslaved many black people from Africa, but the degree to which each master treated their slaves was different. This contrasting treatment of slaves is described in the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison. The two masters of the book; Mr. Garner and the teacher treat the same slaves very differently. Mr. Garner gives his slaves as much freedom as he wants. Conversely, the teacher controls his slaves with an iron fist. The way the teacher manages his slaves is a superior way of controlling the slaves because it is more direct. He gave his slaves a sense of identity, while Mr. Gardner deceived his slaves and provided them with a lack of identity. The first master, Mr. Garner was in charge of the farm called "Sweet Home" before the other master named Schoolteacher took over. Mr. Garner directed his slaves without raising his fist. He was a seemingly polite master. He considered his slaves “men” and allowed them to do things that most owners would not do. His slaves were allowed and encouraged to correct him, and “even to challenge him” (p. 125). He allowed his slaves “to buy a mother, choose a horse or a wife, handle guns, and even learn to read if they wanted” (p. 125). These were actions that a typical slave owner would not allow. But Mr. Garner was not a typical slave owner. He was a proud man and very satisfied with the way he ran his farm and his slaves. Some writers even feel that... middle of paper......and at home. He realized that he and the other slaves had all “been isolated in a wonderful lie” (p. 221). He eventually comes to the conclusion that life really wasn't any better under Mr. Garner. He was a slave both under Mr. Garner and under the schoolmaster. The only difference is that under the authority of the teacher, he had an identity. There are many different ways for one human being to control another. In the 19th century, slavery was a common practice in the southern states of the United States and throughout Latin America. At this time, many Africans were enslaved. Most Africans lived their lives knowing that their purpose in life was to be slaves. Others have lived their lives without identity, never truly realizing their life's purpose and, in doing so, living a life of deception. Works Cited: Morrison, Toni. Beloved. New York, Penguin Books USA Inc., 1988.