Sethe is a central character in the novel Beloved by Toni Morrison. She is a former enslaved woman who escapes from a plantation in the South to seek freedom in the North. Sethe's past is marked by trauma and loss, particularly the death of her children, which deeply affects her life and choices. Throughout the story, Sethe struggles with her memories and the haunting presence of her deceased daughter, whom she believes has returned as a ghost. Her journey explores themes of motherhood, memory, and the impact of slavery on personal identity and relationships.