A Mercy—Jessica Ramey

Morrison, Toni. New York: Random House, 2008. 176 pp.

In A Mercy, Toni Morrison writes about how diverse characters are struggling to survive in a society full of slavery, disease, and misery. Each character brings a diverse element to the story. Rebekkah gives her account of coming to America to marry a man she has never met. This man is named Vaark and he is the master of the plantation on which the story takes place. Lina, a Native American woman, tells about the disease that killed many people in her tribe. Another woman who lives on the property with the other characters is named Florens, and she describes her account of finding medicines to help her community with the disease that has broken out. Although Morrison’s novel is one to definitely read and examine, the story can sometimes be difficult to follow, as it takes time to absorb the information before moving on to the next section of the book. The language used, however, is not an obstacle, and Morrison again astonishes the reader with her word choice and description. Although the book is not traditional in style—it does not have a building point to a climax followed by a resolution—the story does describe the journeys of Florens, Rebekkah, and Lina. By having such a diverse group of characters, Morrison is able to give a much more accurate and well-rounded account of slavery in the 1690s. I would not consider this book a page-turner, but it is one that is worth reading because of Morrison’s presence as a modern-day canonical writer. Although the story is written for a contemporary audience, Morrison still has a way of transporting our minds back to a place that was so long ago, and gives us a different perspective on the institution of slavery. The heart of each character’s story can easily be related to people who may have gone through similar situations. For example, Rebekkah’s story relates to many women who may have come to the United States for a husband, and it is through her account that we can see the innermost feelings and psyche of women much like herself. Lina also brings new insight as a Native American woman, and gives accounts of her tribe that are not commonly expressed in works on slavery. Through these stories, Morrison brings a much larger picture to the table: how all of these characters—no matter what their stories are—withstand a place that is consumed by slavery, disease, and isolation. Because her writing deals with complex issues, it is easy to examine this story piece by piece, and understand the important themes that Morrison wants us to recognize.