Trauma Without and Within in Toni Morrison’s A Mercy

Abstract

The shock of any trauma, I think changes your life. It’s more acute in the beginning and after a little time you settle back to what you were. However it leaves an indelible mark on your psyche. (Lifeson 1)

In Toni Morrison’s A Mercy each character undergoes the trauma of orphaned childhood. Minha mae, the mother of the protagonist, Florens is an African American purchased by D’Ortega. As Minha mae suffered a lot she wants to save her daughter, Florens and so she gives her to Jacob Vaark. Vaark accepts Florens as part-payment of a debt of her master. As Florens is rejected by her mother, she becomes an orphan. Jacob Vaark, the landowner and the master of Florens is himself an orphan boy. Rebekka, the mistress of Florens is married by Jacob Vaark when she becomes orphan by the rejection of her own father. Lina, the Native American servant of Jacob Vaark becomes an orphan when her tribes die of measles and so she is adopted by Jacob Vaark. In the case of Sorrow, she becomes an orphan when she loses her father in a ship-wreck and escapes as the sole survivor. Sorrow is also purchased by Jacob Vaark. Malaik, another orphan boy is adopted by Blacksmith. Thus all the main characters of this novel suffer the trauma of orphaned childhood.