Student Question
What is the significance of multiple perspectives in Toni Morrison's A Mercy?
Quick answer:
Multiple perspectives in Toni Morrison's A Mercy highlight the complexity of early American society and slavery in the 17th century. By incorporating diverse voices—Portuguese, Africans, Dutch, Native Americans, and mixed races—Morrison aligns form with content, illustrating that no issue, especially slavery, is monolithic. This approach allows for a richer narrative, showcasing individual stories like those of Florens, Lina, and Sorrow, and providing a deeper understanding of the era's cultural dynamics.
This is a complex novel. It basically concerns early America where slavery was just beginning (17th century). It also has a melding of races and they are all competing with one another. Toni Morrison mentions the Portuguese, Africans, Dutch, Native Americans and mixed races. If you look at it from this multi-cultural perspective, then you can say that the multiple perspectives that Toni Morrison uses fits her content. Form and content match.
Another benefit of having multiple perspective is the insight that no issue is monolithic. Moreover, something so complex as slavery will have various views as well. Finally, the multi-perspective approach shows that each individual also has their own story to tell. Hence, we read about Florens, Messalina (Lina), and Sorrow, to name a few. In a word, a multi-perspective approach offers an efficient way to tell a story through various voices.
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