Female Relationships Formed Amongst the Vaark Household

¶ … female relationships formed amongst the Vaark household and analyze how these relationships change through the movement of the plotline.

In the book A Mercy, Toni Morrison is discussing the changing roles of women and how these relationships continue to evolve. This occurs in three parts of the novel to include: the beginning, the middle and the end. Each one of these areas is illustrating how these transformations are taking place and the way they affect the plotline. (Morrison)

In the beginning, the book is discussing these shifts by providing a basic introduction of the various women. These include: focusing on the lives of Rebekka and Floren. As far as Rebekka is concerned, there is a concentration on her life prior to coming to America. What happened is she is forced to choose between becoming the bride of Jacob Vaark (a man she has never met) or going into prostitution. (Morrison)

At the age of 16, she decides to make the journey from England and marries Vaark. This is supposed to be something that will provide her with a way of starting a family and living a comfortable life. However, she discovers that Vaark is a poor farmer who is struggling to make end meets. This means that her life will become filled with challenges despite being forced into something that she did not choose for herself. (Morrison)

Floren is slave who was brought to America from Africa and is forced to work under a brutal master named Senior D'Ortega. He is tobacco famer who is wealthier than Vaark. However, the industry is going through some hard times and he has no money to pay him for the debt. In exchange, he offers him with his slave named Floren. She is a young black girl who is forced to endure tremendous amounts of cruelty at the hands of D'Ortega. Vaark is easier to work with and brings her to his farm. (Morrison)

These different female relationships were formed among the Vaark household out of the need to escape persecution and cruelty. The only difference is that this occurs in various parts of the world. To escape these realities, both women are sent to America to experience a new life. In the case of Rebekka, she goes to America as a mail order bride to settle a debt. Whereas Floren; is sent as a slave and must endure cruelty at the hands of Senior D'Ortega. (Morrison)

Once they begin living on Jacob Vaark's farm, is when they are supposed to have better conditions. This is demonstrating how both women are brought to the same location to satisfy some kind of debt that was owed. At the same time, they have to go through tremendous amounts of hardship along way and do not know what will happen to them in the future. This is used to establish a common bond among the female characters, as they have went through similar challenges. The only differences are that they come from contrasting parts of the world. (Morrison)

In the middle of the book is when these relationships will continue to evolve. This is when the two women realize that they share a common bond. However, they also see that they are nothing more than the property of Vaark. For Rebekka, she is his wife and is supposed to be subservient to him at all times. This does not give her a sense of freedom (despite living a better lifestyle). (Morrison)

While Floren, is supposed to have less cruelty by being freed from the harsh conditions that existed on Senior D'Ortega's farm. However, she comes to realize that this is not the case. She is nothing more than property which belongs to him and must continue to be subservient to Vaark. (Morrison)

These contrasting views are illustrating how the female relationships are continuing to evolve. The way that this is taking place is through demonstrating how both women in the household have more freedom and better conditions. However, this is a small price to pay as they are still nothing more than property which belongs to Vaark and must be subservient to him at all times. (Morrison)

In this aspect, they come to the realization that they are nothing more than property which belongs to him. These elements are utilized to demonstrate how their relationships are evolving based upon the reality that nothing has changed in the larger sense. This is used to demonstrate how both women have a common bond that is continuing to grow from the frustrations they have with their current situation. (Morrison)

In the end of the book, is when there is a total transformation in these relationships and the way the various characters are interacting with each other. This is occurring is based upon the changes that are happening in Jacob Vaark's life. This is taking place through illustrating how he wants something more than the little farm that he owns. (Morrison)

Instead, he realizes that more money can be made by investing in sugar plantations in the Caribbean. This is because he learns that it is a crop which is in demand and has greater amounts of influence. The results are that he sees a major transformation in his lifestyle and begins to become more affluent. (Morrison)

However, these changes also lead to Vaark developing small pox and becoming gravely ill. In response, he turns to Rebekka and wants her to run the farm. The problem is that she catches Jacob's small pox and becomes ill herself. She is fearful that without her around, the women of farm will have no one to look out for them or their best interests. (Morrison)

Floren has gone to a freed blacksmith from New Amsterdam (i.e. New York City) to seek out an herbal potion which can cure the disease. Yet, in the process is when she become sexually attracted to him and wants him more than any other man. He realizes this and rejects her based upon the fact that she is slave who has nothing to offer him. (Morrison)