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Helene Huynh

February 5th, 2015


Power and Imagination
Alan MacCormack
Denial of Empathy
Throughout the years, and even today in everyday life; there are things
that occur that make us question humanity. Certain events like the
Holocaust, Civil wars, and genocides convey the lack of empathy that
humans can have for one another. There was a time where slavery was not
based on race. Toni Morrisons A Mercy illustrates a period where slavery was
not a racial issue. The book depicts several perspectives from characters
who would be living within said time period.
A Mercy consists of 5 main perspectives: Jacob the landowner, Rebekka the
wife, and Lina, Florens and Sorrow as the slaves. Jacob does not want to
necessarily own slaves or indentured servants, yet he owns three. Lina is a
Native American who is highly protective of Rebekka and Florens; the main
character of the story, who is African American. Throughout the book, Lina
manipulates and convinces the people around her that Sorrow (another
outcast in the residence) is bad luck and should be avoided. At this time, it
seems like people were not fully aware that mental illnesses existed. In the
chapter where the reader learns about Sorrows story, She talks to her twin

a version of herself. In reality, she talks with herself and is known to wander
aimlessly. It can be assumed that Sorrow probably has poor mental health.
Either way, in todays society, others would have empathy or sympathy for
those who are handicapped in anyway shape or form. But as seen in A
Mercy, Lina treats Sorrow like trash, going as far as taking Sorrows child and
letting him float away in a basket off in a lake. The way Lina interacted with
Sorrow shows how Lina held herself as a person of higher authority or power
than Sorrow. Thus, Lina didnt believe that Sorrow was even worthy of
empathy.
Although Lina disliked Sorrow, she loved Florens and Rebekka. Lina dotes on
Florens when she first arrives at the property, she empathizes with Florens
difficult adjustment to a new place, she guides and cares for Florens. Linas
relationship with Rebekka is a very close relationship, very much like best
friends or even sisters. Thus, when Rebekka comes down with smallpox, Lina
is the one who tends to her and stays by her side. Lina has empathy for
others, but she only limits it to people who matter to her. The same can be
said about history and todays society. People have empathy, but they only
empathize with who they like or whoever is similar to them. Take for instance
race, some say that racism doesnt exist but it exists as long as hate exists.
Much like Zerubavels philosophy that boundaries only exist if we believe in
them. The same can be said about any kind of prejudice in the world today.
When Florens is traveling to find a new home, she seeks shelter within a
home where a daughter is being abused to prove that she is not a

demon.The morning following her stay, church goers come to the house and
are shocked by her appearance. They make her undress to observe her
Swine look at me with more connection when they raise their heads from
the trough (113). They are highly skeptical about her presence. Throughout
the book, nothing is mentioned about Florens skintone until this chapter,
where she is clearly being scrutinized purely because of her african descent.
Racism as said before is still happening today, people will hate and harass
others just because of their differences. They lack the ability to relate to
others or to sympathize or empathize with them.
Even though most of the book illustrates more dark back stories than good
ones, one character that is admirable is Jacob Vaark. He is a landowner and
he does not believe in forced labor, yet he has slaves. He treats his slaves
almost like equals. Jacob strongly dislikes those whom beat and abuse their
slaves. An act of mercy he did at the beginning of the book is taking in
Florens, he thought that having a child around the house to help his wife
would be a good thing since his wife just recently lost a child. When you read
about how Jacob was an orphan, you cant help but feel bad for him, and
admire him for being such a civil and fair person.
Whether it be in a book or in reality, we can see that oppression, prejudice
and hate occurs everywhere. Even when there are a few good people, it
seems like hate overpowers the good in society. Kristoff addresses the issue
of oppression through his documentary of Half the Sky a documentary about
global oppression of women. Along with Kristoff, Martin Luther King

addresses the how racism is wrong, how everyone no matter what is human.
We all are human and we should all be treated as decent human beings.

Works Cited
Kristof, Nicholas D., and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression
into Opportunity
for Women Worldwide. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. Print.
Morrison, Toni. A Mercy. New York: Knopf, 2008. Print.
Zerubavel, Eviatar. The Fine Line: Making Distinctions in Everyday Life. New
York: Free, 1991.
Print.

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