Shifting Point Of View In Toni Morrison's A Mercy

Toni Morrison’s, A Mercy, set in the late 17th century tells a story of a young slave girl, Florens, and her surroundings through the unique use of shifting point of view. The shifting points of view bring the novel to life, as the reader is able to become part of the story, through the thoughts and words of the characters. Morrison’s use of shifting point of view helps the reader to understand the hardships and emotional struggle of slavery because the reader is able to become part of the novel with exact thoughts of each narrator. Each chapter is set in a different point of view, from Florens first person point of view to the view from many of her acquaintances. Florens is looking for love, but we find through her thoughts that, after being given away she needs to accept love for herself. From Florens’ chapters, the reader is able to learn who she believes that she is, and from the other characters points of view, …show more content…
Florens finally realizes that her love with the blacksmith is not going to work, and we see this through her sorrow. With this first person point of view, the reader is able to gain access to her psychological views. Florens writes this chapter in hopes that the blacksmith will one day read her words. She turns violent and dark, as he has broken her heart. Florens writes, “ My arms ache but I have need to tell you this. I cannot tell it to anyone but you” (188). We can establish from Florens’ words that once she finishes writing to the blacksmith, although her arms are hurting, she will feel free because she has finished what she started. Florens has come to terms with her struggle for the love of the blacksmith, yet, the intimacy that the reader holds with Florens in this chapter shows that she is still uneasy about her mother pushing her away to go and live with the