Post colonialism and Cultural Studies Theory can be seen heavily in the extract from Toni Morrison’s A Mercy (2008) piece. This essay will critically assess by firstly discussing the contrast between the reaction of Slavery between the two main characters, secondly, discussing the racial segregation shown in the text. Lastly, this essay will examine the contrasts between items of luxury and the slavery associated with it.
Firstly, in the piece, there is a stark contrast between the reactions of the main characters, Jacob and Ortega, towards slavery. D’Ortega does not seem to see the slaves as people
“You sell them. Do you know the prices they garner?”
From this, D’Ortega views the slaves as business, or items to sell and trade. The dehumanisation of them is shown,
“D’Ortega identifying talents, weaknesses and possibilities, but silent about the scars, the wounds like misplaced veins tracing their skin.” …show more content…
The way the slaves are treated like cattle at an auction. D’Ortega shows no remorse for their injuries or what they have been through, just how useful they can be, their “talents… and possibilities.” There’s a comparison to animals in parts of the text, “hog cuts dripping with molasses.” The way the text speaks of the slaves, the reader feels the dehumanizing view those like, D’Ortega, would have had on them. The picture the reader is shown, very much makes them seem like animals in a slaughter house. There is genuine fear from the slaves as they are being lined up and judged, afraid to look anyone in the eye, unsure of where to look, how to act. There’s a hierarchy of importance due to their cultural differences (i.e. skin colour), the slaves are continuously treated as
Firstly, in the piece, there is a stark contrast between the reactions of the main characters, Jacob and Ortega, towards slavery. D’Ortega does not seem to see the slaves as people
“You sell them. Do you know the prices they garner?”
From this, D’Ortega views the slaves as business, or items to sell and trade. The dehumanisation of them is shown,
“D’Ortega identifying talents, weaknesses and possibilities, but silent about the scars, the wounds like misplaced veins tracing their skin.” …show more content…
The way the slaves are treated like cattle at an auction. D’Ortega shows no remorse for their injuries or what they have been through, just how useful they can be, their “talents… and possibilities.” There’s a comparison to animals in parts of the text, “hog cuts dripping with molasses.” The way the text speaks of the slaves, the reader feels the dehumanizing view those like, D’Ortega, would have had on them. The picture the reader is shown, very much makes them seem like animals in a slaughter house. There is genuine fear from the slaves as they are being lined up and judged, afraid to look anyone in the eye, unsure of where to look, how to act. There’s a hierarchy of importance due to their cultural differences (i.e. skin colour), the slaves are continuously treated as