토니 모리슨의 『자비』에 나타난 인종과 정체성

Race and Identity in Toni Morrison’s A Mercy

The purpose of this paper is to investigate issues of race and identity in Toni Morrison’s ninth novel, A Mercy (2008). Set in the late 17th century American colonial period, A Mercy shows the tumultuous lives of various groups of people who are from white aristocrats and white indentured servants to racially marginalized characters such as female black slaves, an Indian woman, and a mulatto woman. Morrison neither glorifies the founding father figure nor beautifies the lives of racially marginalized people. By telling the untold stories of excluded groups, Morrison allows readers to understand 17th century America in an objective way. Rewriting colonial American history from a different perspective enables us to realize the American myth is filled with the sacrifice of racially marginalized groups of people. Whites such as Jacob Vaark and his wife Rebekka fell victim to the harsh wilderness. Jacob, who might feel entitled to revel in his own glory, dies miserably due to his excessive desire. Likewise, Rebekka, who was proud of her position as mistress and enjoyed solidarity with a group of racially-mixed women, eventually refuses to cohabit with them and becomes selfish and a religious fanatic after the death of her husband. While the white characters are unable to recover their true identities, those of other races are able to restore their racial identities and subjectivity after going through severe identity crises. For example, Florence, abandoned by her own mother, finds it hard to realize her true self and tries to subordinate herself to both her master or her lover, the blacksmith. Later, however, after going through various experiences such as the encounter with racist villagers and the betrayal of the blacksmith, Florence realizes her true subjectivity. Likewise, Lina, who was confused about her identity after being brought to Presbyterians, discovers her subjectivity and plays a positive role in the Milton plantation, giving advice to Florence and helping Rebekka. In addition to Florence and Lina, Sorrow, who suffered from a split identity after being abandoned on a ship, recovers her true identity after delivering her second baby and changing her name into Complete. Therefore, by emphasizing the significance of identity, solidarity, and inter-connectedness among different races, Morrison tries to illustrate a recon-ciliation between whites and non-whites for betterment of the human condition. More importantly, Morrison asks readers to contemplate the meaning of American identity and the origin of America through this novel.