Moore, Geneva Cobb. "A Demonic Parody: Toni Morrison's A Mercy." The Southern Literary Journal 44. 1 (2011): 1-18. Web. Moore provides the reader with an understanding that the novel is a demonic parody - basically a representation of real experiences that changed history negatively. In the novel, the African, Native, and Black American population suffered greatly after European settlers came to America. Moore argues that violence and evil contributes to the construction of American history. As well as the historical events such as Bacon's Rebellion, and the European use of germ warfare used to kill the Natives. The author adds how authors such as Morrison use parody to "excavate and recreate history," and how the experiences lived through these parodies are what keeps these memory alive, for us to always remember, and never repeat again. The points that the author gave were spot-on and contributed very well to the entire article, the information presented is far from vague and one reading can comprehend the idea of gothic/demonic parody in the novel.
Roynon, Tessa. "Her Dark Materials: John Milton, Toni Morrison, and Concepts of "Dominion" in A Mercy." African American Review 44. 4 (2011): 593-606. Web. Roynon compared many of the characters from A Mercy to Paradise Lost, as well as some characters to mythological or biblical figures. Comparing characters like the Blacksmith to Hades - God of the Underworld, Zeus' brother. As well as Jacob Vaark to Adam - Created by God and was the first human. John Milton's Paradise Lost is frequently mentioned in the article since it discusses Adam and Eve's disobedience and fall. Roynon also discusses how Morrison created some of her characters to be different than they appear. From previous examples, Jacob Vaark was stumbling over his temptations of greed, the fragility his character has is unique. Milton repeatedly compares the characters from A Mercy to Paradise Lost, as he did with Lina to the unfallen Adam and Eve. The biblical symbols such as the gates, the animals and such, all represent a sense of "damned" and the bringing in of sin. The audience for this article is definitely m...
