Medea In Salvage The Bones By Jesmyn Ward

In Salvage the Bones, Jesmyn Ward parallels the mythological story of Medea to highlight her representation of women. The use of Medea, who is embodied in various aspects within the three main female characters, allows Ward’s work to obtain a sense of universality from Greek mythology. Also with the incorporation, Ward is able to change the view of “blackness” that has plagued southern literature written by African-American authors. Salvage the Bones occurs in Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, following Esch,who has just found out she is pregnant, and her poor family just days before the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. Complimentary to the tension with the looming natural disaster, love is in the air between some of the characters. Medea, an anti-hero,

Impressively, China, a pit bull, takes on being the most impactful character in the novel. China symbolizes the ferocity, strength, loyalty and the biggest theme of the novel motherhood. Throughout Salvage the Bones, the male characters tend to downplay the power women have, indicating that they are weak. For instance, Esch’s father says “Them women like to have some to hold on to” (Ward 26). Another example, is when Manny is downplays China’s strength to his pit bull, Boss, stating, “Any dog give birth like they is less strong after….Take a lot out of an animal to nurse and nurture like that. Price of being female” (96 Ward). China’s strength and motherhood is represented when Skeetah defends her from Manny’s opinions saying, “That’s when they come to strength. They got something to protect. Thats power…Too give life….is to know whats worth fighting for” (96 Ward). Her motherhood is also present as Esch looks to China as what it is like to be a mother,wanting to ask her, “Is this what motherhood is?” (Ward 130). Thus, not only having some similarities with Medea but also Esch as well. Through theses examples, Ward shows although sexist views may see motherhood as weak, China is a contrasting symbol to that opinion. China consistently shows her power by besting Boss, a larger male pit bull, in their dog fight. Furthermore, has the loyalty but also the ability to nurture and

Katrina is too represent a woman wrath which could be ferocious, knowing no boundaries. This is best shown through Katrina, which is brought upon mother nature. Mother Nature has a perspective of being calm with beauty or horrifying causing disaster. Esch’s father makes the remark that “the storm has a name now. Like the worst, she’s a woman. Katrina” (Ward 124). Katrina like Esch and China also illustrates motherhood. Ward compares Katrina to Medea due to “her power to unmake worlds, to manipulate the elements, closely align with the storm.” What Ward is trying to display is that. Katrina is similar to Medea decided to end the world she desperately wanted by the murders committed; while opposing Esch, who did not with choosing to become a mother, electing to make a world for her unborn child. Katrina had the power to change the world as people knew it, as it caused a unbelievable amount of destruction. Esch describes Katrina as “the mother that swept the gulf and murdered…the murderous mother who cut us to the bone but left us alive…Katrina is the mother we will remember until the next mother with large, merciless hand, committed to blood, comes” (Ward 255). This leaves the reader drawing similarities to Medea wilding her weapon of murder, but indicates that motherhood and being female is very powerful, which may stem from only those who have felt motherhood can