A Mercy by Toni Morrison addresses life's biggest issues about choosing to love and protect rather than the ability to be close to those you love. The end of the novel, narrated by Floren's mother, provides key insight into the book's foundation. He knows, above all, that his daughter's protection must come first, leaving Florens scared, alone, but ultimately safe. Morrison weaves a story that shows how the people in Floren's life, together, constitute a mother figure and are, ultimately, the source of the mental freedom her chosen ones have gained at the end of the novel, even though all the while she believes of being alone. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay From the beginning of the novel, it is evident that Florens is looking for a mother figure in his life. Parental love and influence are some of the most important shaping factors in a child's life. Without adequate love and affection, children become dissociative, unable to interact with people at a perceived normal level. Florens is a little strange because her mannerisms come from so many different models. From the beginning, Jacob is perceived as a dissolute father/protective figure. It provides her with the long-awaited stability in her life. Jacob welcomes Florens for his own purposes. He sees it as something that hopefully Rebekka “would be eager to have,” but also because he understands what it means to be an orphan and have the possibility of losing your family (Morrison, 37). He states quite directly that “there is no good place in the world for the abandoned” (Morrison 37). Although he doesn't fully understand why he takes Florens in, as most of his intentions are for Rebekka, he vaguely associates with this young girl and the situation she finds herself in because she is an orphan. There is nothing worse than not having a place of belonging and he associates this feeling. It also allows him to empathize with the lack of motherhood that plays a recurring role in the story. Rebekka can't be a mother to her children as they continue to die before her eyes, and Jacob lacks anything remotely to do with a family. Florens' mother very deliberately states at the end of the novel that the reason she did what she did in sending Florens away was because Jacob saw her as "human and not pieces of eight" (Morrison, 195). One mother, Floren's mother, recognizes that this man is the right choice for her daughter because he will keep her safe and protect her, as any other mother would because he sees her as more than just property. It is also evident that Florens is connected to Jacob throughout the story, whether through her protection or just in her memories. Florens has a strange connection with the shoes that follow her as she ages. They are all given to her by important people in her life, people she will eventually leave behind. She wears Senora D'Ortega's heels avoided by her mother due to impracticality, Lina's moccasins, and Jacob's boots as she goes to fetch the blacksmith. He takes off his boots quickly, leaving the blacksmith and leaving the life he thought he had; “It's hard without the gentlemen's boots” (Morrison, 184). The fact that he no longer has the boots represents his growth from a dependent person to an independent person. She depends on her mother, but she is abandoned, she depends on Jacob but he dies, and she depends on the blacksmith and he casts her aside. She puts her trust in people and walks in their shoes only to be left behind and that's a big part of her breaking free at the end of the novel, and fulfilling at least part of what her mother wanted for her in giving her up. The blacksmith is largely onerepresentation of the love that Florens thinks he absolutely needs and wants in his life. It is different from a parent's love that he desires, but is also similar in that he sees it as unconditional acceptance. When Florens argues with the blacksmith after wounding Malaik, he accuses her of having a "savage" body and mind, and his reasoning in return is that she "worships him" (Morrison, 166). At first she doesn't understand her reasoning because for her love and adoration are things she could never refuse, and for him to do so blatantly is a ruin to what she understands. For her, it is of the utmost importance that she feels that she loves this man and that she would give up her life to be with him and continue to have that love and affection. Unfortunately, he doesn't see her the same way because she isn't his family. His child is his family, and family, being unconditional, comes first. It's a heartbreaking moment for Florens because it's another confirmation that the only person she truly has is herself. And above all, the blacksmith is doing exactly what his mother did, with the intention of saving and protecting a child, but in both situations Florens cannot understand it. She feels like a victim in both scenarios, when in reality she is the one being saved from a life of abuse and addiction. Throughout the story, Florens does not understand his personal worth. She spends her life trying to be worthy of others and prove that she belongs in their lives, but she doesn't spend enough time trying to understand, know, and accept herself. His mother talks about the slaves coming from Barbados after the long journey on their ship; “Now, wide-eyed, they tried to please, to show their ability and worth to live,” and after their arrival they hardened (Morrison. 194). Even though Florens never made that journey, she spent her entire life being tender and downtrodden. She doesn't stand up for herself in the way that matters and doesn't understand until the end of the novel that her worth is hers alone. For her to realize that she is a “lion” who does not need to worry about what others think of her is incredibly enlightening (Morrison, 187). However, to get to that point, it takes him a long time to get over what she thinks others want her to be. Lina is one of the people in Floren's life who comes closest to a spiritual guide than ever before. Help Florens see the world as it is and show her the other side where people and the world shape who you are; “The gentleman comes out. The mistress gets up and runs to him. His bare skin is covered in winter green. Lina and I looked at each other. What are you afraid of? I ask her. Nothing, says Lina. Why then does he run to the Lord? Because he can, Lina replies. We never shape the world, he says. The world shapes us” (Morrison, 83). This is a crucial moment in the novel because Florens understands what love can do for people and what it could do for her. She later admits that Lina's words actually confuse her because she doesn't think it was the world that shaped her, that instead it was the blacksmith all this time. Unbeknownst to her, though, it doesn't really shape her until it's no longer a part of her life. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay It is the lack of people that allows her to understand what she must do when faced with being sold again. Florens also doesn't believe anyone is there for her unless she does. Lina is his constant companion in discussions of spirituality and believes that there are “spirits who watch over warriors and hunters and there are those who guard virgins and mothers” (Morrison, 80). Florens does not believe he fits into any of these categories and therefore does not deserve to seek or have any.