A Mercy
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12
Themes
All Themes Human Bondage, Wealth, and Humanity The Oppression of Women, Violence, and Female Community Motherhood, Heartbreak, and Salvation Land, Exploitation, and the American Pastoral Religion, Morality, and Otherness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Florens Florens’s Mother The Blacksmith Lina Sorrow Rebekka Vaark Jacob Vaark D’Ortega The Reverend Father Widow Ealing Daughter Jane Willard Scully Malaik
Symbols
All Symbols Florens’s Shoes Jacob’s House Orphans
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A Mercy

by

Toni Morrison

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Human Bondage, Wealth, and Humanity Theme Icon
    Human Bondage, Wealth, and Humanity
  • The Oppression of Women, Violence, and Female Community Theme Icon
    The Oppression of Women, Violence, and Female Community
  • Motherhood, Heartbreak, and Salvation Theme Icon
    Motherhood, Heartbreak, and Salvation
  • Land, Exploitation, and the American Pastoral Theme Icon
    Land, Exploitation, and the American Pastoral
  • Religion, Morality, and Otherness Theme Icon
    Religion, Morality, and Otherness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Florens
  • Florens’s Mother
  • The Blacksmith
  • Lina
  • Sorrow
  • Rebekka Vaark
  • Jacob Vaark
  • D’Ortega
  • The Reverend Father
  • Widow Ealing
  • Daughter Jane
  • Willard
  • Scully
  • Malaik
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Florens’s Shoes Symbol Icon
    Florens’s Shoes
  • Jacob’s House Symbol Icon
    Jacob’s House
  • Orphans Symbol Icon
    Orphans
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)

A Mercy Study Guide

It's easy to cite LitCharts for use in academic papers and reports.


MLA

Churchill, Katherine. "A Mercy." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 7 May 2017. Web. 11 Jul 2025.


Chicago

Churchill, Katherine. "A Mercy." LitCharts LLC, May 7, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2025. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/a-mercy.

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