Introduction
Women have always found solace and empowerment in shared experiences, which nurtures solidarity that transcends social and cultural diversity. The novel “God Help the Child” by Toni Morrison (2015) illustrates the significance of female cohesion through the interactions of diverse female characters and their resilience in the face of adversity. The different scenes illustrate how sisterhood is an intricate and messy alliance yet an essential endeavor, considering that it promotes collective growth and recovery (Morrison, 2015). Therefore, female solidarity is depicted through circumstantial sisterhood and coalitions among characters, and its objective is to demonstrate support and protection for women, contest conventional gender roles and patriarchal systems, and encourage healing from past trauma.
How Women’s Solidarity is Depicted in the Novel
Circumstantial Sisterhood
The novel revolves around the main character, Bride, who experienced a traumatic childhood but overcame adversity through the women who served as pillars of strength. Bride was born to light-skinned parents, and Louis, who cherished their fair skin color (Morrison, 2015). After her birth, Louis rejected her as his child due to his blue-black skin. Her mother punished Bride whenever she got the chance, as she considered her the reason her husband left (Morrison, 2015). She hated Bride so much that she asked her to call her “Sweetness” instead of “Mother.”
Despite this traumatic childhood, Bride was accommodated by Evelyn and their adopted daughter, and they provided her with a supportive home and a safe, nurturing environment. Rain and her mother showed mercy on Bride by accommodating her for the six weeks she was healing from an injury (Morrison, 2015). The solidarity exhibited by these women allowed them to express their support for one another, allowing healing and restoration.
Bride and Rain also illustrated their solidarity by confiding in one another and protecting each other. One time, when Bride and Rain were walking in the neighborhood, some rogue boys began throwing short birds at them while yelling insults at Bride for her dark skin color. They stood by one another, holding each other while the bride was in front, protecting her from the boys (Morrison, 2015).
Rain also trusted Bride and confided in her that she had been raped at a young age, and her mother had thrown her out of their house. By protecting and listening to one another, the women depicted resilience, and they challenged the test of adversity. Similarly, the women protected one another from the vile consequences of handling trauma alone, and this spearheaded healing (Morrison, 2015). Their union provided a safe ground for self-discovery and an environment for support and motivation for them to continue soldiering on in life.
Nurturing Maternal Relationship
The brief relationship between Bride and Queen is a unity symbol that illustrates solidarity. In her late teen years, Bride got into a relationship with Booker, and through this relationship, she met Queen. The relationship between the Queen and the Bride provided emotional support, guidance, and nurturing qualities, helping restore healing from childhood trauma (Morrison, 2015).
In one of her stories, Queen revealed that she experienced trauma as a child, and she decided to stand as a pillar of strength for children who endured trauma by housing them and offering guidance as their godmother (Morrison, 2015). Queen reaffirmed the bride, shared stories with her, and even read poems that Brooke had written to nurture and uplift her spirit. Through this alliance, Bride finds new hope and strengthens her broken relationships, gaining independence.
The relationship between Rain and Evelyn also depicts solidarity between female characters that leads to stability and growth. Rain mentions that she was glad that Evelyn and her husband rescued her as a child, considering that she was abused and molested, and her birth mother kicked her out. She found solace in Evelyn, who not only became a loving mother figure to her but also protected her interests and ensured she had a normal childhood again (Morrison, 2015). Toni Morrison used this unique relationship between hippies and a child who has not been identified by any doctrine to elaborate on how solidarity can bring positive outcomes in a circumstantial arrangement(Morrison, 2015). Although the child did not affiliate with any doctrine or organization, she received compassion from a stranger, which she had yearned for since birth.
Accountability for Past Mistakes
The author also depicts solidarity by connecting different characters to mend their wrongdoings. As always, the protagonist takes the stand and attempts to make peace with the people she offended. She tracks Sophia down after she is released from prison and attempts to make peace with her(Morrison, 2015). Bride offered her a thousand dollars and some beauty products from her workplace to appease her for falsely testifying against her that she was a pedophile (Morrison, 2015). This togetherness helped repair the broken relationship and enabled the two women to move past their mistakes.
The story of the Bride and her biological mother, Sweetness, is a bitter-sweet encounter that illustrates solidarity. Sweetness treated Bride worse than a criminal when she was young, and she was the first person to discriminate against her and call her ugly and scary (Morrison, 2015). However, the two women reconcile after Bride discovers that she is pregnant and may not want her child to experience the rejection she faced(Morrison, 2015). This reconciliation illustrated solidarity by describing how healing from pain can be transformed into love and freedom from the bondage of a traumatic past.
Women’s Empowerment in Employment
Bride works at a beauty industry firm as a regional manager, demonstrating an inclusive approach that empowers women. The novel was written at a time when racial discrimination and gender bias were rampant. However, her employer defied all odds and employed two women in top positions in the company. Her employment as an executive illustrates that the employer was in solidarity with women and trusted their capacity to handle duties accordingly.
The company also employed Brooklyn, who is Bride’s best friend, and also endured traumatic sexual violence that made her learn to discern emotions. Her friend is a co-assistant in a managerial position at a cosmetic company, which is also a high-level position (Morrison, 2015). When Sophia attacked Bride and could not make it to work, she called her friend Brooklyn and requested her to cover her shifts, which she obliged (Morrison, 2015). Her standing in for her friend to fill the gap felt in her absence illustrates solidarity. In addition, the promotion of women to the top positions in the company is an illustration of unity and support for the feminist theory of equity. Individual support for women in employment during times of need is also a significant expression of solidarity among women in the workplace.
The Aim of Solidarity in the Novel
Demonstrating the Need for the Support and Protection of Women
Solidarity is a theme highlighted by various characters in the novel and is deliberately used to demonstrate support and protection for women who have endured trauma. In the novel, several women, including Brooklyn, Queen, and Rain, were molested, and their connection with other women helped them with their journey of healing and recovery (Morrison, 2015). After Rain shared her story with Bride, she began her healing journey, and this solidarity demonstrates how supporting one another and protecting their interests promotes restoration.
A notable factor evident in the novel is that none of the women who came out with a story of having been molested in their childhood were judged, and this protected their reputations. The story of Queen is both sad and inspiring, and demonstrates how she used her pain to make changes in her life by accommodating children who were molested at a young age. When Brooklyn narrated to Bride how she was molested, she gave her empathy, and this was to demonstrate support and to protect her interests (Morrison, 2015). The likes of Evylin and their decision to adopt Rain are significant demonstrations of how supporting women can lead to life-changing benefits.
In addition, Sophia serves as a pivotal figure in demystifying prejudiced judgment against Bride, who has been sidelined due to her skin color. This sisterhood empowered Bride to pursue excellence and focus on healing and restoration. These examples illustrate how the protection and support for women can help them maximize their potential.
Contesting Gender Roles and Patriarchal Systems
Morrison highlights female solidarity as a means to challenge the dismantling of norms and patriarchal structures in society. The bride is employed as an executive at a beauty company, which contradicts the notion that women are weaklings incapable of engaging in activities that require mental effort. The character of Rain represents the resistance to oppressive, biased systems and finding freedom in people who value her as a human being.
Rain, as a child from a marginalized community, highlights the neglect and abuse women experience in societies that emphasize male authority (Morrison, 2015). When her mother’s boyfriend molested her, Rain’s mother made it look like it was her fault that she was raped and not the man’s moral discrepancy (Morrison, 2015). Therefore, her exit and adoption by a new family illustrated how people can rise from adversity through resilience, determination, and solidarity with like-minded individuals.
Promoting Post-Traumatic Healing
Through women’s solidarity, the novel’s characters find healing and reconciliation from their past trauma and discrimination. The female characters in the book provide a space for others to validate their emotions and experiences, helping them find healing. Queen’s advice helped Bride focus on bettering herself by letting go of people who hated her because of her dark skin, including her own sweetness. After she forgave her mother, she embraced her new journey of motherhood (Morrison, 2015). The reason is that she encouraged Bride to embrace her rejection as a child as a lesson in becoming a good mother and a good person to others.
In addition, the togetherness helped the characters challenge the societal norms that associated trauma with a cycle of victimization (Morrison, 2015). For instance, after Rain was abused at her home, the cycle did not continue as she found a place to call home, and in that home, she was cherished and loved. Similarly, Bride embraced her beauty and defied negative expectations to become one of the industry’s executive employees and a soon-to-be mother, illustrating healing from trauma.
Fostering Collective Responsibility and Accountability
The solidarity the author fostered was intended to promote a sense of collective responsibility and accountability. The female characters held the perpetrators accountable for their actions, which enhanced their personal growth and transformation. Bride broke the cycle of trauma by holding her mother accountable for every pain she inflicted on her, and this helped her mother realize her mistakes and ask for forgiveness(Morrison, 2015). Bride also accepted her mistake and went to make peace with Sophia for testifying against her, which helped her find peace and face the consequences of her actions (Morrison, 2015). Through this reconciliation, the women found self-acceptance and self-love by breaking free from the bondage of guilt over their past actions.
Conclusion
In Toni Morrison’s novel, the idea of women’s solidarity is established to serve as a transformative force that brings reconciliation, accountability, and healing from past traumatic encounters. The protagonist, Bride, demonstrates how social conventions can result in abuse and neglect among children in a society. The theme is highlighted by the bride and Elvyn, who took her in during her time of need, and this shows women advocating for other women’s safety and protection. In addition, the solidarity is highlighted by the employer who recruited women such as Bride and Brooklyn to serve at executive levels in the company, and this defied the patriarchal systems that infringed on the rights of women. By validating one another’s pain, the women challenged oppressive systems, fostering women’s empowerment and uplifting their healing journeys.
Reference
Morrison, T. (2015). God help the child. Random House.