Understanding the Importance of Setting and Historical Context:
One of the most important factors when it comes to setting is the time in which the story is taking place. The time period allows the reader to understand the social dynamic of the story in relation to the plot. It also gives the reader a perspective on what the layout of the setting may be as the characters travel from place to place within the novel. Knowing the time period a novel or story is taking place in will also allow the reader to understand who the characters are and what purpose they are bringing to the story.
A Mercy’s Relation to Setting and Historical Context:
A Mercy by Toni Morrison is taking place in 17th century America. The specific time frame bounces between different seasons in 1690 and a couple years prior. This version of America is extremely new, and modernization is a farfetched thought at this time. A Mercy opens up with Florens beginning on a journey via wagon. Later on, throughout the novel, Florens is traveling through dense forests to reach the Blacksmith’s house. Because modern America is so industrialized, the reader might be confused on the amount of greenery and climate. However, during the early 1600s, America was brand new to settlers coming from England. The never cultivated land made discovery for places to settle quite easy. Even though more settlers were to arrive around the time A Mercy is taking place, there would still be a lush amount of vegetation, making Florens’ journey through the woods intense.
Major Historical Significance and Setting:
Depending on the time period, circumstances in the story or novel could be either before or after major events in history. Upon estimation, Florens could have been born in 1674, which is right before Bacon’s rebellion. Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia took place in 1676. During Bacon’s Rebellion, there was a mixture of Native Americans, indentured servants, and African slaves that went out their way to overthrow the governor in Virginia. In A Mercy this note in the time period is important because it gives the reader insight as to why the workers on the plantation are so diverse. The characters Willy and Scully are indentured servants.