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,

who succumbs to her own decisions and the demons of love represents femininity of having various dynamic traits, rather than the stereotypical aspect of what being a female is. Ward is able to show that women are not only powerful but can also be personally evolving, female strength, independent, yet vulnerable and ferocious. Through Esch, China and Hurricane Katrina with the corresponding Greek mythology, Ward articulates her opinions in multiple views. Above all, with the linkage of Medea through Esch, China and Hurricane Katrina, Ward shows her depiction of a woman as being filled with empowerment.
The character that almost mirrors Medea is Esch, who continuously relates herself back to the mythological character. Esch follows the Greek tale by her love for Manny, similarly resembling the unbreakable affection Medea had for Jason. However, Esch notes that “in every one of the Greek’s mythology tales there is…a man chasing a woman, or a woman chasing a man” and both are desperately wanting the reciprocating love back from the man they respectively desire (Ward 32). Arguably the biggest parallel with the stories is the men that each crave for. Manny, like Jason, have there way with their lovers due to understanding the vulnerability they carry. Manny’s motive was to use Esch as a sexual release, and equally Jason manipulated Medea to complete his conquest for the golden fleece. Under these conditions, Esch who had “let boys have [her sexually]…but with Manny it was different…he wanted [her] girl heart; and [she] gave him both” something the other boys did not get (Ward 16). On the other hand, Medea “wanted to yield a mad passion and go against her father” (Hamilton 171). These instances, insinuate the vulnerability that both carry making it easy for Esch find similarities in herself in Medea.
In the same manner that Medea and Esch are similar they differ as well, showing personal growth and the independence that follows. As Medea’s story seems to foreshadow Esch’s, it is not surprising when we find out Manny had a girlfriend, Shaliyah. Moreover, Jason is not loyal leaves Medea for the woman he loves.It is at the situation, they choose their fate. Medea “determined to kill Jason’s [new] bride” in attempt to free herself in confines of love that Jason had over her (Hamilton 178). Notwithstanding the jealousy both felt, Esch never confronts Shaliyah only thinking that “[she] loved him before that girl” (Ward 56). Although,Esch is heavily influenced by Manny’s nonexistent love and Medea, she shows she is a powerful and independent woman, who is willing to make her own choices. In addition, the discrepancy is most evident in how they changed towards their loved one. Medea never was able to stop loving Jason, choosing going on the murderous rampage as vengeance. Conversely, Esch is able to finally free herself from the handcuffs of Manny,when she decides to tell him that he is the father. Esch goes on to strike Manny as he fails to take responsibility, feeling as if she is “Medea wielding the knife;” going from “I love you” to “I love you” (Ward 204). More importantly, Esch chooses to not abort her child, as she is already independent from Manny, while Medea had kill her children to do so. Esch loses her affection for Manny after he finds out she is pregnant, causing her to start “crying for what [she] is and for what [she] will be” (Ward 147). Through the comparisons of Medea, Ward is able to exemplify that woman are able to be vulnerable, independent and loyal.
Medea is personified most through China, according to Ward from her interview with The Paris Review.

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

kill. China’s loyalty lies with Skeetah, as Medea’s did with Jason, but in this relationship the love is unbroken. There relationship is best described as “Skeetah [focuses] on China like a man focuses on a woman that he feels that she is his, which China is” (Ward 3). China best exhibits Medea’s story when she kills or disowns her own pup. However, China does so to protect the other pups as the one disowned was assumed to have parvo, which is in line with Medea who kills her children to avoid a terrible life. Nonetheless, a fearless China is seen “licking the puppies…never…seen her so gentle” presenting the nurturing side motherhood bears. The final scene we see China exhibits all the trait she occupies with the exception of ferocity. When Esch is pushed into the water, sending the puppies into the water, results in Skeetah having to make a choice in saving China, the puppies or his sister. This is seen as an betrayal to Skeetah, like Medea did to her brother, while unintentional. Skeetah chooses his sister and China jumps into the water to save her pups, ultimately disappearing in the hurricane. Despite China not having many parallels to Medea’s story, she carries the most traits of her and at the same time perfectly exhibiting what femininity is to Ward.
Hurricane Katrina is the unavoidable climax.

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

feel.
In Salvage the Bones, Wards incorporation of Medea creates an empowering view of woman visiting many aspects that are associated with femininity. Ward visits the double edge sword that labels females in stories, either being seen as “weak” or built upon the “wrath of a woman.” The inclusion of the universality that is associated with Greek mythology allows Ward to shed off the label of blackness from her work. With China, Esch and Katrina all carrying some traits of Medea, it allows the reader see all aspects of being female. As the reader is able to see the female being vulnerable, brave, nurturing and protective. Moreover, Ward insinuates that woman should be presented as dynamic, as females are, and through Medea paralleling story Ward articulates her point.