Tike Trauma In Jesmyn Ward's Novel Salvage The Bones

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Caroline Condon Ms. DeDeo English 9 20 May 2024 Lil’ Tike Trauma In Jesmyn Ward’s novel, Salvage The Bones, the narrative strategy of ruthlessness is used to unveil the inner world of the characters, exposing their vulnerabilities and strengths. Set in rural Mississippi, the story follows the Batiste family as they navigate the challenges of poverty, love, and survival in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Ward’s depiction of 7-year-old Junior, the youngest of the Batiste family, reflects the profound impact of hardship on someone at such a young age. Being the youngest in the family, Junior is desperate to be included in his siblings’ lives, despite their large age gap. His innocence and naivety are evident as he navigates the world …show more content…

Junior's eagerness to participate in the event stems from a desire to feel included, even though he is too young to attend alone. However, when Junior finally attends the dog fight with Esch, he is overwhelmed by fear and shock. As the showdown persists, Junior hides and “squats in the mimosa, still, his hands white on the branches, jerking as if he would break the wood” displaying his newfound sense of genuine fear, a quality unexpected in that of a 7-year old boy (176). However, this experience at the dog fight and the devastation of the following hurricane shaped his emotional and psychological development in significant ways. Junior becomes hyper aware of the dangers in his environment, especially after experiencing the violence of the dog fight. The morning after the fight, Esch walks up on Junior and to her surprise, “he jumps. there are bruises under his eyes, so he looks like a little brown nervous man” revealing the imprint the dog fight made on him (184). This heightened vigilance leads to a constant state of fear and anxiety as Junior navigates the uncertainties of his

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