Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption

Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption PDF Author: Ashley Nicole Burge
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic dissertations
Languages : en
Pages : 171

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Book Description
Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption: Defining the Morrisonian Tragedy problematizes current portrayals of tragedy and tragic acts in African American literature. Using Toni Morrison's Beloved as a foundational text, I argue that Morrison executes a literary aesthetic that disrupts traditional constructs of the tragedy that elevate Eurocentric ideologies at the expense of Black identity and subjectivity. This aesthetic challenges the portrayal of the "tragic figure," positioning it as an inadequate trope that nullifies the complexities associated with the lived reality of Africans/African Americans under repressive systems such as American slavery. Morrison reconfigures tragedy to illuminate a space that she calls the "tragic mode" in which her characters achieve a form of catharsis and revelation. I use Morrison's signification of tragedy to build a theoretical paradigm that I call the Tragic Mercy which interprets tragedy and tragic acts, such as infanticide in her neo-slave narrative Beloved (1987), as events that symbolize activism against oppressive systems connected to racist capitalist patriarchal ideologies. The Tragic Mercy is the lens through which I define the Morrisonian tragedy, and I articulate it as an act that generates a physical and psychological journey that leads to redemption, catharsis, and reclamation. I connect this journey to several tenets of African American culture and history, which resist one-dimensional constructs of African American identity and subjectivity. For instance, I use several constructs associated with Black Feminism to demonstrate how the act/action/activism of the Tragic Mercy equips characters with agency under oppressive systems that would normally handicap their resolve. I also configure the journey in ways that parallel other cultural expressions that are ingrained in the African American psyche. For example, I liken certain themes to the reclamation of the vernacular tradition. In each instance, I demonstrate how Morrison's literary aesthetic forces the reader to reassess the signification of tragedy as a means to validate the complexities associated with the African American experience. Further, I use the lens of the Tragic Mercy as a viable construct to interpret other works of African American literature, including Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861), Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Suzan-Lori Parks's Venus (1996) and Fucking A (2001), and Kyle Baker's Nat Turner (2006). Using these themes, I position Morrison's literary aesthetic as a narrative strategy that builds on African American literary and cultural traditions while simultaneously subverting detrimental Eurocentric ideologies

Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption

Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption PDF Author: Ashley Nicole Burge
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic dissertations
Languages : en
Pages : 171

Get Book Here

Book Description
Tragic Mercies and Other Journeys to Redemption: Defining the Morrisonian Tragedy problematizes current portrayals of tragedy and tragic acts in African American literature. Using Toni Morrison's Beloved as a foundational text, I argue that Morrison executes a literary aesthetic that disrupts traditional constructs of the tragedy that elevate Eurocentric ideologies at the expense of Black identity and subjectivity. This aesthetic challenges the portrayal of the "tragic figure," positioning it as an inadequate trope that nullifies the complexities associated with the lived reality of Africans/African Americans under repressive systems such as American slavery. Morrison reconfigures tragedy to illuminate a space that she calls the "tragic mode" in which her characters achieve a form of catharsis and revelation. I use Morrison's signification of tragedy to build a theoretical paradigm that I call the Tragic Mercy which interprets tragedy and tragic acts, such as infanticide in her neo-slave narrative Beloved (1987), as events that symbolize activism against oppressive systems connected to racist capitalist patriarchal ideologies. The Tragic Mercy is the lens through which I define the Morrisonian tragedy, and I articulate it as an act that generates a physical and psychological journey that leads to redemption, catharsis, and reclamation. I connect this journey to several tenets of African American culture and history, which resist one-dimensional constructs of African American identity and subjectivity. For instance, I use several constructs associated with Black Feminism to demonstrate how the act/action/activism of the Tragic Mercy equips characters with agency under oppressive systems that would normally handicap their resolve. I also configure the journey in ways that parallel other cultural expressions that are ingrained in the African American psyche. For example, I liken certain themes to the reclamation of the vernacular tradition. In each instance, I demonstrate how Morrison's literary aesthetic forces the reader to reassess the signification of tragedy as a means to validate the complexities associated with the African American experience. Further, I use the lens of the Tragic Mercy as a viable construct to interpret other works of African American literature, including Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861), Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), Suzan-Lori Parks's Venus (1996) and Fucking A (2001), and Kyle Baker's Nat Turner (2006). Using these themes, I position Morrison's literary aesthetic as a narrative strategy that builds on African American literary and cultural traditions while simultaneously subverting detrimental Eurocentric ideologies

The Road to Mercy

The Road to Mercy PDF Author: Mary Hutchinson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781734229509
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
By age twelve, Mary Therese Hutchinson had survived not one, not two, but four attempts on her life. Even worse, the assailant and man who had sexually abused her for years was no outsider but a trusted family member. Forced to keep much of what she endured a secret, Mary came to believe everything she'd been taught about God was a fairy tale. After all, what loving God would allow such horrible things to happen to a little girl? Or if he was real, then God had forgotten about her.By adulthood, Mary was outwardly a successful, beautiful young woman. But unresolved trauma and hate for her abuser led to a downward spiral of despair and self-destructive choices. A stranger's prayers became the catalyst that started Mary on a journey of emotional healing and spiritual transformation. She now knew God was no fairy tale but a loving, merciful heavenly Father who, far from abandoning her, had miraculously intervened to save her young life.But when her assailant reentered Mary's life, she faced her greatest challenge yet. Could she extend to her abuser the same mercy God had so abundantly extended to her? The heart-pounding conclusion to this story is one no reader will ever forget. It all began with one woman's choice to step out of her dark nightmare and onto the road to mercy.

Just Mercy

Just Mercy PDF Author: Bryan Stevenson
Publisher: One World
ISBN: 0812994531
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING MICHAEL B. JORDAN AND JAMIE FOXX • A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. “[Bryan Stevenson’s] dedication to fighting for justice and equality has inspired me and many others and made a lasting impact on our country.”—John Legend NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN • Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times • The Washington Post • The Boston Globe • The Seattle Times • Esquire • Time Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he didn’t commit. The case drew Bryan into a tangle of conspiracy, political machination, and legal brinksmanship—and transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever. Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction • Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Nonfiction • Winner of a Books for a Better Life Award • Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize • Finalist for the Kirkus Reviews Prize • An American Library Association Notable Book “Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so . . . a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields.”—David Cole, The New York Review of Books “Searing, moving . . . Bryan Stevenson may, indeed, be America’s Mandela.”—Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times “You don’t have to read too long to start cheering for this man. . . . The message of this book . . . is that evil can be overcome, a difference can be made. Just Mercy will make you upset and it will make you hopeful.”—Ted Conover, The New York Times Book Review “Inspiring . . . a work of style, substance and clarity . . . Stevenson is not only a great lawyer, he’s also a gifted writer and storyteller.”—The Washington Post “As deeply moving, poignant and powerful a book as has been, and maybe ever can be, written about the death penalty.”—The Financial Times “Brilliant.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Can't Steal My Joy

Can't Steal My Joy PDF Author: Bekah Bowman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781733151900
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 190

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Book Description
We are all broken. It's a unified human experience. And we all need a hope that doesn't disappoint, a love that anchors us, joy that survives in unthinkable conditions, and a perspective shift that goes beyond our circumstances. Some days we feel the perfection of sunshine and a light breeze. Other days hold wet, gray skies with drowning grief. In the wake, comes promise of new growth. Still other days a cold winter frost catches us by surprise, halting our journey toward fruitful blooms. We step back, reeling at the damage from this frost. We question the system and environment we grow in. We can exist in this garden dictated by the changing weather patterns. Or, we can see a different kind of brave living-that which exists beyond our fragile stems and dainty leaves, living instead deep in our roots. This book is for those sitting in the deep-down dark, traveling with grief as a constant companion, and anyone whose life path has taken an unexpected turn. Bekah shares the heart break of a fatal diagnosis for not just one, but both her children. As she journeyed through dark valleys of death, it was there she experienced Jesus in a whole new way-in deeply broken places. Her journey holding pain in one hand and joy in the other is vulnerably scribbled out on these pages as she tore open the wounds in her soul to share how Christ created beauty and goodness in it all. It was in this journey, she learned to see wholeness in cracks, courage in the broken-hearted, and bravery in the act of letting go. May you discover the Life-Giver of joy, see your beautiful bloom, and know that hope is always worth holding on to, because redemption is coming--and in fact--is already happening here and now. "Can't Steal My Joy is an honest, real-life account of a life storm that drops down right on top of you with no warning - and the unspeakable beauty that blooms from the wreckage. Bekah's heart beats in every page, every word. To read her story from start to not-yet-finished, it's only natural to wonder how anyone could survive something like this. But the truth is that Bekah and Danny have done much more than survive. They have thrived. And as for the how? Jesus - only Jesus. God's grace weaves seamlessly throughout each moment of confusion, devastation, hope, surrender, and triumph. You cannot read this book without seeing the Creator and longing for all things new." Anne Riley, author of Voyage to the Star Kingdom "I had the absolute pleasure of being able to read Bekah Bowman's book, Can't Steal My Joy, before it hit the bookshelves. I honestly have not read anything so moving and soul stirring since, The Shack. Whether you are in a season of mourning or grief, or in my case, struggling in the heaviness of life to find peace and joy within, this book helps lift the veil of sadness to reveal God's promise that He never leaves you. God makes his presence known everyday in little ways if you only stop to look for the joy outside the pain. Bekah is a gifted writer and I'm so excited to share this book with my friends and family." Melinda, founder of WhenLife Co

Transformed by Tragedy

Transformed by Tragedy PDF Author: Carmyn Sparks
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781940262017
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Where did her Father get his choice of a name? Everyone just assumed it was because he loved operas and named her after the Spanish gypsy in "Carmen." As she matured into a stunningly beautiful young girl with an olive complexion, dark hair and dark eyes, she resembled more of the Hispanic race than her Caucasian ancestry. Her lack of identity in early childhood combined with the rejection and abuse from her family of origin, led Carmyn to believe that the "y" in her name was the beginning of her feeling like a misplaced "why" in life. After a failed suicide attempt at age thirteen, Carmyn sought to find the answers to the untold many "whys" in her life. A dramatic conclusion weaves the past with the present and shines with the compelling truth and hope that only God can bring light out of darkness. Her redemption is found veiled in the symbolism of roses, the love of an unforgettable caretaker named Rosetta, and a divine revelation from God that ultimately transforms her tragedies into triumphs.

Brave

Brave PDF Author: Alice Connor
Publisher: Broadleaf Books
ISBN: 1506463975
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
Women are essential to the biblical story--they bear life, lead communities, and testify to God's power and presence. Some of their names we know, others we've only heard, and others, tragically, go unnamed. Following the success of her beloved book Fierce, pastor and provocateur Alice Connor introduces us to a whole new group of women from the Bible, including Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Esther, and Lydia. Connor invites us to see them not as players in a man's story--as victims or tempters--nor as solely morality archetypes who teach women to be better wives and mothers--but as brave foremothers of the faith. Skillfully drawn by the author, these women's stories are messy, challenging, and beautiful. When we read their stories, we can see not only their particular, formidable lives but also our own.

Tragic Redemption

Tragic Redemption PDF Author: Hiram Johnson
Publisher: Langmarc Pub
ISBN: 9781880292778
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description
A licensed mental health therapist and ordained United Methodist minister, the author reveals how he was delivered from the deepest depths of despair and hopelessness to a sense of freedom and peace through God's grace and forgiveness.

Therefore I Have Hope

Therefore I Have Hope PDF Author: Cameron Cole
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433558807
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 187

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Book Description
"Throughout the journey of my worst nightmare—my descent into a dark, sad valley—the Holy Spirit would remind me of truths that comforted my soul and sustained my life." After the sudden death of their three-year-old son, Cameron Cole and his wife found themselves clinging to Christ through twelve key theological truths—truths that became their lifeline in the midst of unthinkable grief. Weaving together their own story of tragic loss and abiding faith, Cole explores these twelve life-giving truths to offer hope and comfort to those in the midst of tragedy.

Tragedy's Court: Bradley's Shakespearean Journey (Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth by A. C. Bradley/ The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare/ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain)

Tragedy's Court: Bradley's Shakespearean Journey (Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth by A. C. Bradley/ The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare/ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain) PDF Author: A. C. Bradley
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 639

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Book Description
Book 1: Delve into the profound analysis of Shakespearean tragedy with “Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth by A. C. Bradley.” A. C. Bradley offers insightful lectures that explore the depths of some of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. Through detailed examinations of "Hamlet," "Othello," "King Lear," and "Macbeth," Bradley provides readers with a deeper understanding of the tragic elements and psychological complexities within these timeless plays. Book 2: Witness the unraveling of a powerful kingdom in “The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare.” Shakespeare's play follows the tragic story of King Lear as he descends into madness, exploring themes of family, betrayal, and the consequences of unchecked power. This enduring tragedy continues to captivate audiences with its poignant depiction of human frailty. Book 3: Experience a blend of humor and satire with “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.” Mark Twain's novel follows the adventures of Hank Morgan, a man from Connecticut who inexplicably finds himself in King Arthur's legendary court. Through humor and social commentary, Twain explores the clash of cultures and the absurdities of anachronism in this imaginative and thought-provoking tale.

A Severe Mercy

A Severe Mercy PDF Author: Sheldon Vanauken
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062116703
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
Beloved, profoundly moving account of the author's marriage, the couple's search for faith and friendship with C. S. Lewis, and a spiritual strength that sustained Vanauken after his wife's untimely death.