Big Books of Spring
The Mercies

Questions About The Mercies

by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Mercies, please sign up.

Answered Questions (9)

This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Leanne
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
flag
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Kerri Davis
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
flag
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Heidi Lawrence
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
flag
What does the title refer to exactly? the word Mercies is mentioned by the pastor towards the end of chapter 33 where he says " The mercies God bestowed on you" etc. It seems the pastor means that cleansing the place of "witches" is a mercy God sent. But is that all the title means? I have my own interpretation but would like to hear what other readers may think.
Linda Loretz The word "mercies" appears eleven times in this novel, a few more if you include other word forms. The dictionary says that mercy is compassion or for…moreThe word "mercies" appears eleven times in this novel, a few more if you include other word forms. The dictionary says that mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone to whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Maren, the protagonist, shows mercy to Ursa, the naive city girl whose marriage to the sinister religious commissioner Absalom Cornet has been arranged. Maren shows mercy to the birds whose eggs she snatches. Kirsten and Maren show mercy to Pastor Kurtsson, the local man of the cloth. However, when Kurstsson implores God's mercies upon the survivors of the 1617 Christmas Eve hurricane, it is challenging to convince independent-thinking women that there is any value to believing in this modern God about whom Kurtsson and Cornet preach. The title's significance seems ironic and laughable since the men who preach about God's mercies show little if any mercy to the women they are trying to convert. There is little attempt to understand the women; their purpose is to control, conquer, and eradicate them.(less)
flag
This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)
Aesha
This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)
flag

Unanswered Questions (1)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more