One common element that is present in both the novel called A Lesson before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines and the novel The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is verbal violence and the characters that were affected by it believed it was true for an extensive amount of time. In Ernest J. Gaines novel, the character Jefferson is called a hog by the lawyer representing him and soon Jefferson starts to act like it because he believes it is true. This is why he is put in a prison in the first place and is charged with the murder of three individuals because he is “wild like a hog”. In Toni Morrison’s novel, the character Pecola is called a “nasty little black bitch” and this makes her feel less of a human being and really starts to believe this because the majority of her society considers her ugly and may explain why she wants unattainable things such as Blue eyes in order to avoid this verbal violence. Verbal Violence is also present in these further readings.
Brennan, Walter. “Sounding Off about Verbal Abuse.” Occupational Health 55.11
(2003): 22-5. ProQuest. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
• This article is about how verbal violence is not often spoken about especially in the workplace and how it can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD.
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. Frankenstein. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print
• This book is about the creation of a being who tries to assimilate into human society but whenever he tries to he is rejected by human society and he is called a “Monster”. This verbal violence soon leads into anger and soon the creation Frankenstein is looking for his creator.
Yang, Gene. American Born Chinese. New York: Square Fish, 2008. Print.
• This book is about the protagonist Jin Yang and how he wants to become American instead of Asian because he doesn’t identify with his culture. Racist remarks soon encourages him to transform himself into a white kid named Danny.
