Children of Horror in Laura Fish’s Strange Music

Abstract

Laura Fish’s Strange Music is a novel depicting the lives of three different women who are traumatized and disconnected from their children through the lasting effects of slavery. The slave system as well as the oppressive white patriarchal aftermaths confine Elizabeth, Kaydia, and Sheba in such a way that they are not able to gain motherly guidance and support. As a result, the perspective of all three protagonists towards their children changes dramatically. This article intends to focus on the importance of the motherline, its disconnection, and the consequences with a close analysis of Laura Fish’s Strange Music.

Keywords

• neo-slave narrative
• motherline
• disconnection
• black women