An Ambivalent Mother is an Abusive Mother: A Study of Toni Morrison’s God Help the Child

This research article carries out a thematic analysis of the selected work of contemporary fiction using Sarah LaChance Adams’ theory of Maternal Ambivalence. The research engages with Toni Morrison’s God Help The Child, which depicts an abusive relationship between mother and child, analyzing how narratives like this negotiate the construction of cultural perceptions of motherhood, as well as the reigning societal expectations of mothers. By examining fictional accounts, the paper explores the symbolic and metaphorical representations of abuse between mother and child in literature, uncovering the deeper psychological and socio-cultural implications embedded within the text. Drawing on theories from motherhood studies using Brown and Clarke’s model of textual analysis, the paper investigates the interplay of power in the patriarchy as well as the existence of maternal identity in the status quo, thus illustrating how literary representations of abuse contribute to broader discourses on women's roles and societal norms.