BLOG 2: Love in Salvage the Bones

Jesmyn Ward explores the depths of the word love frequently throughout “Salvage the Bones”, through the narrator, Esch’s family and family friends. From the beginning of the novel, the profound love between Esch’s brother, Skeetah, and his dog China, penetrates almost every page in the first chapter. Skeetah’s defiance towards his father, negligence towards others, and tenacity to provide the best resources for China portrays a love stronger than any love formed between human characters in the novel, however, Esch seems to experience this love through Skeetah’s touch. The touch is so powerful, Esch undeniably knows that is how Skeetah touches China.

Familial love in this chapter is portrayed as an indication of protection, security, and guidance. As Esch shares details about her family we learn they have been through rough times, such as the death of their mother and their father’s alcoholism. Due to these circumstances, Esch and her brothers have created a bond in which their unconditional love for one another shows. For example, when Esch slices her hand open with a glass bottle she immediately tells her younger brother to move from beside her for his safety while her older brother comes to comfort her just as her mother once did. Ward uses this accident wisely to demonstrate how love can take over any fear or pain, yet, she goes on to introduce the crucial relationship between Esch and a family friend, Manny. 

The relationship between Esch and Manny seems to be a different relationship compared to the prior examples. I believe love is no longer powerful, but questionable. There becomes a thin line between love and lust. Esch describes seeing Manny as “[breaking] the cocoon of [her] rib cage, and [her] heart [unfurling] to fly” while Manny does not even reciprocate any genuine emotions at all. I wonder if Esch truly loves Manny or if she hasn’t learned to love herself.