The mother kills one child to feed twelve, and one child to feed eleven, and one child to feed ten until she is left with but one child, whom she also slaughters because she too hungers. Finally, she returns to the middle of a cornfield where she slaughtered her other children, where the bones of their thirteen bodies lay. She slits her own throat because she cannot bear the burden of having done what needed to be done. After telling me this story, Elsa said, "A West Indian woman always faces such choices." The
In "An Untamed State" by Roxane Gay, a harrowing story unfolds about a mother driven to extreme measures due to hunger and desperation. She is faced with the unthinkable choice of sacrificing her children to survive, culminating in a tragedy where she ultimately kills all but one of her offspring. The narrative embodies the depths of human suffering and the lengths one might go to in dire circumstances, reflecting themes of survival and despair.
The mother's final act of taking her own life after committing these atrocities underscores the profound pain and guilt she experiences. The story told by Elsa emphasizes that for some individuals, especially within certain cultural contexts, such dire choices are often a harsh reality. This poignant illustration highlights the struggles that can lead individuals to unimaginable decisions when faced with impossible situations.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
