In what ways is abuse portrayed in Sing, Unburied, Sing especially through the character of Leonie?

 Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing shares the story of a family residing in a small town in Mississippi. Interwoven with themes of racism, addiction, abuse, and the power of family dynamics, the novel showcases the complexity of its characters using different narrative outlooks by switching characters' perspectives. The discussion regarding abuse is widespread in the novel and isn't defined as one type. There is discussion of drug abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, as well as other forms portrayed throughout the novel. Leonie, in particular, seems to be both a victim and perpetrator of this abuse. 

Abuse is blatantly displayed both verbally and physically throughout the entirety of the novel. Leonie's connection with her children is one of apathy, and throughout the novel, it almost feels as if the only connection she has with her children is through her abusive tendencies towards them. Similarly, in the way she uses and abuses drugs to make the anger and frustration she feels dissipate, she also will lash out at her children as a way of release. One scene in the novel that directly aligns with this thinking stood out. In a passage where Leonie is bathing Michaela, she grows increasingly upset and wants to hit her daughter. Instead, she makes a demeaning comment about her son's appearance that she knows would upset him, and Leonie thinks, "It feels good to be mean, to speak past the baby I can't hit and let that anger touch another" (Ward 147). This passage shows the disdain she has towards her child and her overarching need to express her anger, which is seen in every part of her life: in motherhood, in her relationships, through drugs, etc. 

Drug abuse throughout the novel is also heavily prevalent and is again used as a way for characters to cope with pain, anger, or hate. In a passage where the reader is first introduced to Leonie and her drug abuse, she details the experience: "I bent to the table. Sniffed. A clean burning shot through my bones, and then I forgot. The shoes I didn't buy, the melted cake, the phone call"(Ward 33).  Leonie uses drugs as an escape from the pressures of her life, and in her mind is a solution to deal with the stress that she struggles with. 

This novel, at times heartbreaking, shows a cyclical pattern of pain and abuse that is prevalent in nearly every aspect of many of its character's lives, specifically Leonies. Leonies long-term drug abuse has clearly affected the relationship she holds with her children and very likely has made her actions toward them more destructive. Abuse is widespread, and its different forms support the others. The very ending of the novel showcases how Michael and Leonie will become even more distant from the lives of their children, turning further into the world of drug abuse, further showcasing how these patterns of abuse are repetitive and not defined to one type. 

References: 

"Grammar check" Grammarly. Retrieved [9/24/24], from  https://www.grammarly.com