The Price of a Child

What is price? Who dictates it? How accurate is it? Is it a feasible price? Are you willing to pay it? The “Price of a Child” is a novel, in which the reader is faced with a constant question; on which the entire story is based. This story is about a mother faced with determining the price of a child. Ultimately the comparison is the child or freedom.

Price is defined as the sum or amount of money or its equivalent for which anything is bought, sold, or offered for sale. Could any amount of money be offered for a child? Can a monetary bounty be placed on a child? By the rules and regulations of that time, five-hundred dollars is the price of a child. It is clear that this price was dictated by the slave owners of that time. Who can say whether the price was accurate? Its feasibility at the time was not exactly available at the time. By the end of the story, however, a way was made to make that monetary demand feasible; which introduced the price of a child. It can be assumed that this was a price that Mercer was willing to pay. Throughout the story it was evident that Bennie remained at the back of Ginnie’s, now Mercer’s, mind. Thoughts of guilt and worriment often traveled through her mind. By the efforts of Mr. Still and his helpers, they saw it as a price they and her alike were willing to pay. But does this substantiate its true price?

Judged by Pryor’s actions, the price of a child is worth fighting over in the court of law. Pryor showed it to be very clear that all and any efforts were necessary to regain a child, and in his case, his children. This price was dictated by his ownership. Because he owned,in the father sense, those children; he decided that all he could possibly do was the price he would pay for his child. It was clear that it was a feasible price. Being in the land where restrictions was placed on the vigilance comities; all he had to do was build the story and the court would have deemed him victorious, and he was willing to accept it. But did he truly give all he could? If it weren’t for Nicaragua, could he have actually come out on top?

The price of a child is putting you’re life on pause and on the line. Mr. Still and the vigilance committee put there lives on the line so that they would not loose a child of freedom to the wiles of slavery once again. Mr. Still even faced days of imprisonment with efforts of freeing someone. This was a price that was dictated by morals and ethics of all types of people, particularly the ones involved in these efforts. Zilpha, Tyree, The Quicks and so forth all agree that their price was dictated by morals and ethics, thus their price of a child valuing up to helping someone else. This was a more that feasible price. Despite the restrictions placed on the vigilance committee, the law of the land made it possible that all blacks were entitled to freedom. With this, all they needed was an open confession and an act backed by free will and not by force. This made it possible for them to gain a child of freedom. But was it enough?

Freedom would be the price of which a child’s life would be equated with, according to Mercer. There comes a time where tolerance and patience has been obliterated and you must do whatever it takes to ensure your own happiness; this was now her time. Who is to say whether this accurate or not? This decision is made based upon the times and living conditions of the said time era. Its feasibility was extremely high to the point where it was obtained. Despite the continuous thoughts of guilt and worriment, it was indeed a price she was willing to pay. It was proposed to her by governing law of the land but she was the ultimate dictator of the price. The choice made determined the price she paid but was it a price worth paying? Was the constant heart ache worth it? Was the feeling of guilt and the thoughts of worriment worth it? The secrecy from the rest and the embitterment of Pryor, was it worth it?

I believe that the price of a child is all you have. All you can do, all you can give. Sometimes that mindset can get clouded by the daily experiences and struggles of you’re daily life. However, was the feeling of guilt and worriment, imprisonment of others, help from others, and law actions of others worth it? For her it surely was. In the end result she was able to determine and fulfill the price of her child, but it was already done. The people surrounding her showed their view on the price of a child. They assisted and did all they could to cope with the cost of the child. Mercer in my opinion had every intention on getting her child back and did everything she was told and had to do to fulfill that ultimate goal.

This is the price of a child, all you have, can give, can do, and can bear to ensure their care.