The story Small mercies written by Tim Winton in the short story collection called “The Turning”. It revolves around Peter Dyson who is devastated after his wife commits suicide. He struggles to overcome his grief and realised that to do so he has to return to his hometown, Angelus. However, in order to do so he has to confront the ghost of his past. In particular, his past devastating and destructive relationship with Fay Keenan.
Like many stories in the collection the title has great significance. It refers to the little things in life that the characters are given. One of my favourite aspects, was the concept of small mercies. The portrayal of happiness and a sense of joy in trying times is what the story is all about. Forgiving himself
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When they moved to Angelus, Ricky became more curious because he could feel that his father was happier. Dyson’s small mercy was his son. To the Keenans their small mercy was Sky. She was the one good thing that they felt their daughter gave them amidst the drug use and rehab which gave the parents an emotional torment because they were the definition of a religious believers.So, their daughter going down the path of sins would have been a torture for them.However, in that torment they got Sky which was sort of a break in the pattern of misery, hence their small mercy. As reader’s we are privy to the inner thoughts of Dyson and we are able to see the evolution of his character and how he faces Fey Kennan. Fay thought her small mercy would be having sex with Dyson. Dyson refused her because that was his lesson to never repeat his sins in order to find his inner peace after the death of his wife. His refusal was also Fay’s lesson because she had to learn that for herself that she must learn from her past mistakes and move on from them in order to appreciate her small