A Legacy of Violence

Barkskins

This flow traces how violence recurs across the novel, shifting from colonial coercion to labor accidents, family abuse, and institutional harm.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Coercion in the Household Coercion in the Household from "Barkskins". Coercion in the Household A Power Imbalance Claude Trépagny abuses his authority over Mari and later forces a marriage between her and René.

Coercion in the Household from "Barkskins". Coercion in the Household A Power Imbalance Claude Trépagny abuses his authority over Mari and later forces a marriage between her and René.

Coercion in the Household A Power Imbalance Claude Trépagny abuses his authority over Mari and later forces a marriage between her and René. Violence Normalized Other men treat the coercion as a practical arrangement rather than a violation of Mari’s choice.

Violence Over Property Violence Over Property from "Barkskins". Violence Over Property A Boy Injured Duquet attacks a boy working on land he claims, using threats to extract information.

Violence Over Property from "Barkskins". Violence Over Property A Boy Injured Duquet attacks a boy working on land he claims, using threats to extract information.

Violence Over Property A Boy Injured Duquet attacks a boy working on land he claims, using threats to extract information. A Crime Concealed He kills the boy and buries him, setting a chain of vengeance in motion.

Violence in the Camps Violence in the Camps from "Barkskins". Violence in the Camps Accidents as Routine Cable snaps, falling timber, and unsafe machinery maim or kill workers in forests and mills.

Violence in the Camps from "Barkskins". Violence in the Camps Accidents as Routine Cable snaps, falling timber, and unsafe machinery maim or kill workers in forests and mills.

Violence in the Camps Accidents as Routine Cable snaps, falling timber, and unsafe machinery maim or kill workers in forests and mills. Labor’s Disposable Status Bosses replace injured men quickly, while family members bear the grief and economic consequences.

School Violence School Violence from "Barkskins". School Violence Institutional Abuse Egga and Johnny Stick face physical punishment, sexual abuse, forced labor, and humiliation at school.

School Violence from "Barkskins". School Violence Institutional Abuse Egga and Johnny Stick face physical punishment, sexual abuse, forced labor, and humiliation at school.

School Violence Institutional Abuse Egga and Johnny Stick face physical punishment, sexual abuse, forced labor, and humiliation at school. A Family’s Trust Betrayed Parents who hoped education would protect their children learn too late that the institution has harmed them.

The Activists Targeted The Activists Targeted from "Barkskins". The Activists Targeted Evidence of Destruction Sapatisia and Mayara document illegal cutting in a protected area, bringing outside attention to the operation.

The Activists Targeted from "Barkskins". The Activists Targeted Evidence of Destruction Sapatisia and Mayara document illegal cutting in a protected area, bringing outside attention to the operation.

The Activists Targeted Evidence of Destruction Sapatisia and Mayara document illegal cutting in a protected area, bringing outside attention to the operation. Retaliation Gunmen kill Mayara, warning that opposition to profitable forest destruction can be deadly.

During Mari’s employment by Trépagny

During Duquet’s Maine operations

During the age of mechanized logging

During Egga’s residential-school years

During Sapatisia’s work against illegal logging