A “silent count of limbs and landmarks”

Abortion in Jodi Picoult’s “A Spark of Light” (2018)

Abstract

This article examines the representation of abortion and its attendant moral conflicts in Jodi Picoult’s A Spark of Light (2018). Positioned within a growing corpus of abortion narratives, the novel responds to current debates and restrictive abortion legislation in the United States. Set during a hostage crisis in Mississippi’s last abortion-providing clinic, A Spark of Light employs shifting perspectives and a reverse-chronological structure to explore the diverse experiences, emotions, and ideological positions of patients, clinic staff, abortion opponents, and the hostage-taker. Published in 2018, before the US Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion, the novel depicts the increasing polarization of public discourse about abortion, as well as the diverging views and assumptions regarding issues of reproduction. Picoult’s in-depth engagement with a controversial and hotly debated topic stands out not only in A Spark of Light but is a hallmark of most of her novels. However, although she is one of America’s best-selling authors, her work has received little scholarly scrutiny thus far. Critics have frequently dismissed her novels as non-serious literature and commercial fiction that prioritizes entertainment and profit over literary merit. Challenging such dismissals, the article shows that A Spark of Light deserves critical attention for its nuanced exploration of abortion experiences and contribution to contemporary abortion debates. Through a close reading that is informed by feminist scholarship on reproductive politics, the article illustrates how Picoult’s narrative portrays abortion as a complex decision influenced by intersecting social, economic, emotional, and medical factors, while critiquing the impact of restrictive laws and limited access to reproductive health care services. The article further contends that, by incorporating authoritative medical insights and providing a detailed portrayal of a procedural abortion, the novel counters misinformation and thereby challenges the stigmatization surrounding abortion. Diversifying mainstream representations, A Spark of Light exemplifies the potential of popular fiction to engage in pressing cultural and political debates and foster nuanced discussions about reproductive rights.