True Blood is a TV show about a world in which humans and vampires, who live openly, cohabit. Scientists have created an artificial blood called “True blood”, which vampires can drink in bars and other public spaces. The story takes place in Bon Temps, in Louisiana. During the beginning of the first season, many murders take place in the city, and vampires are the first ones accused, as the cohabitation between humans and vampires is not always well-seen by everyone. One of the main characters, Tara Thorton spends most of her life taking care of her mother, who is an alcoholic. When her mother becomes too violent with her, under the effects of alcohol, she takes shelter at her best friend’s house, Sookie. At twenty-five years old, Tara doesn’t with her mother anymore. However, the latter is still an alcoholic, and badly behaves towards her daughter. Despite the fact that Tara’s mother tries to hurt her with an empty bottle, the way she talks to her seems to be more violent to me. Indeed, she acts condescendingly towards her child, and insults her while being drunk. Violence resides in words. Compared to the violent actions of Tara’s mother towards her, words may not appear to be that important. However, language is, like acts, a way of conveying violence. It hurts people in a psychological way and makes them feel weak. Even though Tara tries to be objective towards her mother’s behavior, it hurts her even more than it would if it were coming from a person she particularly loves. When she sees her mother like that, she can’t help herself from crying. Words are a weapon when physical violence does not take place. Tara’s mother, when she does not try to hit her daughter, talks to her in a such bad way that she gets hurt. There is no blood; the injury is inside, in her heart and feelings. The mother calls her child a “dirty whore”, “the devil”, saying “you ain’t no child of mine” or “you’re such a spiteful child”.

The context here is quite peculiar as Tara’s