The relationship between Rufus and Dana becomes more convoluted as the novel progresses. An astounding number of factors go into determining how their relationship plays out, but one of the most largest factors in their relationship is the development of Rufus into a seemingly stereotypical slave master.
Throughout the beginning of the novel, Dana tries to counteract the societal factors that play into Rufus being a stereotypical slave master. She tries to educate him and have him develop some respect for black people and for women and she thinks that she is somewhat successful as Rufus is a fairly nice boy who dislikes his father’s way of doing things in some respects. Together, Dana and Rufus align themselves against Tom Weylin’s way of doing things and as Rufus grows up he begins to stray from his father’s way of looking at the world.
A large strain is put on the relationship between Dana and Rufus when he pulls a gun on her and Kevin as they are trying to leave because of his abandonment issues. Dana knows that the Rufus she taught would never do something like that and she is extremely distraught by how much he has changed during the time she has been gone. One of the reasons that Rufus has changes after Dana leave is because of society telling him that he can have anything he wants. As the heir to a plantation, he will at some point own many slaves and he can do whatever he wants with those slaves and no other people around him will care. Society would act as if he was abnormal if he didn’t control, and maybe even abuse, the black people who he ends up owning. Along with this societal pressure to be normal and use his power, he believes in the example his father set him. This example again shows Rufus that he can have anything he wants, including other people’s lives, and that he can treat them any way he wants to without fear of repercussion. In fact, when Rufus does act against his father’s example, he gets beat. As such he has more motivation to act normal in this context because he thinks the only way he will be reprimanded is if he acts abnormally.
These societal factors outweigh the small amount of influence that Dana thinks she has over the outcome of Rufus’ development. Dana thinks that the small amount of education that she gives Rufus will change the way he views society and allow him to act differently, but the social backlash that he would induce upon himself far outweighs the risk in his mind. Dana does have some influence on how Rufus thinks, as in the case of how he feels towards Alice and her sway in getting him to lie about who he was beaten by, but she is not able to challenge the amount of cultural influence which makes Rufus so despicable in some of his actions. We find that Rufus is not able to really grow out of a childhood state of mind where he throws a tantrum if he doesn’t get what he wants because that is completely normal in the society where he lives.
Overall, the development of Rufus’ character has a large strain on the relationship between him and Dana. Dana tries, unsuccessfully, to change how Rufus will turn out as an adult, but the societal factors influence him in such a way that he does not need to change to live a fulfilling life, and if he does change and go against the status quo, he may be reprimanded by society.
It does seem a little unrealistic for Dana to expect that her short visits with Rufus will change the white supremacist mindset that he was raised with in his society. However, I constantly wonder why Rufus wouldn't be more accepting to Dana's 20th century view, especially since he knows that the future will end slavery and lead to more equality.
ReplyDeleteI think another key reason that Rufus strayed from the ideology that Dana attempted to instill in him was due to what Rufus perceived as Dana's abandonment of him. Even before Dana rescued him, Rufus thought of some of the other slaves as (if not his equals) his friends. He did not despair over a lack of control. It was only when Dana left him that he became obsessed with using his societal power to ensure that those close to him would remain that way.
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