As time goes on, though, she realizes that is almost wholly unprepared to be in the past and that she has to adjust her mannerisms, words, behavior, expectations, and more. When Dana begins her journeys she privileges the present and thinks an awareness of the historical past will allow her to be a distanced spectator and successfully navigate its treacherous terrain. Slave mothers must also watch as their children not only grow aware of their status as slaves, but also endure watching them be beaten, raped, insulted, worked like animals, and maybe even killed. Alice kills herself because Rufus 'jokes' with her that he has sold her children. Like Sarah, they can see them sold away to other plantations for something as insignificant as new furniture. Women do not get to engage with the societally determined definition of motherhood as the apotheosis of womanhood because they are not considered to have power over their children. The suffering of slave mothers is almost unfathomable. Dana comes to acknowledge this, and opens herself up to this family. Slaves have no guarantees of remaining with their spouses or children, but they can form bonds with each other that provide sustenance and solace. As time goes on, though, she is further enmeshed in the community of slaves at the Weylin plantation and comes to see that they have formed a new definition of family. Communityĭana appears to be more of an introvert when we meet her in the 20th century, and even when she travels back to the 19th century she initially seems to be aloof, desirous of keeping her distance from the other slaves and considering herself more of a spectator. Slavery is demeaning and demoralizing in an inestimable way. The slaves in this novel are clearly human beings, capable of pain, emotion, sorrow, and regret however, they are treated like beasts. They work backbreaking, soulless tasks for their masters and have no autonomy. Their children can be sold, their marriages are invalid, and they have no rights or recourse to action.

They are punished for all offenses great, small, or even nonexistent. They are able to do practically anything they want to slaves or even free blacks, as slavery is defined by race. All good sentiments, rationality, and human sympathy are easily squelched.

White slaveowners, as well as whites who wish they were slaveowners, have complete and arbitrary power.

Slavery is an absolutely brutalizing system that affects whites and blacks alike. Buy Study Guide The Deleterious Effects of Slavery

Octavia e butler kindred graphic novel