Dana and the Middle Passage

A couple panel-presentations ago, the comparison between Dana and the Middle Passage was mentioned (I don’t really remember if it was from an article topic or if it just arose from discussion separately). I had never really thought of it before, but after some contemplation I have concluded that it does make sense. Whether the comparison was intended by Butler or not, it is a reasonable interpretation that actually helped me to clarify some of Dana’s traits. Looking at characters with a new perspective always has the potential to help.

The Middle Passage involved the trade of massive numbers of Africans into the Americas, and the treatment of the Africans was far from kind. They were rudely crammed into ships and not given sanitary conditions or space. In other words, they had no control. They had absolutely no voice in the process, starting all the way from their capture continuing through their long journey over the ocean and then in the Americas, until the end they had no say whatsoever. If they tried to do anything about their predicament, they would feel the harsh “no” to their opinion with a physical beating. Another aspect to the human trade system was that of personal disbelief. Taken out of their homes/home environment, soon-to-be slaves would be clueless as to what would happen to them next, and the fact that they could not change future events and that terrible things were happening to each of them played a role in this fear and utter disbelief. So while I am making a general assumption here, it is a safe one simply because of what the Africans had to endure.

Dana’s trips to the past overlap with both of these issues. Octavia Butler makes it clear that Dana has no control over her time traveling. Although not entirely explained why, it is left to the life choices of Rufus, because whenever he is in serious trouble she is sent through time to save him and then stay for some needed period. The unpredictability of her visits is the cause for her not to drive and to carry a bag with materials for survival, she doesn't know when she will be called. Once she is in the past, Dana can’t go back willingly, she has to wait until some other force/person threatens her life. Only on one occasion does she make a conscious choice that allows her to return to her normal time setting, and that is when she slits her wrists. This is just one possible interpretation, but this could analogous to a slave making the extremely risky decision to escape. Dana slitting her wrists and a slave trying to escape both stem from spite for a current life situation, and require lots of pain and risk. The second factor I mentioned in the Middle Passage was a questioning of why everything that happened to the Africans actually happened. Many times Dana thinks of why she has to go through Rufus’s life, and why she has to act the part of a slave. All she wants is the simple comfort of not having to time travel and enjoying life with Kevin at home. But it doesn't work out that way. Many times throughout the novel, after Rufus says something to Dana, Butler writes for Dana, “I said nothing.” This phrase constantly appears, and I think it implies Dana’s contemplation of why she has to deal with such problems. It also indicates a little fear she has of consequences that could occur if she doesn't agree with Rufus.

The significance of all this is that it amplifies the suffering Dana has to go through. Once hearing of the comparison, initially, the Middle Passage and Dana were linked in my mind because the journeys related to both headed towards a world of slavery.  Since the Middle Passage was obviously an atrocious part of history, to make the connection between it and Dana puts such a grave tone on her travels.

Rufus Is Not That Bad

As a white male plantation owner during the past in which Dana visits, it is not too hard to be a monster in the eyes of a modern American. The treatment displayed back then was in no way humane, and since Rufus is inherently placed in the role of a slave master it is not expected that he would show any respect to African-Americans residing on his plantation. However, within the dark and dismal dynamic of slavery, Rufus allows faint rays of light to shine through. We constantly see signs of how he shows compassion and genuine human emotion to Dana that make some of us question how that is even possible for a slave owner of the time. Haven’t the history books taught us to think of plantation owners as cruel unforgiving men that do not let their “property” go without constant beatings?

One specific scene that calls my attention towards Rufus is his decision to sell Sam to the deep South, because it raises many questions about who Rufus really is, and where is values truly lie. “He went. That was all. Innocent -- completely innocent. But three days later, a trader led Sam away in chains.” As the book describes, Sam does not do anything outrageous, rude, disobedient or purposefully against his master, Rufus. He is innocent, but Rufus just feels the personal need to send him away, and does not apparently care for the consequences this indicates for Sam and his family. Dana on the other hand sees the tragic events of a harder life for Sam that is to come clear as day, and so she runs and screams towards Rufus. She begs him not to sell Sam, and after a few moments of this plea, Rufus hits Dana. At that moment, Dana knows that an “unspoken agreement” between the two of them has been broken.

Events such as this show the unpredictability Rufus is capable of expressing. His overall treatment of slaves is not that bad generally, but when he strikes, he strikes hard. And, as stated, the worst of it is that the slaves have no bearing to know how to maneuver around these instances. All is based solely on the rash emotion of Rufus, and no one can do anything about it. The actual selling of Sam was just because Sam had talked to Dana, which Rufus found offensive. In comparison to Tom Weylin, Rufus is much worse in a way because of his dangerous unpredictability. Tom Weylin had a set of rules that were harsh, yet simple. Every slave knew them, and had the opportunity to live by them (however hard that may be) as opposed to the system of Rufus. Once Dana is hit, that is another sign of how fickle Rufus is in behavior. Dana is in fact quite surprised, and goes off to slit her wrists. Not only is she hurt physically, but also mentally, because she realizes yet again that she is viewed as an inferior being, one who is owned.

While there are aspects that portray Rufus in a negative light, the event involving Sam also shows how positively unique Rufus is as a slave owner. Throughout the whole novel I have appreciated the innocent side of Rufus, even if it does fade as he grows up. When Butler narrates how Dana feels when she is hit, the thought that came to mind was that it is amazing that they had the basic agreement in the first place. Their relationship is absurd for a slave master and black woman, but Rufus allows it to happen. I am aware of the fact that he may be purely tolerating Dana just so that he can survive, but I do acknowledge the (strong) possibility of his partial compassion. I believe that Rufus is different than those of his time, and although he has grown up with and is fine with his society, he has an easier time accepting Dana than any other white person. He is aware of the fact that Dana believes they are equal, but he is soft on her. His minimal violence towards her should not be ignored, but it does not outweigh the way he interacts with her. Just one example of this is that she calls him “Rufe” all the time.  He asks her for her opinions, and as readers we are made aware of his dependence on her. He is dependent on her for his life at times, but I am referring to the conversational dependence he has. Any truthful person-to-person sharing he needs to pour out, he does so with Dana, and he is not ignorant of this fact. The incident with Sam was a shock to Dana because she expected better of him. That expectation existing says a lot about who Rufus is.