Kindred Essay

This gives us insight into how horrific things were back then. There was slavery, treating blacks as if they were property, beatings, rape, and no education for these African-Americans. Butler states, “It was dangerous to educate slaves...Education made blacks dissatisfied with slavery...The Methodist minister said it made them disobedient…”(Page 236) This quote emphasizes how blacks had little to no privileges in that time period, even something as simple as getting an education. As well, Butler mentions, “There was no shame in raping a black woman, but there could be shame for loving one.”(Page 124) This quote accentuates how it was entirely condoned to treat African-American slave women with no respect, as if they had no value besides for work and sex. On the contrary, in 1976, we witness that that way of thinking has passed since the interracial couple, Dana and Kevin, are happily married and he is actually capable of getting into trouble for hurting her when she comes home from the Weylin plantation with many bruises and scars. As you can see, the time periods have

Past experiences shape nature and disposition.When someone goes through a dramatic event, they change for the better or worse. The novel Mississippi Trial, 1955, concerns Hiram’s experience with witnessing the murder of an African American and figuring out how to respond to it. It soon becomes clear that Hiram’s past experiences with his father have affected his viewpoint on life. For example, Hiram states, “It made me sick, and all I wanted to do was get out of there, out of Mississippi, and back home where things and people weren’t so crazy.” (Crowe 192) This shows significant character development for him, which contributes to identity. Hiram’s experience in witnessing a failed justice system for African Americans also caused a change in his personality. In the beginning of the book, he loved Greenwood, his grandfather’s home, and thought it was incredible. In the beginning, he states, “It was the best place on Earth” and that he, “loved [his] grandparents.” (Crowe 3) This demonstrates that there is a change in Hiram’s thought process and that this will change his personality and self-identification. Clearly, the murder of Emmett Till affected how Hiram viewed himself and others. Before, Hiram could be described as a young boy who had a blind, immense love for his grandfather and the South. However, his experience with Emmett Till and observing a murder that his grandfather was part of reformed Hiram, who came to

The party in government is made up of ___________ and has direct impact on governmental policy; it is largely independent of ___________________.

Earl and Harlan never got along because of their conflicting positions and outlooks on how colored people should be treated. Hiram and his father, Harlan, also had a similarly adversarial relationship. Originally, Hiram didn’t understand why his father was continuously dragging him away from Earl and would lecture him about hate, but by the end of his stay in Greenwood, he had a much better understanding and consideration for his father’s intent. He was even beginning to approve with his father and his principles. He says, “But Emmett Till is dead, Grampa, for no good reason. He had as much right to be here in Leflore County as I do. He was just a kid, …” Proving that he is a good person who believes that everyone should be treated equally. By the end of the novel Hiram’s motivations were leaning more towards doing what was just, which he knew wasn’t supporting to keep the hate and prejudiced traditions of the

In Kindred, Dana faces a situation that leads her to thinking of killing Rufus or to deal with him a while longer. Killing Rufus would lead to the slaves being sold off, but Dana could be freed and go back to the future. If she held on a while longer, she would’ve suffered with the others and still would be able to go back. Even if someone says that he’s bad and abusive doesn’t mean she could take his life for it. I believe that Dana should just deal with Rufus, otherwise killing him would only benefit her and she’ll be the downfall to the plantation. The slaves would be safe from the more cruel slave owners, and no one would be sold off and separated. If Dana had done this action she is the traitor to the plantation, the people that supported

Rufus has also felt that he was entitled to Dana’s service. When Rufus’ father had a heart attack, he demanded that Dana stop him from dying, even when she had no clue of how to do so. When Dana was not able to save him, Rufus sent her

Rufus’ character develops a lot near the end of the book as we realize his feelings toward Dana all to clearly. In the middle of the night he approaches Alice and Dana and says, “You really are only one woman. Did you know that?” Rufus had Alice for his physical needs and Dana for his emotional. We start to see that Dana wasn’t just his friend; he needed to have her, no matter what. His jealously became clear when he sold the slave Sam for just speaking to Dana. He said, “He wanted you…he wanted you.” He then says to Dana, “Your so much like her, I can hardly stand it.” Rufus’ relationship with Dana had gone from friendship and understanding to Rufus wanting more and he aimed to have it. When we see that Rufus was allowing his son to call him daddy finally it was reminder of his humanity. We see that in some ways he was still good, and not racked with intense emotions. However, his humane side diminishes slowly with his irrational wants, desires and need for affection.

This also illustrates how Dana believes she can have a lasting effect on Rufus, to steer him away from the ways of his father. However, she only has a limited period of time to shed her 20th century mentality on him. And, Rufus’ change is not gradual relative to Dana, because every time she returns, she finds Rufus years older, and acting that much more like his father.

Instead of working to better himself, he expects others to do his work for him, hence the mentality of other slave owners. Although he understands that the things that he does are wrong, he assuages his guilty nature by forcing his victims to fake enthusiasm. A prime example of this is when he has Dana whipped. Shortly after her beating, Rufus expects Dana to understand and accept the fact of why her beating was necessary. Despite causing much pain to those around him, especially those who were the closest to him, and attempting to change his actions, Rufus continually does harm, and then expresses deep condolences after the damage is done. Although he feels guilty after his actions, Rufus is a mere product of his father’s behavior, his white upbringing and the plantation system in which he lives in. Unlike his father, Rufus shows guilt for the products that surround him but does nothing about them. Rufus’ selfish and brutal behavior ultimately cause his downfall and gets worse, the longer he is alive. Alike many other white individuals during the period, Rufus felt as though he were superior to his counterparts, or his slaves. Despite the strong influence of the one who continuously saves him, Dana, he still became the product of his environment. The corruption of the enslaving mentality, caused Rufus Weylin to ultimately become the slave owner that Dana

Rufus is unpredictable; intoxicate slave owner and also the father of one of Dana’s ancestors. He sexual assault and subjugate Alice and makes an attempt to do the same to Dana. Rufus longs to be loved but expects to always get his way, using violence if denied.

If he could, the youth would have remained there for hours. The harsh words he spat out toward the entity was the only form of affection he could convey to a man as formal as his father was. The fashion of his character, the way he conducted himself, was one in which the fledgling lionized. Respect from his colleagues was something the man had in abundance, and Titus wanted this. He wanted to be above them all, to inspire fear in their beings with just as a flick of his wrist.

parallels he sees to his own life, and so in a real sense, his pity

Over the course of the novel, Rufus becomes less idealistic as he learns of corruption and greed when he meets with Mr. Floode and the “Professor.” Mr. Floode exemplifies the willful ignorance of people working at the oil company. “--Our pipelines are vandalized daily, losing us millions... and millions for the country as well. These people don’t understand what they do to themselves…” Rufus then has to explain to Mr. Floode that, “There are countless villages going up in smoke daily… I don’t blame them for wanting to get some benefit out of the pipelines that have brought them nothing but suffering to their lives…” (103). Rufus’ humble roots also compel Rufus to correct Mr. Floode and to try to portray the gravity of the situation in the delta. This scene is a key part of Rufus’ character development because the reader can tell that Rufus has thickened his skin. He is trying to fight for what he believes in by correcting an extremely powerful executive, Mr. Floode. As the novel progresses, Rufus grows from a shy rookie reporter to a reporter so confident in his abilities that he is willing to confront the head of the militia. “Are you calling me a liar, reporter? --No, Professor. I am not. I don’t know you well enough to do that.” (230) The

If you asked people what they thought kindness was, what would they say? Would they give a generic answer? Would they say they didn’t know? Many would say that is being nice to others. But is that REALLY what kindness is? Is kindness for people to show appreciation for others? Is it a way to show that you love someone? Not recently. Recently it has become a mask, a way to gain attention, and a way to make people think you are better than them.

Today teenagers wear different styles of clothing to express their personality. All high school students subject themselves to this wild time in their life. Many kids want to fit in with a click or gang, or just want to change friends. A teens unique character and individual style of dress sets them apart from all other kids.