We find out, after Dana's re-appearence at the Weylin Plantation, that Alice has killed herself. Rufus is completely distraught. After months and months of cooperation and growing love for each other, Alice snaps when Rufus "sells" her kids (they are just up in Baltimore), eventually ending her own life. This leaves Rufus in a state of depression and confusion, yet not in a life threatening situation. This is why I believe that this is a time in which Rufus actually calls Dana from the future to join him in the past. This is because he is seriously considering putting a revolver bullet through his head. Although he is considering it, I don't believe he would actually do it and he knows this. I believe that this is a point of realization for Rufus. He understands the pain and suffering that he has caused, not only to alice, but the rest of his slaves as well. He has called on Dana not to save him, but to take his own life from him.
If there is any kind of understanding that goes on between Rufus and Dana it is that Dana will not hesitate to kill Rufus if he ever tried to rape Dana. Rufus must know this and thats why I believe he tries to rape her. He doesn't want to but he wants to die, especially at the hands of those that he has hurt and more specifically Dana. He makes advances towards Dana knowing what will become of him. He allows Dana to stab him, as he screams and screams. Grabbing the arm of Dana he is able to die and become an almost tragic figure.
I'm not quite sure if this argument truly holds up or if I even believe that it is what happened, but it is the way in which I read the text.
Unfortunately, the only one who ever knew what Rufus thought in those last fatal moments, was Octavia Butler.
This is a really interesting take on that passage! I think that your argument does hold up, and that exploring Dana’s other purpose for travelling to the 1800’s; to realize her reality, can further it. In class we discussed that the reason Dana travels through time may not only be to save Rufus, but to realize her own reality, and Rufus is the character that aids this discovery most frequently. So when Dana makes her last appearance in the south, this could also be seen as the last piece to understanding her reality. Because of the understanding between Dana and Rufus regarding rape that you mentioned, as readers we understand that Dana will kill Rufus as soon as he begins to make advances on her. Her final act in the south, killing Rufus, is the last piece she needs to understand her reality.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the story, Dana has been tested in multiple ways; through physical and emotional pain, love, discrimination, and racism. These tests have all taught her what she is capable of, and who she is as a person, which therefore helps her realize her identity. For the most part, it is often Rufus who puts her through these tests, and helps her realize her character. So naturally, it is Rufus who puts her through her last test; seeing where she draws the line for taking the life of another person. Like you said, Dana isn’t brought back because she must save Rufus from taking his own life, instead she goes back to complete her realization of her own reality.
Very interesting way to view these events. I did not think about the events this way when I was reading the novel, but I can see how it could be read this way. I think that in some ways, Rufus did want to die. He did realize that he had error in his ways and he had lost the thing he valued most. But I'm not sure whether or not he actually wanted Dana to kill him. But I guess that it is a possibility. His greatest fear was that Dana wouldn't come to him when he was in trouble, and I guess by dying at Dana's hand, he would never have to face this fear (she would be there for his death).
ReplyDeleteRufus however may not have expected Dana to actually kill him. Throughout the novel they are both dependent on each other. They have an odd relationship with both love and contempt for one another. When Dana realizes what Rufus intends to do in the last part of the novel, she hesitates before deciding to kill him. She considers actually sleeping with him because she feels that she could even forgive him for that. Though she ultimately decides against it and decides to kill him, it is not a immediate decision and requires thought. It is because of this that I doubt that Rufus necessarily expected Dana to kill him. Though I still think it's an interesting idea.
This is a really intriguing view you have on why Rufus tries to rape Dana. I honestly think it happened because Rufus has turned into an brutal human being. Additionally, I feel as though Rufus and Dana's relationship was based on Dana helping Rufus achieve certain goals. So if Rufus really wanted to kill himself, I think he would have asked Dana to do it for him because he would be too scared to go through the process himself.
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