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March 27, 2007
Weylin's Control: A Social Negotiation?
Furthering some ideas we talked about today in class I want to talk about some of the ways Tom Weylin negotiates control. He is an interesting character because even though he is given the most power of the story, it is societal based and not necessarily a dominant character trait. If fact it is his character that allows for a loss of power.
Specifically, Weylin has power primarily because he is white. It’s true that he is cunning, speaks sharply, and is not lenient with the whip, but these are manifestations of his social role of a slave owner. This is clear because Rufus who seemed impervious to the hatred of his father develops the same disposition. This doesn’t excuse him from the evil and heinous acts he commits but suggests that his hatred may not be innate but the result of his place in the social world.
Therefore it is Weylin’s positive character traits that leech this power. Weylin is an honorable man. Rufus mentions this many times. It is this honor that drives him to relinquish some of his power. For example, he writes to Kevin after he discovers Rufus lied to Dana and did not send her letters. He knew by doing this he would lose Dana around the house, an unpredictable, yet useful resource. He did it anyway though and in doing so, gave some of his power. Not only in the literal sense of the direct control over Dana but by helping receiving help, she lost some of the fear of Weylin. He wasn’t arbitrary pain and punishment. He operated on personal intrinsic laws. This comforted me as a reader as I felt there was finally some consistency to Weylin and with that consistency, weakness and lack of power.
His compassion and love for his son also leave him in moments where he is negotiating rather than commanding. His interactions with Dana show this. Weylin is horribly afraid of Dana, yet when his son gets sick, she is the first one he turns too. He then seems inclined to give her work and a place to stay rather than cast her out as he would with any other problem slave. This becomes more interesting when he tells Rufus that Dana is the one he should have? Why would he want such a strong, intelligent black women as a partner for his son? Would she continue to take care of his impulsive and thick headed son? Is she easy to manipulate? Does he respect her? I’m not sure of any of these, but this falter in Weylin’s ‘hard-line’ attitude sacrifices some of the cruel power he holds.
Posted by willmelv at March 27, 2007 11:53 PM