Kindred
In class we began to draw comparisons between the two main male characters, Rufus and Kevin. Dana interacts with these males in two very different settings, but is there a parallel? Their relationships with Dana could not be any more different, but despite this, are they somehow interrelated? I want to further explore these differences and similarities as to further understand Butler’s intentions when she wrote the novel. Is there a cycle of oppression we now assume has ended, but that really is still as strong as ever? I believe we may feel disconnected from our past, from the racism that has left a black mark on our nation’s history, but it is still as prevalent today as it was a century or more ago. Of course, this racism has mutated, and matured into a subtler and arguably more complex form of bigotry. The power dynamics between Dana and the males in her life may give further analysis into Butler’s social critique of contemporary racism.
Rufus is given obvious, and extreme, authority and agency in Dana’s life. He is a white slave-owner in a slave state prior to the American Civil War. Kevin is a loving husband, with an assumed equality to his wife; he is caring, concerned, protective, and understanding. However, Kevin is also given authority and unequal power in Dana’s life that is not as obviously illustrated as Rufus’ advantages are. He is a Caucasian male, a published writer, and is a decade older than Dana; these are attributes our society equates with privilege and advantage. Our society is sexist, and Kevin is obviously male; our society is racist, and Kevin is white; our society values age and rank, and Kevin is almost a father figure with his white hair and ten year seniority over Dana. I do not mean to make these vast generalizations about our society, especially ones with a negative light, hastily. I just want to point out the majority of our congressmen, our democratically elected representatives, are white, male, and old. That says something about our voting population, and the greater society within this nation.
Past this superficial preferences Kevin has now been assigned, his character also demonstrates a sort of power dynamic that is skewed in Kevin’s favor between the two. Dana is expected to type for Kevin, to do menial and secretarial work, and suffers emotional abuse, to an extent, when she refuses to comply. She is discouraged from entering Kevin’s apartment after her refusal, and he wonders why she decided to come back. “He said if [Dana] couldn’t do him a little favor [she] could leave,” so Dana had the strength to leave. However, when she comes back Kevin was surprised and at the door said, “You came back” in disbelief, or possibly resentment, without any preceding salutation. The dialogue continues as follows, “Didn’t you want me to? / Well, … sure. Will you type those pages for me now? / No. / Damnit, Dana!” Kevin is obviously expecting Dana to be subservient, even if it is only with a small clerical task. He assumes she will give in and do his bidding, and is angered when she doesn’t comply. This is oddly reminiscent of Dana's interactions with Rufus, who is in disbelief when she asks him to call her a black woman, or when she refuses to be treated like a subhuman. Rufus also lashes out in anger, and later on in the novel, forces Dana to suffer serious and violent consequences for any disrespect or retaliation Dana may give him. Dana does not even have to do anything morally wrong to upset the two men, she merely stands up for herself. She did not want to type for Kevin, and she does not limit herself and her intellect in front of Rufus.
I plan on continuing this blog after this next class period. I think the similarities grow during the latter half of the novel.
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