Rufus vs. His Father
When Dana first meets Rufus, she still has hope for him. He's undeniably a product of his time, but could he be different from Tom Weylin? Better, perhaps? But as time wears on, Rufus bears a closer and closer resemblance to Tom. Both are temperamental, cruel, and wield their power mercilessly. They still have some key differences, though. Tom's management is impersonal and calculated, but (partially because of this detachment) he's also as fair as a slave owner can be, by Rufus' own admission. On page 136, Butler writes "'He won't whip you for following my orders. He's a fair man.' I looked at him, startled. 'I said fair,' he repeated. Not likable.'" Rufus, on the other hand, is more impassioned, and he forms close relationships with the slaves... but that only makes him all the more reckless and dangerous. At first glance, Rufus seems like a more human, less despicable character than his father. Doesn't he love Alice, at the v...