Stereotypes Found in Octavia Butler's Kindred
Many authors are content to mold their characters around standard racial stereotypes, unwilling or unable to challenge typecasting. These authors often give no motivation for their characters stereotypical behavior, allowing the conduct to perpetuate and reinforce the racial divide. Refreshingly, not all authors are as inhibited. Octavia E. Butler, in her novel Kindred, seeks to explain the context in which racial stereotypes are (and have been) created. By using three Caucasian characters, Mr. Tom Weylin, Rufus, and Kevin, Butler is able to characterize (and is some cases dispel) the racial stereotypes associated with the Caucasian "Manifest Destiny" attitude towards African-Americans.
Before explaining the characterization applied in Kindred, it should be noted that an African-American female, a group typically victimized by the very characters whose racial stereotyping she intends to illustrate and contradict, authors the book. Additionally, the setting of the novel (mid 1970's and in the Antebellum South) creates a platform from which the characters motivation springs.
The character of Mr. Weylin could be judged as the least evolved and most stereotypical depiction of the American Caucasian male in the novel, were it not for Butler's skill at bringing humanity to the inhumane.
Mr. Weylin is a slave owner in Maryland during the early 1800's. He is condescending towards the African-American characters, and in particular to the main female African-American character, Dana. (Butler 67)
Mr. Weylin's character does not deem it necessary to be polite, cordial, or endearing to the African-Americans he comes in contact with. He speaks in clipped sentences, giving orders not requests, as can be seen from his exchange with the slave Luke. "Take Dana around back and get her something to eat. 'Yes sir' said the black man softly. 'Want me to take Marse Rufe upstairs first?' 'Do what I told you. I'll take him up." (Butler 67)
Mr. Weylin also contributes to the "stereotype" associated with southern slave...
When Weylin encounters Dana in the hallway of his home he asks her a series of condescending questions designed to undermine and degrade her.
How old are you? he asked,...'twenty-six, sir'... 'you say that like you're sure... what year were you born?'... "How many
children have you had?... 'none'... 'you must be barren then'... 'I could buy you. Then you'd live here instead of traveling around the country without enough to eat or a
place to sleep" (Butler 91)
Butler could have left the aforementioned exchange as written, solidifying the stereotype, but instead Butler is able to offer insight into the grim slave owner's behavior by having him feel pity for Dana (Butler 91) who he believes is to be sold in Louisiana. (Butler 80) Mr. Weylin views his offer of buying Dana as a helpful gesture, albeit the benefits of her being sold to him are decidedly in his favor.
Through the eyes of Dana, Butler graciously explains that Mr. Weylin's behavior towards African-Americans is not rooted in sadism, but rather, that he is a product of his
environment. Dana states: "His (Rufus) father wasn't the
monster he could have been with the
power he held over his slaves. He wasn't a monster at all. Just and ordinary man who sometimes did the monstrous things his
society said were legal and proper." (Butler 134)
Contributing to the "southern slave owner" stereotype Mr. Weylin is also shown to hold honor, and the giving of ones "word" as a principle that must be held in the utmost regard. His son Rufus explains " Daddy's the only man I know, who cares as much about giving his word to a black as to a white... It's one of the few things a bout him that I can respect." (Butler 181) The character of Mr. Weylin's son,…
