How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.[Part].Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
[…] just as [Carothers] made no effort either to explain or obfuscate the thousand-dollar legacy to the son of an unmarried slave-girl […] So I reckon that was cheaper than saying My son to a n***** [Isaac] thought. (5.4.72)
Abandonment Exhibit A is old Carothers, who refused to acknowledge his slave children and preferred to let his sons deal with them. Nothing but destruction comes out of this. His slave Eunice drowns herself when she realizes he's committed incest with their daughter Tomey, and Tomey dies giving birth to Turl. Old Carothers is alive when Turl's born, but he won't even handle that legacy himself. He leaves it to his sons to do it after his death.
Quote #8
"There will be a message here some time this morning, looking for me. Maybe it wont come. If it does, give the messenger this and tell h—say I said no." (6.73)
In a major act of cowardliness, Roth refuses to tell the mother of his child face-to-face that he won't marry her and makes Isaac do the dirty work. He must have asked himself, "What would my great-great-great-grandfather have done in this situation? I know—throw them out." Things have come full circle—Roth didn't want to acknowledge his mixed-race child either.
Quote #9
Now he comprehended what the old Negress meant. He remembered that it was Edmonds who had actually sent the boy in to Jefferson in the first place: he had caught the boy breaking into his commissary store and had ordered him off the place and forbidden him ever to return. And not the sheriff, the police, he thought. Something broader, quicker in scope..... (7.2.12)
In the last story, we learn that Roth's done it again. He threw young Samuel Beauchamp (who was already deserted by his father) off the plantation for stealing. Mollie believes this was tantamount to selling him right into Egypt, since once Samuel was away from the protection of his family, he was lured into the evil ways of the world. Even Gavin Stevens, who doesn't understand "them," sees how bad this was. Roth didn't call the police, he just sent Samuel away. Once Samuel left the country and came to town, his life fell apart.