How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph) or (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Some of his neighbors found out what I was doing and offered him fatherly advice." (5.13.5)
Butler's use of the word "fatherly" in this sentence is striking because it shows how deeply Rufus' sense of masculinity is connected to his power over his slaves. Rufus only thinks of himself as a man insofar as he can control his slaves.
Quote #8
"You mean you could forgive me for having been raped?" (6.2.44)
Dana can't believe it when Kevin tells her he could forgive her if she were raped in the past. Comments like this help reveal that, even though he's a nice guy, Kevin doesn't fully understand the concept of a woman's right to control her own life. Basically, it's not his right to forgive or not forgive her for being raped.
Quote #9
He had spent his life watching his father ignore, even sell the children he had had with black women. (5.11.26)
It's no wonder Rufus doesn't respect black women. He's spent his entire life watching a father who has children with black women and sells them off for a profit as though they were investments instead of people.