Tom and Rufus as Slave Masters: Similarities, Differences, and Personal Changes Anonymous 10th Grade

Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice. In Kindred, Octavia Butler depicts similarities and differences to the characterization between Rufus, and his father Tom Weylin, because they were both white men who were slave masters in the 17th century and treated blacks with inequality. Throughout the story, Rufus is more conscious and self-reflective of his actions, yet ambiguous about his actions, contrary to his father’s pessimistic character, as he has learned lessons from his father’s views and experiences regarding slaves, and was occasionally penalized by him as well. His difference to his father benefits and negatively himself and others, to the extent that he becomes more powerful towards Dana and other slaves, but also gains some more maturity as he ages later in the book, making him a better decision-maker in life. In addition, Butler creates a close-relationship between Rufus and Dana, with Dana acting as a “mother-figure” towards Rufus during his childhood because of her frequent attentiveness with him, which in effect, influenced the type of man he’s become in a positive way, further in the story.

Tom Weylin and his son, Rufus, share similarities because they both...