Rachel Running
At the exposition, Rachel is fleeing from Providence. The fleeing occurs after she learns that she will not get the freedom she envisioned all her life even though the Emancipation Proclamation has been issued. Shearer writes, "She wanted to collapse but could not; her body unbidden, carried her father and farther away from Providence. Every snap of a twig sounded like a gunshot; the murmuring of can toads became the distant cries of searching men." Although she is weary, she must keep running through the dark forest. She is experiencing a high level of dread because she could be trailed and taken back to the plantation. The flight system of her body is on high alert, so she runs, hoping to come upon freedom.
Rachel Dancing
Rachel meets a group of dancers in the forest. She participates in the dancing until she loses herself. Shearer writes, "Rachel was swept into the throng. In an instant, she lost all sense of herself. She had no end and no beginning, no edges or limits at all." The rhythmic dancing creates a flow in her soul. The music is so thrilling that it makes her forget that she is supposed to flee. After the dancing, her body, which had been aching, felt better. She feels liberated and starts singing a song she had not been conscious of all along. The dance soothes and heals her mind temporarily.
Atlas
Atlas is the only man that Rachel knows who had attempted to flee from Providence, but he was captured. After his capture, he was abused physically and ended up dying. Shearer writes, “Atlas had his nose sliced off as punishment. The wound had grown infected, and he died with foul pus oozing from the gaping holes in his face." The slave masters would rather have a slave dead than have him escape. Atlas’ predicament is intended to discourage other slaves from running. The slave owners expect the slaves to serve them loyally until they die and get buried at Providence.
