The character I will focus on is Rhine. Since, Rhine make great risks to help improve life of the non whites. While he also shows everyone the same respect. Where not to many people would do what he does, especially during this time period. But he is able to do these risks by passing as white. Otherwise if he was more darker skinned or people found out he was black. His actions would have different outcomes than what we just have seen while reading.
How does Rhine challenge the traditional gender roles and norms? Well he allows all races into his saloon instead of just catering to whites. Like the other saloon owners in the town. Since he is passing as white he is allowed to own property. But if he was not passing as white it would have been much harder to impossible to own property and gather great wealth like he has now. Since it was much harder for non whites to own property and gather wealth. Rhine was more connected to wealth and power through his political power. If he would of married Natalie he would of been more powerful politically. Which would be unheard of it came to light that he was black. Since, back then blacks were little to non-existent in political power.
How is he treated? Well once everyone found out his life went in a complete turn. People were very angry with him. Since everyone believed he was white, when that is not the case. The towns folk gathered up to put misery into Rhine life. They also used some derogatory terms directed towards him.
How does the performance of gender connect to love and romance- does your character`s gender performance impact their romance life? He is described in the books as good looking and wealthy. So he may be used to women just throwing themselves at him. Which he probably had gotten used to. While Eddy was the opposite where she did not just throw herself at him. So he had to pursue her differently, which made Eddy and Rhine relationship different on multiple levels. When you compare it to Rhine and Natalie relationship.
You shined light on a good point of the story. That Rhine is probably used to so many women just throwing themselves at him, that maybe because Eddy was playing "so hard to get", that made him more attracted to her. So I like how you used the word "pursue". He chose to pursue Eddy because he simply just liked her, not like how her went for Natalie. I don't see him going for Natalie as "pursuing" her, but as an obligation to marry her because of political advantages.
ReplyDeleteI like that you picked Rhine as a character to talk about. I wrote about Eddy, and have noticed that a few others have talked about Eddy so It is nice to see a new character talked about. I agree with the statement that Rhine shows everyone the same respect- I also think that even after he came out as a colored man- he still respected everyone the same. But not everyone accepted his coming out and not everyone respected him. And just because people were being rude to him and his saloon, he didn't treat anyone any different.
ReplyDeleteRhine is such a fascinating character, especially when we consider how race and gender are such issues for him. He has so much power and yet seems down-to-earth and not aggressive or arrogant. Why do you think this is?
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting that you picked Rhine. Rhine is such an interesting character and I liked how you pointed out how he allowed everyone in his saloon.
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