There is a sense of closure with the visit to the ruined plantation. Yet the imprint of the experience of both Kevin and Dana is still very potent. They both had to fight their inner demons and confront their own weaknesses. Yet, the lasting impact of that remains unclear creating a sense of almost despair.
Even at the end I never felt connected to Dana. She was a dichotomy of cowardice and strength but her courage seemed false.Only at the end, when she was willing to do what was necessary, did she impress me. Throughout the novel she never completely conformed but kept herself apart in an effort to remain superior to those around her. She was selectively defiant rather than really courageous. Throughout the novel there is a sense of disconnect between Dana and others for which she feels sympathy but not true empathy until the end when Rufus in his temper treats her as treats the other slaves. She never understood people like Sarah and even thought herself above them because through her connection to Rufus she could be an observer for the most part. This seen by her condemnation of the title of Aunt Sarah or Mammy.
Rufus never truly matures, his needs and wants just progress. In that society, since plantation owner's children never were given real responsibility that lack of maturity of selflessness was common.
While every character is shaped by their culture, one must never discard an individual's own contribution. Rufus was always vengeful and selfish and while the culture permitted and encouraged this, in the end it was his own free will that shaped him into what he became.
Race is merely an excuse for prejudice. Prejudice allows subjugating people which in turn allows the elevation of others. Everyone seeks superiority even Dana and race is a convenient way to satisfy this need.
This novel dealt with the psychology of slavery for both the slaves and the masters. At the end I found myself not hating the plantation owners but mankind in general for his nature that makes oppression so appealing