Kindred Characters

The protagonist and narrator of the novel, Dana is a black woman from 1979 California who gets pulled back in time to Antebellum Maryland to save the life of her white ancestor, Rufus Weylin… read analysis of Dana (Edana) Franklin

Dana’s husband, a white man with eerily pale eyes. Kevin, like Dana, is a writer, and the two bond over their feelings of isolation and detachment from the other people in their machinery office… read analysis of Kevin Franklin

A white, red-headed slave owner in Antebellum Maryland, and Dana’s ancestor. Rufus is a product of his time and culture, becoming harsher, more selfish, and crueler as the years go by and he is… read analysis of Rufus Weylin

Though born a free black woman, Alice becomes a slave of the Weylin estate after the arrest of her first husband, Isaac Jackson. Rufus retains an obsessive love for Alice since childhood and forces… read analysis of Alice Jackson (Greenwood)

Rufus’ father. Tom is a harsh master to his slaves, but Dana notes that Tom is not an entirely cruel man. Tom does what he thinks is right for a man of his standing… read analysis of Tom Weylin

Tom Weylin’s wife and Rufus’s mother, a hysterical and high-strung woman who relieves her boredom and sense of uselessness by making the lives of her house slaves miserable. She particularly hates Dana due… read analysis of Margaret Weylin

A slave on the Weylin estate, Nigel is the personal servant to Rufus and enjoys some of the advantages of living close to white people. Nigel does what he wishes despite the threat of whippings… read analysis of Nigel

A slave on the Weylin estate, Carrie is Sarah’s daughter and the only child Sarah has left (as the others have been sold). Carrie is deaf and mute, but finds other ways to assert… read analysis of Carrie

Alice’s mother is a free black woman, legally making Alice free as well. Alice’s mother teaches Alice to be strong, but is unable to protect her daughter from the harsh reality of life for all… read analysis of Alice’s Mother