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Joseph Rydendale is Grace’s husband and Hattie’s father. Joseph is descended from Captain Linnaeus Rydendale, a slave runner who used his wealth to found Greenfields. Although Joseph falls in love with Grace at a time when society intensely scrutinized interracial relationships, he objectifies and exoticizes Grace’s Ethiopian identity, revealing the complexities and inequalities of interracial relationships. When he and Grace lose a series of children shortly after birth, he has little sympathy for her despite how clearly devastated she is. He forces her to try for another child without giving her time to physically and emotionally heal because he is so preoccupied with having a son who will inherit the family farm. Joseph’s treatment of Grace reveals how men use women to achieve and perpetuate their own patriarchal goals.
Joseph Rydendale Quotes in Girl, Woman, Other
The Girl, Woman, Other quotes below are all either spoken by Joseph Rydendale or refer to Joseph Rydendale . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 4: Hattie
Quotes
after Joseph died, Slim broke open an old library cabinet when he couldn’t find the keys, said that as the man of the house he needed to know what was in it
he found old ledgers that recorded the captain’s lucrative business as a slave runner, exchanging slaves from Africa for sugar in the West Indies
came charging like a lunatic into the kitchen where she was cooking and had a go at her for keeping such a wicked family secret from him
she didn’t know, she told him, was as upset as he was, the cabinet had been locked her entire life, her father told her important documents were inside and never go near it
she calmed Slim down, they talked it through
it’s not me or my Pa who’s personally responsible, Slim, she said, trying to mollify her husband, no you co-own the spoils with me
she wrapped her long arms around his waist from behind
it’s come full circle, hasn’t it?
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Chapter 4: Grace
Quotes
nights
they made love with the gas lamp dimmed
she was his expedition into Africa, he said, he was Dr Livingstone sailing downriver in Africa to discover her at the source of the Nile
Abyssinia, she corrected him
whatever you say, Gracie
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Joseph Rydendale Quotes in Girl, Woman, Other
The Girl, Woman, Other quotes below are all either spoken by Joseph Rydendale or refer to Joseph Rydendale . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 4: Hattie
Quotes
after Joseph died, Slim broke open an old library cabinet when he couldn’t find the keys, said that as the man of the house he needed to know what was in it
he found old ledgers that recorded the captain’s lucrative business as a slave runner, exchanging slaves from Africa for sugar in the West Indies
came charging like a lunatic into the kitchen where she was cooking and had a go at her for keeping such a wicked family secret from him
she didn’t know, she told him, was as upset as he was, the cabinet had been locked her entire life, her father told her important documents were inside and never go near it
she calmed Slim down, they talked it through
it’s not me or my Pa who’s personally responsible, Slim, she said, trying to mollify her husband, no you co-own the spoils with me
she wrapped her long arms around his waist from behind
it’s come full circle, hasn’t it?
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4: Grace
Quotes
nights
they made love with the gas lamp dimmed
she was his expedition into Africa, he said, he was Dr Livingstone sailing downriver in Africa to discover her at the source of the Nile
Abyssinia, she corrected him
whatever you say, Gracie
