I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

by

Maryse Condé

Darnell Davis Character Analysis

Darnell Davis is a prominent white plantation owner and slaveholder in Barbados, who purchases both Abena and Yao and pairs the two of them together. He is a hateful man, who mistreats his wife Jennifer, and who torments the enslaved people on his land with constant work and violence. After he tries to assault Abena and she fights back, Darnell has her publicly hanged. Later, when Darnell returns to England, he separates all of the enslaved families on his plantation. In his cruelty, Darnell embodies white violence and disregard for Black life and connection.
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Darnell Davis Character Timeline in I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

The timeline below shows where the character Darnell Davis appears in I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Chapter 1
Slavery and Daily Life  Theme Icon
Desire, Patriarchy and the Difficulty of Feminism Theme Icon
Once on the island, Abena is sold to a brutal slaveholder named Darnell Davis. Initially, Darnell assigns Abena to be his wife Jennifer’s companion—and because Jennifer is similarly... (full context)
Surviving vs. Enduring Theme Icon
Slavery and Daily Life  Theme Icon
Desire, Patriarchy and the Difficulty of Feminism Theme Icon
One day, while Tituba is walking with her mother, Darnell stops Abena in her tracks and tries to rape her. Abena instructs her daughter to... (full context)
Slavery and Daily Life  Theme Icon
Nature as Knowledge Theme Icon
Around this time, Darnell’s wife dies—and his infant son, despite being tenderly nursed by an enslaved woman, seems destined... (full context)