'Middle Passage' and 'The Second Sex'

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the novel 'Middle Passage' by Charles Johnson, using Simone de Beauvoir's book 'The Second Sex' as a basis of the analysis.

From the Paper:

"Just as Simone de Beauvoir describes women as "the other" vis-a-vis men within The Second Sex, Charles Johnson's character Rutherford Calhoun in Middle Passage (1990) also arguably represents "the other", in much the same way: in fact vis-a-vis everyone onboard the Republic. First, for example, Rutherford Calhoun is "other" because he is a stowaway, e.g., Rutherford is not legitimately onboard. Meanwhile, since Falcon (much like Melville's Ahab) is a sadistic egomaniac, his crew (of which Rutherford is not a legitimate member) is on the verge of rebellion against Falcon's tyrannical authority. The slaves onboard (among whom Rutherford is also not a member, and therefore, "other" as well) themselves are also planning to rebel against Falcon, and to take over the ship. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. Vintage; Reissue Ed., December 17, 1989.
• Johnson, Charles. Middle Passage. New York: Athenaeum, 1990.
• Sartre, Jean Paul. Being and Nothingness. New York: Washington Square Press; Reprint Ed., August 1, 1993.

More papers on 'Middle Passage' and 'The Second Sex':

• Analytical Essay # 135553 : "Beauvoir's "The Second Sex"
• Essay # 58323 : "The Middle Passage and African Identity"
• Comparison Essay # 25527 : "The Killing of Abel" and "The Second Shepherd's Play"

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