Tom Weylin is a Rufus’ father. He is an unkind master to his slaves, although Dana notices that Tom is not an absolutely brutal owner. Tom does what he believes is appropriate for a man of his standing over this time cycle, which indicates putting black people “in their place” when he considers they are being too arrogant and whipping them himself when they “are entitled to” penalty. Besides, Tom Weylin is inhospitable and arrogant to his own son, up to and including whipping Rufus. He is very domineering of his wife Margaret. Nevertheless, Tom is not inevitably an evil man; he does perform the injurious activities that many men in the south during this time cycle dedicated in order to affirm their manliness and advantage in culture.
Tom Weylin in the Essays
Author: Craig Brown