Girl, Woman, Other

by

Bernardine Evaristo

Joseph Rydendale Character Analysis

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:
Diaspora, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
).
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: Hattie “GG” Jackson (speaker), Slim Jackson (speaker), Megan/Morgan Malinga , Joseph Rydendale , Captain Linnaeus Rydendale
Related Symbols: The Greenfields Farmhouse
Page Number: 368
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

Related Characters: Grace (speaker), Joseph Rydendale (speaker)
Page Number: 393-394
Explanation and Analysis:
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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:
Diaspora, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon
).
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: Hattie “GG” Jackson (speaker), Slim Jackson (speaker), Megan/Morgan Malinga , Joseph Rydendale , Captain Linnaeus Rydendale
Related Symbols: The Greenfields Farmhouse
Page Number: 368
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

Related Characters: Grace (speaker), Joseph Rydendale (speaker)
Page Number: 393-394
Explanation and Analysis: