Mr. Sands Character Analysis

A slave owner who expresses sexual interest in Linda and whom she eventually accepts as her lover, in order to distance herself from Dr. Flint. Linda’s relationship with Mr. Sands causes her deep shame, as it forces her to break the religious principles to which she’s been loyal all her life. Mr. Sands is much more humane than Dr. Flint; she describes him as much kinder and less threatening, and he helps protect her from her master’s wrath. At the same time, he takes notably little interest in the well-being of his children or paramour. While Linda sees Ellen and Benny as the center of her existence, he only visits them when he wants a diversion. He does buy the children from Dr. Flint after Linda runs away, but he’s hesitant to free them after doing so and sends Ellen to live with his cousin Mrs. Hobbs, who is neglectful and claims that she owns the girl. Later, Ellen tells Linda that during a period of time when she lived with Mr. Sands, he never played with her or hugged her as he did his white children. Even though Linda’s relationship to Mr. Sands is positive compared to her interactions with other slave owners in the city, it’s seriously compromised by the huge imbalance of power that slavery causes. Moreover, Mr. Sands’s apathy as a father contrasts sharply with Linda’s dedication as a mother, and argues the necessity for black women to be able to legally protect their own children.