Olfactory Fatigue
T he harsh environment of 1830s antebellum slavery leaves no one untouched. At first, Dana thinks of herself as an observer of the past, someone who watches history fly by. However, Dana is forced to reconsider her role when she comes face-to-face with a re-enactment of a slave auction by slave children. That scene is brought to life when she comments on the smells of the Weylin plantation. Dana must come to terms with her reality - she’s living slavery, and slavery is deeply intertwined with her existence. “Everyone smelled, black and white. Nobody washed enough or changed clothes often enough. The slaves worked up a sweat and the whites sweated without working. Kevin and I didn’t have enough clothes or any deodorant at all, so often, we smelled too. Surprisingly, we were beginning to get used to it” (98). This description seems pretty accurate. The terrible hygiene in Dana's new environment reflects historical circumstances - the lack of running water meant that everyone re...