The Corruption of Individuals by an Evil System

One of the themes the novel explores is how an evil system, in this case, the institution of slavery, corrupts everyone involved—including the slaveholders, the white people who work for them, the former slaves, and the slaves themselves. This makes an even more powerful statement: that a person's behavior is not just a result of their personality. The circumstances and the system they are immersed in play such a powerful role that the real person can disappear. Throughout the novel, the narrator (who is unknown until the end of the book) relays incidents involving people in each of these positions to support this statement.

In terms of the white workers for the slaveholders, the narrator shows readers the complex characters of Robert Quinn and Jack Wilkins. Robert Quinn makes love to Lilith, kisses her, and encourages her to...