The Woman on the San Dominick

The Woman on the San Dominick

     Captain Delano’s description of the women on the San Dominick was interesting in the fact that as I reader, I could not distinguish his feelings toward the women.  It was difficult to tell if he admired them or if he was puzzled by their different personas.  He seemed to be very curious about the woman that he first saw with the child.  I would like to explore his descriptions and how they could be related to modern concepts of women.

     “His attention had been drawn to a slumbering negress, partly disclosed through the lace-work of some rigging, lying, with youthful limbs carelessly disposed, under the lee of bulwarks, like a doe in the shaded of a woodland rock.” (Melville, p. 198)  Captain Delano’s first description of the woman he had noticed seemed pleasant for the circumstances.  He had compared her to a doe, which can be related to a peaceful motherly figure.  This woman had just been lying there resting when Delano noticed her.  The story continues with “Sprawling at her lapped breasts, was her wide-awake fawn, stark naked, its black little body half lifted from the deck, crosswise with its dam’s; its hands, like two paws, clambering upon her; its mouth and nose ineffectually rooting to get at the mark; and meantime giving a vexatious half-grunt, blending with the composed snore of the negress.” (Melville, p. 198) 

     It can be concluded from this passage of the story that the women on board are mothers, potentially working mothers who also have to care for the children.  Captain Delano was pleased with the sight of these women, especially the woman with her child who only showed love to it after being woken up.  An interesting section of the passage states, “He was gratified with their manners; like most uncivilized women, they seemed at once tender of heart and tough of constitution…” (Melville, p. 198)  Uncivilized women, what does that mean? Where did that come from? Were these women portrayed as uncivilized because they were slaves?  When I think of the term uncivilized, I think of an individual who is disrespectful and not socially advanced.  Therefore, just because slaves may not be considered people at this point does not mean they are not civilized individuals.  Are they uncivilized because they are African American?  

     From my understanding of the text, the way Captain Delano sees the women on board is much different from what he has seen before.  He praises them for being different but generalizes them as being uncivilized women.  Captain Delano’s perception of the women was confusing to understand.  I could not decide if he was belittling the women by calling them uncivilized or if that was just part of the women’s appearance.

     I think this can relate to modern views on women because even in 2015, there are still men (and women) out there who believe that women are only good for being mothers.  As I mentioned before, for this time, that could have been the common perception of women.  But even in today’s society, women are still suffering from these ideas that were present centuries ago.  Delano’s admiration for the woman is still a popular concept, comparing her to a doe and her child to a fawn.  It is a agreeable metaphor, but it is also still conflicting that they are also deemed as uncivilized.  What made Delano relate these women to other uncivilized women?

     Women have always been conceived to be motherly figures that will care for their children as well as sacrifice so much for their children.  To me, comparing that to an uncivilized woman does not make sense.  You would think that a women who is nothing but a mother to her children would be civilized, or domesticated, right?  The term “uncivilized” can really just be an ode to slavery, but in the context of this passage, I think it is up to the reader to consider more meanings of it.