When writing a novel based upon a subject that is personal like where you live or your experiences growing up, the author’s beliefs have some sort of influence on his writings. The presentation of the article and certain things the author says in the novel make it evident that he does have some characteristics of a racist.
The book presents evidence of being racist in scenes when he refers to his daughter that was a victim of assault as being a “disgrace.” It is evident in the scene where she is asked whether or not she will be attending the market. David says “she would rather hide her face, and he knows why. Because of the disgrace. Because of the shame. That is what their visitors have achieved; that is what they have done to this confident, modern young woman. Like a stain the story is spreading across the district. Not her story to spread but theirs; they are its owners. How they put her in her place, how they showed her what a women was for.” These lines make you question why he considers her a disgrace; she is merely just the victim of a crime. It makes one question is it that he considers the deed a disgrace or is it just a disgrace because the attackers are of color? In a sense, isn’t he guilty of committing the same act with Melanie?
The author also shows signs of racism when describing Lucy’s neighbor, Petrus. David wonders if he knows the strangers. Just because they are of the same race doesn’t mean that he would associate with the attackers. The author indirectly tells us that he judges him and feels that he is property. This is evident when the author writes “Does it strike you as fishy that he should disappear at precisely this time? ‘I can’t order Pertus about. He is his own master.’” His absence was automatically questioned that he had some sort of affiliation with the strangers.
His referral to him being linked with another generation is also evidence. In past generations, it was deemed acceptable by society to be racist. By him saying that he belonged to another generation leads us to believe that he did feel that way.