The Rope

This reading comes full circle, as we learn how Dana loses her arm- the first thing we learn about her from the Prologue. 

Though short, "The Rope" takes numerous twists and turns through both tragedy and triumph, and leaves the reader wondering who is the victor. Has Dana let Rufus get to her so severely that she has no choice but to kill him? Does Rufus surrender to his own grief? Has Alice been overwhelmed by her misfortune? Let's take a deeper dive. 

Alice returns to Rufus on an ant hill and is joined by a speechless Rufus. Upon following Rufus to the nearby barn, she see's Alice, who is dead, having hung herself. Rufus reveals that Alice tried to run away with her kids, and he "sells" them. Though it is revealed they are really with Rufus's Aunt, Alice reaches her breaking point. She is not only angry, but grieving the loss of control over both her kids, but her own relationship with Rufus. Though Alice eventually kills herself, it is evident, that Rufus has ultimately killed her- driven her so insane that she simply cannot bear him or her circumstance anymore. Sarah remarks, "Even if he didn't put the rope on her, he drove her to it" (249). 

Rufus eventually gets his kids back, and they begin calling him "Daddy" instead of "Master", which makes Dana genuinely smile. She knows Rufus owes it to Alice and his kids to officially free them, which he does. And just as Rufus begins a journey to building a relationship with his kids, he makes remarks that frighten Dana. He tells her, "You're so much like her, I can hardly stand it" (257). Dana can understand what will ensue if she doesn't take matters into her own hands, and she immediately runs into the attic. She clutches her knife as Rufus makes advances, and stabs him twice before he dies. 

Though Dana's homicide may seem like she has let Rufus infiltrate her, she is simply standing up for herself and protecting herself. She had a sinking feeling this was going to happen at some point, and she attacked when she had to. Dana is the epitome of bravery in these closing chapters. She not only stands up for herself, but also Alice, Hagar, Joe, Nigel, Carrie, Kevin, and everyone else who has fallen victim to Rufus's ruthlessness, rashness, and violence. It is pretty clear- Dana has won.