Keyword

By Negar Noofeli

General Context

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the term "sex" to its roots in Middle French and classical Latin. Bennett et al. stated that the word "sex" first appeared in the 16th century, and its original meaning referred to the classification of people as male or female and the distinctive characteristics of each gender. By the early nineteenth century, however, "sex" came to mean physical relations between the sexes—what today is often called "having sex" (319).

Historically, sex was often tied to oppression. During slavery, enslaved women were sexually exploited, forced into relationships, or used for reproduction. Kilanko Adièle (2022) points out that intermarriage between Black men and white women, in particular, held a certain stigma and, with it, violent punishment, for it was crossing a very definite racial boundary (6882).

Connection to Novel

In Ernest J. Gaines's novel Of Love and Dust, the theme of sex is inextricably linked with issues of power, rebellion, and social structure. A character like Marcus uses his sex as a means of defying the dominant forces; he is in search of freedom. He seeks to question traditional social roles; hence, sexual relationships in the novel also serve as a vector for asserting masculine power and enacting revenge. In the plantation, we also witness the sexual exploitation of Black women by white men, who not only claim ownership of their bodies but also their identities and self-worth. As seen in the relationship between Bonbon and Pauline. Based on an interview with Dr. Jennifer Morrison (Teutsch), By the end of the novel, sex is no longer depicted as merely physical intimacy but becomes intertwined with the book's central theme of love. This is evident as Marcus falls in love with Pauline and plans to escape with her, while Bonbon also leaves the plantation with Pauline.