Dana and Alice

Alice is raped by Rufus again. How could anyone let this happen? Isn't rape horrific enough for the victim and yet, to make matters worse, she is being encouraged by a confidant and by the environment she lives in. These are the thoughts racing through my mind as we passed the section where Rufus summons Alice to his room once again. What was he thinking? How could he possibly subject this poor woman to another attack after all that she had been through? There is something poignant and sweet to Rufus's attempts to rape Alice (although that sounds absolutely wrong). Rufus could have any woman he wants, in fact he let's that cat out of the bag fairly early in the book, but he doesn't want any woman he wants Alice. His raping of Alice is the only way he can have her without suspicions being stirred in that time. Rufus is jealous of how Dana get's to marry Kevin in the future because he so badly wants to be able to have the same kind of relationship with Alice.

Nonetheless, I think Dana might have been a little too motivated in this situation. Technically, had a certain series of events not transpired, Dana would never have been born creating a whole new set of problems. But, even though I knew this, I was taken back by just how blunt Dana was about the whole situation. She needed Alice and Rufus to get together and she gave her three options, knowing full well that Alice would do what Rufus wanted. I understand Dana's need for Rufus to have Alice, but even then, I kind of wish Dana had protested more and ultimately figured another solution. Granted, that would absolutely complicate the book and the plot line an I suppose from my modern perspective I woud have wanted Alice to be spared the agony of Rufus.