Robert is the illegitimate son of a white man and a black slave woman. Robert was beaten when he was young when he called Norwood, “papa” (1625). From that moment on, Robert felt the brunt of rejection. Norwood refuses to acknowledge Robert as his own flesh and blood and as a result Bert’ responds in a behavior that only comes natural to him. How a person responds to rejection can greatly depend on the circumstances surrounding him and the way in which a person is rejected will also have a direct effect. In this case, Robert is rejected by his father as a young child and Norwood’s response planted a seed of dismissal. Norwood’s continual derogatory behavior causes Robert to rebel, bringing undesired attention to Norwood’s plantation and reputation.
