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Sex Changes Everything
Christopher Hall
[1] The first sexual intercourse between any two people will always bring their relationship to the next level. It may rekindle and enrich feelings of intense love that are already rooted in the relationship, or it may complicate a seemingly simple relationship. It is indisputable that sexual intercourse will only deepen the connection between the two people romantically involved. Each of these notions holds true for the first sexual encounter between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson in Barbara Chase-Riboud's 1979 novel Sally Hemings (99-103). Despite there being no primary or scarcely little secondary accounts documenting the encounter, Chase-Riboud constructs an eloquent interaction that accurately portrays the most probable emotional states of Sally and Jefferson. Sally is suffering from what can be described as an identity crisis. She does not know whether she is Jefferson's lover and therefore equal or if she is a slave who is just servicing her master's desires of a deceased wife. Sally is trying to identify herself and her role within the confines of the Jefferson family, and, as a result, she expects the sexual encounter. Chase-Riboud accurately constructs and explores the scene based upon factual background information along with her justified imagination.
[2] Chase-Riboud first uses the inner monologue of Sally Hemings to introduce the audience to her struggle over her inner conflict. The first line of the chapter in which Sally's first sexual encounter occurs with Jefferson reads, "Perhaps I had always known that he would claim me. Had not the same happened to my mother and my sisters?" (99) Right away the author is using the factual back-story of Sally to construct Sally's emotions. In this case, a white man had taken Sally's mother as a mistress. This white man happened to be John Wayles, Jefferson's father-in-law. Chase-Riboud sees that it is not only fitting but also believable for her to have a similar fate that is then reflected in Sally's inner monologue. This is most likely responsible for Sally being "sure as death" that "she belonged to Thomas Jefferson" (99). Sally then ends up remaining in the mansion in Paris almost waiting for Jefferson to make the first move on her. Chase-Riboud actually uses the setting of the onset of the French Revolution as a symbol of the act of Jefferson carrying out a meaningful loving relationship with Sally Hemings and the rebellious nature of the slave-master relationship on the verge of a lover-to-lover, equal-to-equal relationship.
[3] Additionally, Sally becomes anxious and impatient with the prolonging of the inevitable sexual intercourse with Jefferson. Not only has she become impatient with her desire to have sex with Jefferson but also impatient to discover her true identity. As she explores her identity, her reaction is a perfectly legitimate response. This can be identified in the passage in which Jefferson is about to leave for six weeks with Mr. Adams:
"Yes, Master."
"I shall miss you, Sally."
"Yes, Master."
"Sally, is that all you have to say?"
"Yes, Master."
"Sally, I shall miss you. I promise…"
"Promise me!" (101)
It is evident in this passage that Sally is ready to give herself to Jefferson. Not only is Sally ready for the sexual part of their relationship to commence, but she has willfully attempted to prove herself as Jefferson's equal and no longer his slave. However, after she says those words, Chase-Riboud gives Sally a sense of urgency in the following monologue: "The words burst out of me, more sob than an exclamation. I could bear the waiting no longer. I drew my head up and looked long into his eyes. Deep in the centers was a dark pinprick. My own reflection. Yes, I thought, the time has come" (101). To Sally, having sexual intercourse with Jefferson, will ultimately change the dynamic of her relationship with him.
[4] For during the time she is having sex with Jefferson, Jefferson is a slave to Sally's love and desire. Sally notes that she "took control of him" and notes that she feels freedom from "deprivation" (102). This is the role reversal that Chase-Riboud is using to reveal the breakdown of the slave-master relationship. Interestingly, it is also the first time Chase-Riboud has Sally in control of her life. This will ultimately later cause an internal conflict with Sally over her freedom and choice to return back to the United States where she will once again become a slave. One of the most important parts of the scene is when Jefferson calls Sally "Martha," his dead wife's name. This is Chase-Riboud equating Jefferson's love of Sally to his love for his deceased wife, whom he loved very much. To Sally, this is a shock that only adds to her identity crisis in determining her place in the Jefferson household. Sally's confusion is revealed through her inner monologue and in her encounter with Jefferson after they have sex. Jefferson tells Sally that he loves her, and all Sally can do is reply with "Merci, monsieur" (103). Because Chase-Riboud has Sally reply with "Thank you, my sir," Sally has once again fallen back into the position of a slave in their relationship and is struggling to understand her role.
[5] The first sexual intercourse between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson is without a doubt a pivotal moment in their relationship. They now have discovered just how much they love each other. Sally is still left confused about her role in the now complicated relationship with Jefferson, while Jefferson has the realization that he loves Sally just as much as his deceased wife Martha. Chase-Riboud has also effectively created equality, not in the social status of Sally and Jefferson, but in the role of the participants in the budding relationship. She has Sally, who has never been in such a position of power before, coping with an internal conflict of whether or not she truly is capable of being trusted with her new-found status in the relationship with Jefferson. Chase-Riboud effectively creates a scene that incorporates fact with a deep understanding of the character's probable emotional states.
