Rutherford's Middle Passage

Middle Passage is divided into nine entries made by Rutherford Calhoun in a ship’s log. A newly freed slave, twenty-two-year-old Rutherford Calhoun arrives to New Orleans awaiting the new experience. His mischievous nature causes him to become deep in debt with a creole gangster, Papa Zeringue. He meets soon Isadora, although their personalities collide he is drawn to her unconventional attractiveness. Isadora soon becomes determined to marry Rutherford, she figures a woman like her would calm him down. But Rutherford will never get married, he prefers the excitement over confinement. Isadora is hurt by his responses she goes to "Papa" Philippe Zeringue, a wealthy local gangster. Rutherford owes an abundance of money. She makes a deal with him that she will use her savings to repay Rutherford’s debts only if he agrees to marry her. The marriage is scheduled at noon the next day. When Rutherford learns of their deal, he attempts to eases his worries by drinking at the local bar. At the bar he meets an alcoholic, Squibb, who starts work the next morning in the kitchen of the Republic, a slave ship bound to go to Africa. Drunk, Squibb passes out on the table, Rutherford then sneakily steals his papers and sneaks aboard the ship. Since Squibb managed to make it on board, Rutherford is exposed as a …show more content…
Rutherford, Squibb, and some Allmuseri’s are rescued by the crew of a nearby ship. Rutherford soon realizes Isadora is also aboard the new ship and that one of the ship's owners is Papa Zeringue. Alarmed of his findings he learns that they intend to get married. Jealous, Rutherford intervenes the marriage by blackmailing Zeringue. After finding illegal documented This serves as pay back as he had done the same to Rutherford in New Orleans prior. It worked, Rutherford ultimately returns to Isadora. Learning valuable lessons on the ship, he returns to her a changed