THE WATER DANCER: BOOK REVIEW
There is much mystery and magic surrounding the Underground Railroad; it is unsurprising that a number of fictional narratives are inspired by this very real network of secret routes and safe houses. We know that the Underground Railroad was a symbol of optimism for many slaves during the 19th century, but the exact details are still widely unknown. What if the slaves escaped in the same way that Moses and the Isrealites? What if the ocean opened up and they simply disappeared? What if that power could be utilized to free hundreds of other slaves? Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote one of many narratives imagining a fictionalized and fantastical version of the Underground Railroad in which he poses these exact questions.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancer is a fictionalized and fantastical narrative based loosely around the Underground Railroad. The book follows Hiram Walker, a young slave who has the power to remember everything. Many other characters in the story also feel compelled to open up to him. They tell their stories, knowing he will never forget them, and so Hiram comes to learn about the people and the society around him. As he gathers the stories we learn about the characters, but we see Hiram learn about himself during the process. Throughout the book, we get to see his hopes, dreams, and priorities change and evolve as he meets new people. Coates writes Hiram as a flexible character, keeping the reader on their toes, guessing what his next big realization will be.
Hiram is also spectacularly observant, which helps us understand every aspect of the world he lives in. Coates expertly weaves Hiram’s observation with historical realism and a little bit of magic, painting a picture of the South during slavery that feels fresh, while maintaining some familiarity. Some terms are altered in the narrative. Slaves are usually called “Tasked” and their work is called “the task,” while the white people who owned slaves and therefore held a higher class status are called “Quality.” These terms draw attention to the way these groups are perceived, and call into question their true nature as well. Nothing is as it initially seems. Slave is a title, but “Tasked” calls attention to the active nature of slavery. It is not just a position, but a mindset that is continually reinforced.
One of the main ways this mindset is reinforced is through the separation of families. Separating and reuniting families is one of the most constant threads throughout the book, and the way in which Coates ties it off felt exciting, frustrating, and complete all at once. As Hiram encounters various characters — his surrogate mother who has lost her entire family, a white woman sympathizer and agent of the Underground who also happens to be a master manipulator, a number of slaves he helps run to freedom, and many others — Coates leads Hiram and the reader to form the conclusion that family is paramount, and that being without them can make the burden of slavery even greater. When Hiram makes the decision to stay at Lockless with his found family, despite the fact that he tasted true freedom, that decision makes sense. I found myself drawing that conclusion at the same time Hiram did, thanks to Coates’ careful set up of this central inner conflict.
Another important thread that runs throughout Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Water Dancers is water. We see it right at the start when Hiram describes drowning, and when we see pieces of his memories, there is always a mention of water. At Lockless, Maynard drowns and Hiram survives. Coates carefully leaves hints that are hidden in plain sight. The title of the book, The Water Dancer, alludes to the importance of water, but we can’t tell what role it plays until Hiram himself has a realization about the importance of water and how it plays a role in the Underground Railroad.
Ta-Nehisi Coates' depiction of the Underground Railroad feels well developed and accurate due to the story’s complex cast of characters, the whirlwind chain of events Hiram is subject to, and the span of the world we get to see. Hiram starts as a slave, tries to run, is bought, freed, bought, and sold again, and much of this transpires with the help of the Underground. Coates presents the Underground Railroad as a benevolent organization of agents, black and white, working together towards what seems to be a common cause. Where many other writers portray it this way and only this way, Coates complicates things a little bit.
Every decision that Hiram makes is weighed by the worldly observations he tucks away, thanks to his impeccable memory. He notices the ways in which things are not always what they seem, and he asks questions when others may not. Through Hiram’s character, Coates is able to show us that, despite seeming united around a cause, at the end of the day, the so-called natural order still prevailed at that time. White folks remained self interested, while black folks wanted to escape slavery and be reunited with their families despite the cost. This draws attention to the ways in which we still find ourselves stuck in the past.