 Malin Pereira's article “ When the Pear Blossoms/ Cast Their Pale Faces on/ the Darker Face of the Earth” discusses the various themes that appear in Rita Dove's "Darker Face of the Earth" such as miscegenation and incest.With the theme of slavery in the play, this article states that Augustus because of his upbringing by a white captain, he feels more familiar with white people rather than blacks on the plantation.This is pointed out as Augustus doesn't pursue a relationship with Phebe because he's involved with Amalia.