A Portrait of Southern Sexual Repression
In her debut work, Addie E. Citchens paints a vivid picture of Dominion—a fictional Mississippi Delta town steeped in the traditions of Black church life and an almost sacred admiration for high school football. Set at the turn of the millennium, this community is a paradox: while it enforces strict moral codes, it is also a place where sexuality thrives, emerging in unexpected and often tumultuous ways.
Characters Entwined by Forbidden Love
The novel centers on two women whose lives become inextricably linked by their love for a young man known as “Wonderboy” or simply “Wonder.” Diamond, his devoted girlfriend, is forced to confront her identity after a childhood marked by abandonment and loss. As she faces the challenges of impending motherhood and the complexities of a relationship with a boy whose decisions grow ever more reckless, Diamond struggles to find herself outside of her connection to him.
Priscilla, Wonder’s mother and a prominent figure in the local church, grapples with her own conflicted emotions. Caught between the responsibilities of raising her sons and the strict dictates of her faith, she is unnerved by the raw, almost dangerous energy that emanates from her son—a presence that is as magnetic as it is unsettling.
The Grip of Religious Doctrine
The inhabitants of Dominion are constantly bombarded by religious teachings that prescribe a rigid framework for what is considered acceptable intimacy. A key voice in this moral discourse is Reverend Sabre Winfrey Jr., Priscilla’s husband and Wonder’s father. A fervent leader at the Seven Seals Missionary Baptist Church, he is quick to label any deviation from moral norms as sinful. His sermons, steeped in biblical allegories, warn of the perils of temptation and insist on a strict separation between the sacred and the profane—even dictating everything from musical choices to everyday behaviors.
A Moment of Defiance That Shakes the Foundations
A singular, fateful encounter at a school football stadium brings these tensions to a head. When Wonder is unexpectedly kissed by a mysterious, dark, and muscular stranger, the act serves as a catalyst for his inner turmoil. The stranger’s kiss dredges up memories of every shared moment of physical intimacy—recollections that had once seemed mundane but now brim with dangerous significance. This encounter propels Wonder into a spiral of anger and self-reflection, highlighting how repressed desires can erupt into violence when given the slightest provocation.
The Unraveling of a Constrained Existence
In the wake of this disruptive event, Wonder’s behavior grows increasingly erratic. A violent incident shortly afterward reveals just how deeply pent-up desires and societal shame can intertwine to produce destructive outcomes. Fleeing to the Mississippi coast with Diamond, they retreat to a motel—a brief interlude that is shattered when Wonder suffers a near-fatal overdose. During his recovery, Diamond is forced to confront the realization that her love may not be enough to anchor him, and that the dynamics of power within their relationship are shifting in unforeseen ways.
A Search for Dangerous Empowerment
Desperate to reclaim a sense of control, Diamond begins to emulate the “dangerous women” of her community—figures who seem capable of making men take unprecedented risks. In a conversation with a seasoned woman from the local church scene, Diamond is told that true empowerment lies in keeping one’s power intact rather than giving it away. This advice resonates with her as she witnesses the slow dismantling of the strict, externally imposed protections that had once governed her life.
Reflections on Desire and Liberation
Meanwhile, Priscilla finds a measure of freedom when her husband publicly confesses his infidelities. His admission not only shatters his facade as a moral leader but also liberates her from a life built on rigid expectations. With a mix of regret and resolve, she urges Diamond to let go of a love that has long proven harmful. Through these intertwined narratives, the novel exposes how the relentless regulation of erotic desire can gradually erode the very defenses that people build to protect themselves.
Ultimately, Dominion emerges as a complex parable. While its characters sometimes feel underdeveloped, the story’s relentless focus on the destructive consequences of oppressive sexual control offers a pointed commentary on the intricate interplay between personal longing and cultural dogma. Citchens challenges us to consider how the forces that seek to subdue desire can, in their fervor, unleash a torrent of uncontrolled passion and deep-seated turmoil.
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