There are two ways that I see this discussion going. In our every day lives, Masters perform functions that can be perceived as “service” oriented (e.g. laundry folding, shopping) and slaves perform functions that one would see as being much stronger than one would perceive a slave to be, such as working outside of the home, raising children, elder care, etc. I’m making the assumption in writing this essay that we are not referring to those every day services that Masters perform, or the every day strengths that slaves display. I am coming at this from the other point of view - of having to alter our daily routine in some way due to a change in circumstances, be it temporary or permanent.

As a result, in this particular discussion, Masters have a very difficult role. They must constantly survey their environment and decide what course of action best suits the needs of the Household at the moment. Sometimes being a Master requires the ability to stray from the originally intended course, even if it is only temporarily. If, for example, a slave has a health issue, or has increased hours at work, or has a parent or child that, for some reason, suddenly require the slave’s time, it is incumbent upon the Master to assess the situation and, if necessary, to be able to shift gears. In some cases, Masters also desire other forms of service from their slaves beyond just the performance of chores, and in order to best serve the needs of all involved - the Master, the slave, and the Household - the Master may see the need to step in and do some household chores. This then frees up some of the slave’s time, in order to serve the Master in other ways. In some more extreme cases, it is not a matter of choice – the Master must be able to either complete the chores or provide a way of getting them done when, for some reason, the slave is simply unable to complete them. In fact, the Master may need to go as far as taking on the role of caregiver to a slave who develops a serious health issue. The Master certainly does not want the slave to break down or become sickly (or more sickly, if the slave is already ill), or otherwise unable to serve to their fullest capacity.

Similarly, sometimes a slave must assess their surroundings and realize that the best way to serve their Master is from a position of strength, and then offer that type of service; alternately, a slave may be told by their Master that the service required of them requires some type of strength that they are not used to displaying within the confines of this particular relationship. For example, if a Master’s health is going to be affected by their weight and the slave offers to oversee the Master’s diet, this is not a role the slave is used to, but it is an appropriate form of service nevertheless. If a slave who does not work outside of the home is told by their Master that they must rejoin the workforce in order to best serve the Household, while this may not be a comfortable situation for the slave, it is the form of service that best suits the needs of the Master and the Household at that time. Should a Master experience a death in the family that requires the slave to step up and make arrangements and be the nurturer, the slave is serving the Master, albeit in the opposite role from what he is used to. Of course, these are but a few examples.

These are not “comfortable” roles for us, but we take them on nevertheless, in order to best meet the needs of the Household and the relationship. At times, we feel very conflicted about the need to switch responsibilities to whatever extent it becomes necessary. We question ourselves, and whether or not we are actually living the role that we wish to. Am I really a Master if my slave is telling me what to eat? Am I really a slave if my Master is doing the chores? At that point, we need to stop ourselves in our tracks and ask ourselves what defines us. Is it the duties that we perform during the day, or is it what’s in our heart? At the end of the day, the Masters that can step outside of their comfort zone and take on whatever responsibilities are necessary in order for their Households to run smoothly are going to be more successful, as are the slaves who realize that service is about so much more than who’s doing the chores – it consists of meeting the Master’s needs, and the Household’s needs, even if that means taking on a somewhat unfamiliar role within the relationship.

slave susan

Facilitator

MAsT Central NJ