Ramsley.
I don't think he necessarily started out as being evil, but I do believe that as the years passed he became more corrupted, until by the point of the movie he probably was evil. Initially I think he was very likely simply looking toward what he perceived as being in the best interests of Edward. During that time period and especially in that region it would have been extremely difficult for Edward and Elizabeth to find their own version of happily ever after amid the racist sentimentalities of the region. Remember, this tale is taking place in the deep south, probably either directly before or after the abolishment of slavery. Even if it was after, the mentality was still that African Americans were inferior to caucasian people. (A sentiment which we now know to be resoundingly false.) Interracial couples would have been shunned and potentially placed in danger. Angry, closed-minded mobs were not above lynching people who broke the perceived social taboos on such things. Edward would have abandoned his fortune, his estate, everything. Though he is obviously an educated man, he was still used to a very protected and leisurely existance. Making the transition from an affluent land owner to a penniless outcast would not have been a pleasant one. It's also up for debate as to whether or not Ramsley considered killing Elizabeth actual murder. Remember that in that time period her life would likely not have been valued at the same level as a white woman's. It was in covering up the matter to his master, I believe, that the actual internal corruption began. Most likely spurred by guilt not of the murder, but of how distraught Edward became because of it.
If anyone was offended by this I sincerely apologize. I am very much in favour of equal rights for all races, sexes, religions, sexual orientations, etc, but history is history. Bad things happened. Bad things are still happening. Ignorance helps no one.
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I don't think he necessarily started out as being evil, but I do believe that as the years passed he became more corrupted, until by the point of the movie he probably was evil. Initially I think he was very likely simply looking toward what he perceived as being in the best interests of Edward. During that time period and especially in that region it would have been extremely difficult for Edward and Elizabeth to find their own version of happily ever after amid the racist sentimentalities of the region. Remember, this tale is taking place in the deep south, probably either directly before or after the abolishment of slavery. Even if it was after, the mentality was still that African Americans were inferior to caucasian people. (A sentiment which we now know to be resoundingly false.) Interracial couples would have been shunned and potentially placed in danger. Angry, closed-minded mobs were not above lynching people who broke the perceived social taboos on such things. Edward would have abandoned his fortune, his estate, everything. Though he is obviously an educated man, he was still used to a very protected and leisurely existance. Making the transition from an affluent land owner to a penniless outcast would not have been a pleasant one. It's also up for debate as to whether or not Ramsley considered killing Elizabeth actual murder. Remember that in that time period her life would likely not have been valued at the same level as a white woman's. It was in covering up the matter to his master, I believe, that the actual internal corruption began. Most likely spurred by guilt not of the murder, but of how distraught Edward became because of it.
If anyone was offended by this I sincerely apologize. I am very much in favour of equal rights for all races, sexes, religions, sexual orientations, etc, but history is history. Bad things happened. Bad things are still happening. Ignorance helps no one.
And I remembered his name a while ago, too lazy to edit it. xD