Dana's time-traveling experiences are fueled by her instinct to survive. She feels an obligation to save Rufus, not only for his sake but also for the survival of her entire lineage. Despite her modern-day education, Dana wonders if she possesses the resilience and fortitude of her forebears: "To survive, my ancestors had to put up with more than I ever could," she confides to Kevin.

On her second journey to the past, her discomfort prevents her from defending herself against a patroller. However, the next time she returns, she's ready to take drastic measures to ensure her escape: "I could do it now. I could do anything." She finds it ironic that her mission is to protect a white man: "I was the worst possible guardian for him—a black to watch over him in a society that considered blacks subhuman, a woman to watch over him in a society that considered women perennial children."

Despite her uncertainties, she successfully saves Rufus multiple times and acquires essential survival skills in the process. By listening to the field hands in the cookhouse and observing other house slaves, she gathers important insights: "Without knowing it, they prepared me to survive."

The urge to survive is immensely strong, and for slaves, this often involves making agonizing choices. "Mama said she'd rather be dead than be a slave," Alice recalls, but Dana thinks differently: "Better to stay alive.… At least while there's a chance to get free." She believes her chances of survival increase by getting close to the Weylins, so she takes on the role of a slave during her stay at the plantation. As long as this decision remains hers and she maintains some control over her existence, she discovers she can endure more than she ever imagined.

However, accepting this role forces Dana to make very tough decisions. For instance, she convinces Alice to sleep with Rufus willingly to avoid another beating. Dana becomes a quiet and compliant worker, even though this causes the other slaves to view her with suspicion. As she explains to Sam, the field hands, "aren't the only ones who have to do things they don't like to stay alive and whole." It is only when Rufus attempts to take away her last bit of control—control over her body—that Dana decides to kill him.