What does Nehemiah represent

Nehemiah represents the obsessiveness of power. While his position in relation to Dessa initially appears innocuous, when he resurfaces at the end of the novel, the reader understands how his pursuit of Dessa has tested his sanity. His dissolved mental state suggests that his fixation on control and justice has disrupted his ability to function. He is the antithesis of Rufel, and provides a contrast that proves her goodness.