Disappearing Acts: Analysis of Major Characters
"Disappearing Acts" explores the complex dynamics of love, power, and autonomy through the lives of its major characters. The protagonist, Zora Banks, is a strong and independent black woman, grappling with her past experiences in heterosexual relationships. As she embarks on a romance with Franklin Swift, a troubled yet charismatic man, the narrative delves into the conflicts that arise from their relationship, which often jeopardizes Zora's autonomy. Zora’s journey is marked by her desire for a loving family while wrestling with the sacrifices required to achieve that ideal, ultimately leading her to confront emotional and physical abuse.
Franklin, the other narrator, is a complex character shaped by external pressures, including racial discrimination and societal expectations of masculinity. His struggles with identity and power lead him to resort to violence, complicating the reader's ability to sympathize with him despite understanding the cultural context of his behavior. The couple's son, Jeremiah, further complicates Zora's life, as she must navigate motherhood largely on her own. Additionally, Zora’s friendships with women like Portia provide essential support but also introduce tensions within her relationship with Franklin. Together, these characters create a rich tapestry that highlights the intersection of personal desires and societal challenges.
Disappearing Acts: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Terry McMillan
First published: 1989
Genre: Novel
Locale: London, England
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: 1982
Zora Banks, the protagonist and one of the narrators, an independent teacher and talented singer who describes herself as a strong, smart, sexy, and good-hearted black woman. She has had experience with the destabilizing effects of heterosexual love and is wary of inviting another man into her life, but when she meets Franklin, she again sees an opportunity for happiness in a monogamous relationship. She enters into a romance defined by conflict, in which her autonomy is jeopardized continually by Franklin's dominance. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son at Franklin's urging, only to face escalating emotional and physical abuse. To a certain extent, she reclaims her independence and makes plans to return to her father's home in Ohio with her baby, but when Franklin shows up again, she is clearly attracted and, hence, vulnerable to him even as the novel concludes. Zora is a developed character, rounded and complex. She faces the very real dilemma of wanting a loving marriage and family while not being sure of how much she must or should give up of her own autonomy and self-respect in order to secure that illusive ideal.
Franklin Swift, the other narrator, a handsome, intelligent, married high school dropout who works sporadically as a construction worker and drinks heavily. He has goals of getting a college education and owning his own business. Often out of work because of racial discrimination, he feels helpless because he can not contribute money to the life he shares with Zora. He wants her to have their baby, perhaps because it will bolster his faltering sense of masculinity, which is being destroyed in the workplace. Deprived of all socially acceptable ways to feel “in charge” of himself and his family, Franklin resorts to physical strength, the only kind of power he still has, rapes Zora, and wrecks her apartment before leaving her. He returns months later, clearly faring better. Although their sexual passion is reignited, he states bluntly that he is not back to stay. It is difficult to sympathize with Franklin, even with an understanding of the cultural conditions that have made him such a bitter man. He falls too completely into a villainous role. Zora's enduring attraction to him becomes frustratingly inexplicable, though not unrealistic.
Jeremiah, Zora and Franklin's son. Zora must take complete responsibility for the baby even though she had been hesitant about having it.
Portia, an outspoken member of Zora's close network of girlfriends. She also becomes pregnant by a married man, Arthur. Unlike Franklin, Arthur gets a divorce in order to marry Portia. Zora's girlfriends are an important support group for Zora, and her loyalty to them is a constant source of jealous irritation for Franklin.