His Own Where: Analysis of Major Characters
"His Own Where" is a poignant exploration of the lives and relationships of young protagonists Buddy Rivers and Angela Figueroa amidst familial struggles and personal growth. Buddy, a sixteen-year-old navigating life alone while his father recovers from a severe traffic accident, is characterized by his reflective sensitivity and streetwise bravado. Through his experiences, readers gain insight into his keen observations of social issues and his aspirations for improvement, inspired by his father's legacy.
Angela, the daughter of a nurse and a cab driver, resonates with Buddy's quiet confidence and seeks to assert her independence amidst her family's challenges. Her relationship with Buddy is marked by mutual affection and hope, standing in contrast to the tumultuous dynamics within their respective families. The Figueroa household contends with a domineering mother and a father struggling with anger and alcoholism, which impacts Angela's quest for self-identity and expression.
Overall, "His Own Where" delves into the complexities of adolescence, love, and the desire for a better future, highlighting the potential for positive change amidst difficult circumstances. The narrative invites readers to reflect on the characters' journeys, their aspirations, and the influence of familial relationships on their development.
His Own Where: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: June Jordan
First published: 1971
Genre: Novella
Locale: New York City and the African American community of Bedford-Stuyvesant
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The mid-1960's
Buddy Rivers, the protagonist, a sixteen-year-old living alone while his father remains in serious condition following a traffic accident. The narrative action, which takes place over several months, is presented almost entirely from his perspective and is located primarily within the flow of his consciousness. He has been living with his father since his mother returned to her native Barbados. During the course of the narrative, he becomes friendly with Angela, a young woman who is the daughter of the nurse caring for his father in a hospital. Buddy is immediately attracted to her, sensing that she can appreciate the inner qualities of reflective sensitivity and aesthetic discrimination that he guards behind a protective shield of street wit and brash vitality. He is keenly observant and verbally exuberant, and he has a reputation as a leader at Boys High School. He is also thoughtful, almost philosophical, about the social ills he sees everywhere. His relatively harsh life has compelled him to grow up quickly, but he is neither cynical nor vicious, and he has been inspired by his father's example to want to plan, build, and improve his immediate environment. His relationship with Angela is driven by love and hope, and there seems to be some possibility that they will not replicate the anger and hostility that has torn both of their families apart.
Angela Figueroa, the oldest of five children born to a woman working as a nurse and a man working as a cab driver. She is about Buddy's age and is attracted to the sense of quiet confidence she detects beneath his brashness and verbal virtuosity when he visits his father in the hospital. She is loyal to her parents until their frustrations result in an attempt to control all of her activities. Her rebellion is a matter of necessity, a desperate attempt to preserve a measure of herself as an independent person. She has a quietly ironic way of looking at the world and a poetic vision of beauty she struggles to express. She believes that these latent qualities may begin to emerge in Buddy's company.
Mrs. Figueroa, Angela's mother. She is proud of her work as a healer. She is worn down by the demands of her children and her husband, and she expresses her dissatisfaction by attempting to discipline Angela, overlooking Angela's basic trustworthiness and good sense.
Mr. Figueroa, Angela's father, a cab driver who is often angry at his life. He strives desperately to keep his family together but resorts to alcohol as an escape from his almost constant anger. He beats Angela severely when her “disobedience” overwhelms his self-control.
Mr. Rivers, Buddy's father, an essentially unseen but powerful presence. He is confined to a hospital bed with very serious injuries suffered in a traffic accident. Buddy has been inspired by his ingenious remodeling of their home and by his creative craftsmanship and appreciation of beauty. Buddy carries an image of him as a lonely, handsome man, powerful and short, and he yearns to see him again “alive in action.”
Mrs. Rivers, Buddy's mother, a prim and sarcastic woman beaten down by the limits of her life. Failing in a desperate attempt to shape her life, she leaves before the narration begins but remains in Buddy's memory.