Lucy: Analysis of Major Characters
"Lucy: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the dynamic relationships and inner conflicts of the characters in the story, centered around Lucy Josephine Potter, a young woman from the West Indies. Struggling with homesickness and the cultural differences she encounters in the United States, Lucy is determined to carve out her independence from her family, particularly her mother, whom she feels has limited her ambitions. As a live-in child care provider for Mariah and Lewis, she develops complex interactions with her employers; Mariah, an affluent white woman, genuinely likes Lucy but is oblivious to the cultural barriers that affect their friendship, while Lewis, Mariah's husband, becomes entangled in an affair with Dinah, Mariah's best friend.
Dinah’s condescending attitude towards Lucy contrasts sharply with the strong friendship Lucy shares with Peggy, an Irish woman, who plays a supportive role in her life. Lucy's romantic entanglements include fleeting relationships with men like Hugh and Paul, but she remains emotionally detached, seeking independence rather than commitment. Other characters, such as Maude Quick, Lucy's disapproving relative, and Timothy Simon, her supportive employer, further enrich the narrative by highlighting Lucy's struggles and aspirations. Overall, the analysis delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and the quest for personal freedom against a backdrop of social and cultural differences.
Lucy: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Jamaica Kincaid
First published: 1990
Genre: Novel
Locale: An unnamed city in the United States
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The 1980's
Lucy Josephine Potter, the protagonist, a young woman who has left her home in the West Indies to work as a live-in child care provider at the home of Mariah and Lewis. She finds the United States to be very different from her former home and experiences homesickness at first. Although she takes excellent care of Lewis and Mariah's four little girls, she is restless, rebellious, and intent on acquiring her independence by separating herself from her mother, both physically and emotionally. She cannot forgive her mother for denying her the ambitious future her parents planned for her brothers. Even though Lucy has intimate relations with men, she does not allow herself to fall in love with any of them.
Mariah, Lucy's employer, an attractive, wealthy white woman who genuinely likes Lucy but does not understand her. She tries to make friends with Lucy and does not comprehend the barrier their separate histories place between them. Mariah has always had a pampered, easy life, so she expects happiness. Believing that her husband Lewis loves her, she does not handle the disintegration of her marriage very well, nor does she realize the cause of it.
Lewis, Mariah's husband, a wealthy lawyer. He falls in love with his wife's best friend, Dinah. Kind to Lucy and the children, he manipulates Mariah into believing that she has asked for the divorce.
Dinah, Mariah's envious best friend and Lewis' lover. She treats Lucy with condescension.
Peggy, Lucy's best friend, a woman of Irish extraction who lives with her parents and works at the motor vehicle registry. Peggy and Lucy seem to have nothing in common, but their friendship is strong. Peggy introduces Lucy to Paul, although Peggy disapproves of him. Eventually, Peggy and Lucy share an apartment.
Hugh, Dinah's twenty-two-year-old brother, who has traveled to Africa and Asia. He is Lucy's lover during the summer when the family vacations at Mariah's old summer home. Because of his experience in other countries, he appeals to Lucy, although she does not love him.
Paul, an artist with whom Lucy has an affair. He helps her find employment after she leaves her child care job. Lucy is fond of him but desires no commitment. He finally becomes Peggy's lover.
Maude Quick, one of Lucy's prudish, mean-spirited relatives. She lives in the United States and brings news of Lucy's father's death. Lucy has always intensely disliked her because she has been held up as a role model for Lucy.
Louisa, Jane, May, and Miriam, Mariah and Lewis' children. Lucy is fond of all the girls, but Miriam is her favorite.
Timothy Simon, a photographer who aspires to greatness in his field but who forces himself to photograph food for the cooking sections of magazines in order to make a living. He hires Lucy as his receptionist.
Lucy's mother, who appears only in Lucy's memories but nevertheless continues to influence Lucy's thoughts and behavior. She has a strong personality, loves her daughter, and does not understand why Lucy refuses to answer her letters.