Seraph on the Suwanee: Analysis of Major Characters
"Seraph on the Suwanee" is a novel that intricately explores the lives and complexities of its characters, primarily focusing on the protagonist, Arvay Henson Meserve. Arvay is depicted as a woman grappling with deep insecurities and irrational fears, which complicate her relationships, particularly with her husband, Jim Meserve. Jim is characterized as a charming yet flawed man, whose misguided perceptions of masculinity and care lead to significant turmoil in their marriage. Their children, Earl, Angie, and Kenny, each exhibit distinct traits; Earl struggles with violence and tragic outcomes, while Angie embodies confidence and domesticity, and Kenny seeks success in a music career that bridges cultural divides. Supporting characters like Joe Kelsey, whose loyalty to Jim highlights racial dynamics, and Arvay's sister Lorraine, who embodies jealousy and manipulation, further enrich the narrative. The interplay of these characters offers a multifaceted view of societal norms, familial bonds, and personal aspirations, inviting deeper reflection on their diverse experiences and the social context in which they exist.
Seraph on the Suwanee: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Zora Neale Hurston
First published: 1948
Genre: Novel
Locale: Rural Florida
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: The early twentieth century
Arvay Henson Meserve, the protagonist, a woman whose insecurities and irrational fears dominate the novel. A lis-some, delicately formed woman, Arvay fails to recognize that what she sees as faults are really indicative of her innate superiority over her “cracker” family. Unable to reconcile her initial sexual attraction to her brother-in-law, Arvay allows her feelings of sexual guilt and social inferiority to affect her marriage even though she truly loves her husband.
Jim Meserve, Arvay's husband, an enterprising, rakishly handsome man of aristocratic, but impoverished, stock. He sees a fineness and goodness in Arvay not apparent to most of the people in Sawley and courts her relentlessly. After raping her under the mulberry tree, he marries her the same evening. Jim gauges his manliness by his ability to take care of his wife, believing that all women are unable, physically and mentally, to take care of themselves.
Earl David Meserve, the genetically deformed firstborn child of Arvay and Jim. Earl is prone to violence and beast-like behavior. As he enters puberty, he becomes obsessed with one of the Carreigo girls and brutally attacks her. Pursued by a posse, he hides in the swamp and eventually is ambushed and killed.
Angeline (Angie) Meserve, the beautiful and sensual daughter of Arvay and Jim. More like her father than like her mother, Angie is self-assured and secure in her role of wife and mother.
Kenny Meserve, the youngest son of Arvay and Jim. Kenny is an amalgam of the best traits of both parents. He inherits his mother's talent and inclination for making music. He leaves the University of Florida, Gainsville, to seek a career as a musician. Kenny becomes a success, both financially and critically. His blues-based music represents a successful fusion of black and white culture.
Joe Kelsey, an African American whose unswerving loyalty to Jim Meserve serves him in good stead. Eventually, Arvay's resentment of her husband's relationship with Joe causes Joe to move his family off the Meserve orchard.
Dessie Kelsey, Joe's wife, a woman whose common sense and wisdom are appreciated by Arvay and sorely missed when she and her family move into town.
Lorraine (Raine) Henson Middleton, Arvay's jealous older sister. Her voluptuous, flamboyant looks are highly prized by her lower-class family and the Sawley community. She and her father, the shiftless Brock Henson, recognize a quality in Arvay that they both lack, and they resent it. Through her underhanded manipulations, she thwarts the budding romance between fifteen-year-old Arvay and a young, eligible preacher, the Reverend Carl Middleton, and marries him herself. Her life deteriorates into a series of petty scramblings for money and favor.
Carl Middleton, a preacher who, like Jim Meserve, recognizes Arvay's fineness. Tricked into a marriage with Arvay's gross, petty older sister, he eventually loses both his position as minister and the town's respect. By the end of the novel, he is as gross, fat, and slovenly as his wife.