Portia is an African American woman, who works as a servant at the Kelley’s house. Portia is also the daughter of Dr.Copeland, the sister of Willie and the wife of Highboy. Portia is also the only child not estranged from her father. Portia works at the Kelly house primarily as cook, preparing meals for the family and all the borders. Portia acts as a friend and mother to Mick and her two younger brothers. Portia unlike the other main characters in the book doesn’t not suffer from loneliness and thus she is a supporting character. Portia is a strong-headed woman but in her mind she has strong opinion on what to fight for and when to let things be. Portia lives her life in the shadows of her father and the Kelly family and she is perfectly
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Portia knows that the job she has working for the Kellys is probably the best job she will every get, so she appreciates what she has not what she doesn’t. Portia also has the innate ability to predict things about people; Portia is one of the few people who actually understood Mick and her life goals. Portia doesn’t feel lonely because unlike the rest of the characters she has people to talk to, like her father, her husband and the Kellys. Portia is able to express her ideas and opinions and people will acutely listen a luxury the main characters don’t have. This is why Portia never had the attraction to befriend Singer because she never needed him, The other characters turned to Singer because they wanted someone to listen to them and understand them because they didn’t understand themselves. Portia has an understanding of herself, she knows who she is and she knows what she wants, so she never felt …show more content…
Willie works at Mr. Brannon’s café and he is always lighthearted and happy. The problem is Willie always has very bad luck and he eventually ends up in jail for assault and during his stay there he and some of his prison friends end of angering some white guards and so as punishment they put the men in a freezing cold shed and when they take them out willies feet have to be amputated due to frostbite. When Willie returns home he is a changed man, his is very timid and scared of white men, like Singer. Willie represents the racism the Copelands face in the south and the helplessness to change it. Willie is the person who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Willie like the majority of the characters suffers from loneliness but instead of turning to someone he turns inwards and becomes depressed. The reader doesn’t know very much about Willie, Willie acts only as example to show the harsh reality African Americans face in the south. While people like the Kellys and Singer aren’t racist it doesn’t mean that racism doesn’t exist for the Copelands. Willie’s family members are almost polar opposites, Portia understands the racism that takes place around her but she chooses to ignore it while Dr.Copeland chooses to make everyone aware of it and try to prevent it. Willies experience in jail acts as a wake up for both his sister and his father. For Portia it makes her realize that she needs to stand up against the
Portia knows that the job she has working for the Kellys is probably the best job she will every get, so she appreciates what she has not what she doesn’t. Portia also has the innate ability to predict things about people; Portia is one of the few people who actually understood Mick and her life goals. Portia doesn’t feel lonely because unlike the rest of the characters she has people to talk to, like her father, her husband and the Kellys. Portia is able to express her ideas and opinions and people will acutely listen a luxury the main characters don’t have. This is why Portia never had the attraction to befriend Singer because she never needed him, The other characters turned to Singer because they wanted someone to listen to them and understand them because they didn’t understand themselves. Portia has an understanding of herself, she knows who she is and she knows what she wants, so she never felt …show more content…
Willie works at Mr. Brannon’s café and he is always lighthearted and happy. The problem is Willie always has very bad luck and he eventually ends up in jail for assault and during his stay there he and some of his prison friends end of angering some white guards and so as punishment they put the men in a freezing cold shed and when they take them out willies feet have to be amputated due to frostbite. When Willie returns home he is a changed man, his is very timid and scared of white men, like Singer. Willie represents the racism the Copelands face in the south and the helplessness to change it. Willie is the person who is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Willie like the majority of the characters suffers from loneliness but instead of turning to someone he turns inwards and becomes depressed. The reader doesn’t know very much about Willie, Willie acts only as example to show the harsh reality African Americans face in the south. While people like the Kellys and Singer aren’t racist it doesn’t mean that racism doesn’t exist for the Copelands. Willie’s family members are almost polar opposites, Portia understands the racism that takes place around her but she chooses to ignore it while Dr.Copeland chooses to make everyone aware of it and try to prevent it. Willies experience in jail acts as a wake up for both his sister and his father. For Portia it makes her realize that she needs to stand up against the