Character List ( M.A Eng 3rd)

Character Clues

Physical Appearances

Maya is obsessed with her ugliness, and that means she's obsessed with how everyone else looks, too. Nearly every character in Caged Birdgets a detailed physical description that gives us some insight to their personality.Here's an example. Sure, Momma is described as good-looking, but most of the physical descriptions focus on her height, strength, and rough hands. And of course, her physical strength reminds us of her strength of character—she's a single, working woman who's taking care of a disabled son and two not-so-easy grandchildren.

Momma stands in contrast to Vivian, who is just breathtakingly beautiful. Vivian's beauty reminds us of her vanity and her focus on herself instead of her children. And it's no accident that the other person as gorgeous as Vivian is the eternally absent Daddy Bailey.

Speech and Dialogue

In Maya's world, there are two kinds of people: those who speak proper English and those who don't. When her father comes to town with his "ers and even errers"(9.2), Maya is blown away. Then we've got Mrs. Flowers, whose speech is by far the most refined and delicate in the novel. People who speak Standard English are educated, and when she is young, Maya thinks this is the best thing since sliced bread.

But after her lessons with Mrs. Flowers, Maya learns an important lesson: education doesn't make people good and illiteracy doesn't make them stupid. After this point, Maya finds respect for people who don't speak Standard English (the conmen), and she learns to look beyond the language in those who do (ahem, Dolores).

Habits

Let's do a quick rundown of the habits people have in Caged Bird:

• Maya reads. A lot. She is never without a book, she spends her Saturdays in the library, and when Bailey leaves the house, he offers to give her his collection of books. What do we glean from this? Um… Maya is a nerd. She is quiet, bookish, and would rather spend the night reading than out on the town. This is our kind of girl. 
• Vivian is always dancing, smoking, and having a good time. But wait, isn't she an adult? Kind of strange that we never see her cooking, cleaning, or even working, right? This tells us that Vivian is a free spirit—she doesn't want to be tied down with kids, and she's all about the fun.
• Momma, on the other hand, is always cooking, cleaning, working, and going to church. Her habits pretty clearly tell us how important duty and religion are to her. She doesn't have to say it, she just does it.

We'll let you fill in the rest of the list. What are Bailey Jr.'s habits and what do they tell us about him? What about Mrs. Flowers? Daddy Clidell?

Social Status and Names

The social hierarchy in Stamps is rigid and strictly followed. Honorifics are one way of making sure that system stays in place:

All adults had to be addressed as Mister, Missus, Miss, Auntie, Cousin, Unk, Uncle, Buhbah, Sister, Brother and a thousand other appellations indicating familial relationship and the lowliness of the addressor. (5.5)

Usually, these forms of address help us figure out someone's social status. For example, Sister Monroe, who is primarily defined through her relationship to the church, is called "Sister" instead of "Mrs." And then of course, there's Joyce, who is poorer than the poorest person in Stamps and depicted as a pretty bad seed. This girl doesn't even get the dignity of a last name.

Since honorifics are so important, what is the significance of Momma calling Mrs. Flowers "Sister"? And how about that scene when Momma is called Mrs. Henderson? What's that about?

Character List

Marguerite Johnson, or Maya

She is the author of this autobiography, which covers the early years of her life. Most of her early years are spent in the care of her grandmother, Momma Henderson, in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas. However, by the end of the volume, she is living in San Francisco with her mother and brother Bailey.

Bailey Johnson Jr.

Maya's brother, and her closest friend while they are growing up. He is very attached to his mother, although he is separated from her for most of his adult life. He is supportive of Maya while they are growing up, but when he decides to move out, they become more distant.

Momma Henderson

Maya and Bailey's grandmother, and their father Bailey Sr.'s mother. She owns a store in Stamps, Arkansas, and is a highly religious, very exacting woman. She moulds Maya and Bailey into intelligent, polite, and religious children. She is strong and practical, but embarrasses Maya in not standing up to prejudice.

Uncle Willie

Momma Henderson's crippled son, he lives with her and helps run the store. He disciplines Bailey and Maya severely on rare occasions, and they are a bit wary of him because of his disability and temperament.

Reverend Thomas

A fat old pastor who makes visits to the Hendersons several times a year; Maya and Bailey hate him because he eats everything, is unpleasant, and never remembers their names.

Sister Monroe

A zealous woman who often loses control of herself in church, beating up the pastor and going crazy.

Bailey Sr.

Maya and Bailey's father, he is largely absent during their upbringing. Maya tries to love him, but his negligence and self-centeredness means a relationship never develops between him and his children.

Vivian Baxter, Maya's mother

She is a strong, tough woman who is also beautiful and charming‹Maya remembers seeing her sing and dance on several occasions. She and Maya become close, and she supports Maya during her pregnancy and when the baby is born. Bailey though is her favorite, and leaves home because their relationship is almost too close.

Grandmother Baxter

Maya and Bailey's grandmother, she is almost white and holds great influence in St. Louis.

Maya's Uncles

These three men are tough and brutal; they are probably the ones who kill Mr. Freeman after he is freed on charges of raping Maya.

Mr. Freeman

The boyfriend of Maya's mother in St. Louis, he rapes Maya, is cleared of the charges, and then is found dead the next day.

Mrs. Flowers

The "aristocrat" of black Stamps, she is a gracious woman who encourages Maya's love of literature, and also helps Maya to break out of her muteness. Maya regards her as the pinnacle of humankind.

Mrs. Cullinan

The terrible white woman who Maya works for briefly; Maya hates her for calling her "Mary," though Mrs. Cullinan corrects this mistake on the day Maya is fired.

Louise Kendricks

Maya's first friend, a girl in her grade who lives in Stamps.

Tommy Valdon

A boy who sends Maya valentines, much to her dismay.

Joyce

A poor girl who lives briefly in Stamps, and makes friends with Bailey.

George and Florida Taylor

Neighbors of the Hendersons; Florida Taylor's funeral is the first funeral Maya attends, and George comes to their house for companionship after his wife's death.

Henry Reed

Maya's academic competitor at school; he gets to give the speech at graduation, and saves the event by singing the "Negro National Anthem".

Edward Donleavy

The white, condescending speaker at the graduation ceremony, he manages to destroy the festivity of the ceremony.

Mrs. Kirwin

One of Maya's teachers in San Francisco; she is a good teacher, and entirely without prejudice or favoritism. She is the only school teacher Maya remembers.

Daddy Clidell

The second husband of Maya's mother; he is a good, honest man, and Maya's first real father.

Dolores

The girlfriend of Maya's father, who dislikes Maya and ends up stabbing her.