Character List
Lucy Josephine Potter: The protagonist, Lucy is a young woman from the West Indies who arrives in America to work as an au pair.
Lucy's mother: Although she appears only in Lucy's memories, her mother has a persistent presence. She continually influences Lucy's thoughts and actions. She also has three sons younger than Lucy.
Mariah: A well-intentioned white woman, Mariah employs Lucy as an au pair for her four daughters. She also assumes a maternal role as Lucy adjusts to America.
Lewis: Mariah's husband and a wealthy lawyer, Lewis has an affair with his wife's best friend and tears apart their formerly idyllic marriage.
Dinah: Mariah's best friend and Lewis's lover, Dinah is also married. She is a suburban activist whom Lucy judges as ultimately envious and self-centered.
Miriam: Lucy's favorite of the four children of Mariah, the young Miriam is particularly imaginative and clever.
Peggy: Lucy's deviant best friend, Peggy is a young woman of Irish descent who works at the motor vehicle registry and eventually becomes Lucy's roommate.
Hugh: Dinah's well-traveled 22-year-old brother, Hugh is Lucy's lover.
Paul: Lucy's boyfriend, Paul is an artist with whom Peggy eventually has an affair.
Gus: Gus is a longtime Swedish employee of Mariah's family at the lake house.
The Maid: The family's presumably African-American housekeeper, the maid has an antagonistic relationship with Lucy.
Maude Quick: Maude is a relative who tells Lucy of her stepfather's death and her family's subsequent descent into poverty.
Timothy Simon: Allowing Lucy to develop her photographs in his darkroom in her spare time, Timothy is a photographer who employs Lucy as a secretary after she leaves her position as au pair.
Tanner: The young West Indian classmate whom Lucy French-kisses when she is 14, Tanner is an early part of Lucy's sexual awakening.
Mr. Thomas: A local fisherman on the island, Mr. Thomas molests Myrna.
Myrna: A young and neglected girl, Myrna is molested by Mr. Thomas.
Roland: A young Caribbean immigrant whom Lucy meets at a store, Roland is the man whom Lucy sleeps with once before feeling guilty about cheating on her boyfriend Paul.
Mr. Josephine: An uncle from whom Lucy gains her middle name, Mr. Josephine is supposed to have great riches from sugar plantations in Cuba, but he dies penniless.
ClassicNote on Lucy
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