Betsey Brown: Analysis of Major Characters
"Betsey Brown" is a coming-of-age narrative focused on the life of thirteen-year-old Betsey, a young girl navigating the complexities of adolescence within a black middle-class family. As the oldest sibling, Betsey grapples with the responsibilities of managing her chaotic household, which includes her three younger siblings and a cousin. Her experiences are further complicated by her attendance at a predominantly white school, leading her to feel a sense of isolation. Betsey finds solace in moments of solitude, particularly during quiet mornings and while climbing a tree in her yard, where she reflects on her identity and familial dynamics.
The character of Greer Brown, her father, emphasizes a strong connection to their cultural heritage through African drumming and a commitment to educating his children about black history, although his approach creates tension in his marriage with Jane, Betsey's mother. Jane, a social worker, struggles with her husband's ideals, feeling increasingly disconnected and relying on her own mother and help to manage the household. Other characters, such as Betsey's grandmother Vida and the housekeeper Carrie, contribute to the family dynamics, each bringing distinct perspectives on tradition, modernity, and the challenges of maintaining order. Through these interactions, "Betsey Brown" explores themes of identity, familial responsibility, and the struggles of growing up in a racially divided society.
Betsey Brown: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ntozake Shange
First published: 1985
Genre: Novel
Locale: St. Louis, Missouri
Plot: Domestic realism
Time: 1959
Betsey Brown, the thirteen-year-old protagonist. the oldest child in a black middle-class family, Betsey struggles with the frustrations and fears of adolescence, compounded by attending a mostly white school. Because she is the oldest child, her parents have given her much of the responsibility for controlling the chaos created by her three siblings and younger cousin. This sets her apart from the other children, yet she knows she is not like her parents, and they do not understand her. Her most comforting moments are in the early morning, which she has claimed as her own. Frequently, she awakes before anyone else, seeks out one of the porches on the family's large house, and watches the sunrise. During the daytime, she finds peace and quiet by climbing a large tree in her yard. In this solitude, she is most at ease.
Greer Brown, Betsey's father, a physician. Greer wants his children to grow up proud, so he begins every morning with African drumming and chanting about black heritage, followed by a quiz about black history and culture. Under Greer's influence, Betsey comes to appreciate the blues and other styles of music that her mother considers unsuitable for people of their social class. When Greer announces his plans to involve the children in a civil rights demonstration, then further refuses to join the family in prayer, he precipitates a crisis in his marriage.
Jane Brown, Betsey's mother, a social worker who treats mentally ill patients in a segregated hospital. Jane has given up trying to manage the five children in her household, relying instead on her aging mother and a series of housekeepers. Her passion for her husband is fading, largely because his ideas about “Africanizing” his children conflict with her wishes to see them reared with the manners and tastes of their social class. Resentful of the long hours her husband puts in at the hospital and in his private practice, she amuses herself in the evenings by playing cards and polishing her nails. She leaves the family temporarily.
Vida Murray, Betsey's grandmother, who lives with the family. Vida disapproves of Greer, of modern music, and of modern women who wear lipstick. Her only comfort comes from memories of Frank, her late husband, and from rocking on the porch and praying.
Mrs. Maureen, the owner of a beauty parlor. As Betsey sees her, Mrs. Maureen is confident, worldly, and able to support herself with an honest trade. When Betsey runs away from home hoping to work in the beauty parlor, she learns that Mrs. Maureen also runs a bordello.
Carrie, the housekeeper. Although Carrie dresses strangely (she wears two housedresses at the same time, tied with a rope) and carries on a romance with the gardener behind Vida's back, she brings order to the household for the first time. She teaches the children proper manners and useful homemaking skills. Most important, she earns the love and respect of Betsey and is able to guide her through the perils of adolescence.