The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life" offers a rich tapestry of characters navigating the complexities of Creole society in 19th-century Louisiana. Central to the narrative is Honoré Grandissime, an egalitarian merchant who opposes slavery and seeks to forge peace within his family, contrasting sharply with his uncle, Agricola Fusilier, who embodies the traditional prejudices of the Creole aristocracy. The story also explores nuanced relationships through characters such as Aurora Nancanou, a beautiful young widow caught between love and familial enmity, and her daughter Clotilde, who ultimately finds love with Joseph Frowenfeld, an American immigrant with progressive views. Other key figures include Palmyre Philosophe, a freed quadroon slave grappling with her complicated feelings towards both love and vengeance, and Bras Coupé, a symbol of dignity and tragedy within the African experience during this era. The interactions and conflicts among these characters reflect the social hierarchies and racial tensions of the time, making the work a poignant exploration of identity, power, and the human condition within a culturally rich setting.
The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: George Washington Cable
First published: 1880
Genre: Novel
Locale: New Orleans, Louisiana
Plot: Regional
Time: 1804
Honoré Grandissime (oh-noh-RAY grahn-dees-EEM), a merchant, head of the Grandissimes. Extremely handsome and well-dressed, he is an impressive figure, the flower of the family. His egalitarian views and his opposition to slavery are viewed with suspicion and distaste by other Grandissimes. He represents the peacemaking element as his uncle, Agricola, represents the strifemaking element in the family. Conscience-stricken over his possession of and profit from Aurora's property (given him by Agricola), he returns it and thereby angers his family. He further alienates them by going into partnership with another Honoré Grandissime, a free man of color.
Honoré Grandissime, f. m. c., his older quadroon half brother, a rentier. (To prevent confusion, he is usually distinguished from the white Honoré by the initials f. m. c.—free man of color—after his name.) He has strong feelings about the lot of the Louisianians of mixed blood, but he is feeble of will about fighting the caste system. He hates Agricola and loves Palmyre. After going with Palmyre to Bordeaux following Agricola's death, he vainly courts her and then drowns himself.
Agricola Fusilier (ah-GREE-koh-lah fyew-seel-YAY), Honoré's uncle, a sturdy, bearded old lion careless of his dress. Loving all things French, he scorns Americans and their jargon. He is proud of his Creole blood, contemptuous of all people of color, and fearful of Palmyre. He is mortally stabbed by Honoré f. m. c., whom he has attacked. Dying, he affects to forgive all enemies of the Creole aristocracy, but he dies with his prejudices.
Aurora Nancanou (ah-rohr-AH nahn-kah-NEW), née De Grapion (deh grah-PYOHN), a beautiful young widow whose husband died in a duel after accusing Agricola of cheating at cards. She is poor but proud, and she superstitiously believes in Palmyre's spellmaking powers. In love with Honoré, she is mindful of the enmity of the Grandissimes toward her own family, the De Grapions. After Agricola, dying, admits to having years before promised a marriage between Honoré and Aurora, she still resists, but she finally accepts her formerly diffident adorer.
Clotilde Nancanou (kloh-TEELD), her lovely daughter, who appears to be a younger sister rather than the daughter of the youthful-looking Aurora. Loved by Joseph, she finally accepts his suit.
Joseph Frowenfeld, a handsome young American immigrant of German ancestry whose family dies of yellow fever, which Joseph survives. He becomes a proprietor of an apothecary shop. A serious student, he has liberal views that are resented by the Creoles. He cannot understand why the caste system for people of varied colors is permitted to continue in Louisiana. Wounded mistakenly while attending Palmyre after she is shot, he recovers and becomes a partner in an expanded drug business supported by capital from Aurora. He falls in love with Clotilde and apparently will marry her.
Dr. Charlie Keene, Joseph's physician and friend, redhaired and freckled. Intelligent and perceptive, he acquaints Joseph with the Creole-dominated society of New Orleans.
Palmyre Philosophe (pahl-MEER fee-loh-SOHF), a freed quadroon slave, formerly Aurora's maid, who hates Agricola and who is wounded after stabbing him. Loved by Honoré f. m. c., she ignores him and hates all men except the white Honoré and Bras Coupé, to whom she was married before he ran away. She passionately desires the love of Honoré, but in vain.
Bras Coupé (brah kew-PAY), a giant African prince captured by slavers and brought to Louisiana. After marrying Palmyre, he strikes his master in a drunken fit and escapes. Returning to get Palmyre, he is captured, imprisoned, and mutilated, and he dies in prison after removing the curse he had put upon Don José's family and land. Bras Coupé is a symbol of the dignity, the native worth, and the tragedy of his race.
Don José Martinez (hoh-SEH mahr-TEE-nehs), Honoré's brother-in-law and Bras Coupé's master.
Governor Claiborne, a young Virginian, governor-general of Louisiana.
Numa Grandissime, father of the two Honorés.
Raul Innerarity, an amateur artist, a cousin of Honoré. He becomes Joseph's clerk.
Achille (ah-SHEEL), Valentine (vah-lehn-TEEN), Jean-Baptiste (zhahn-bah-TEEST), Hippolyte (ee-poh-LEET), Sylvestre (seel-VEHSTR), and Agamemnon (ah-gahMEHM-nohn), kinsmen of Honoré.
Clemence (kleh-MAHNS), Palmyre's voodoo accomplice, shot to death by an unknown marksman after her lynching is interrupted.