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Rufus Scott
Rufus Scott is an African American jazz musician living and performing in Harlem, New York. Rufus is Ida’s brother. At the start of the novel, he is at the lowest point in his life…
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Vivaldo
Vivaldo is a white writer living in New York, trying to make a name for himself. He has been working on the same novel for a long time but cannot seem to get anywhere. He…
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Ida Scott
Ida Scott is Rufus Scott’s younger sister, who aspires to be a musician like her brother. Also like Rufus, Ida is filled with rage toward broader society, especially white people. Ida does not think…
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Leona
Leona is a white woman from the South who meets Rufus at a jazz club and begins dating him. Before coming to New York, Leona was married to a man in the South who abused…
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Richard
Richard is Vivaldo’s friend and former teacher, as well as Cass’s husband. They have two sons, Paul and Michael. Toward the start of the novel, Richard publishes a detective novel, which…
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Cass
Cass is married to Richard and is a close friend of Vivaldo. She also has a soft spot for Rufus and tries to encourage him and provide him with support, despite how he behaved…
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Eric
Eric is a young gay man who moves to France after enduring an emotionally and physically abusive relationship with Rufus. Although, like Leona, Eric loved Rufus, he could not withstand the constant abuse…
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Steve Ellis
Steve Ellis is a television producer who has an affair with Ida. Ida likes Ellis because he provides roles for Black women, which is uncommon for the time. However, Vivaldo is skeptical of Ellis…
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Yves
Yves is a young man whom Eric falls in love with in France. Yves has a difficult relationship with his mother and has no one in his life he is close with except Eric. He…
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Minor Characters
LeRoy
LeRoy is a gay Black man with whom Eric becomes infatuated while he is still living in the South. LeRoy warns Eric to stay away from him because of what might happen if anyone finds out about their shared sexuality.
Lorenzo
Lorenzo is a poet Vivaldo is friends with. He introduces Vivaldo to Belle and Harold, and the three of them spend a night drinking and smoking together.
Mrs. Scott
Mrs. Scott is Rufus and Ida’s mother. She is a kind woman who welcomes anyone into her home and wants the best for her children.
Jane
Jane is a woman whom Vivaldo casually dates. Their relationship ends because Jane has a drinking problem and Vivaldo grows tired of her.
Sydney Ingram
Sydney Ingram is a writer Vivaldo respects; they meet at one of Richard’s parties.
Harold
Harold is a gay man who Vivaldo meets one night while he is out drinking with Lorenzo.
Grace
Grace is a Black woman who worked for Eric’s family. She is married to Henry.
Henry
Henry is a Black man who worked for Eric’s family. He is married to Grace.
Vickie
Vickie is a Black woman in Rufus’s neighborhood who gets pregnant at a young age.
Paul
Paul is the older son of Cass and Richard.
Michael
Michael is the younger son of Cass and Richard.
Reverend Foster
Reverend Foster oversees Rufus’s funeral.
Dick
Dick is a man who Jane dates after breaking up with Vivaldo.
Belle
Belle is Lorenzo’s girlfriend.
Loring
Loring is Richard’s literary agent.
