James Howard Character Analysis

James is the stable boy at Birtwick when Black Beauty arrives there. He’s a kind, smart, and generous young man who cares deeply for horses and for standing up for what’s right. Like John and Squire Gordon, he steps in when he sees people abusing their horses—and as a boy in school, he boxed another boy’s ears for pulling a fly’s wings off. Black Beauty, Ginger, and Merrylegs all adore James, so it’s difficult for them when James plans to leave to accept a position as a coachman elsewhere. But while he receives training in preparation for the move during his last six weeks at Birtwick, James continues to distinguish himself as a conscientious, kind person. He saves Black Beauty and Ginger from a burning stable, something that another coachman says shows how much the horses trust James—most horses refuse to leave their stables out of fear during fires and floods. After James leaves for his new position, Black Beauty never sees him again.