Cane

by

Jean Toomer

Carrie K. Character Analysis

Carrie K. is the younger sister of Fred Halsey. She’s a beautiful and innocent Black woman whom Lewis finds almost irresistibly attractive and for whom Ralph Kabnis displays a jealous interest. Carrie is a quiet and shy woman who is devoted to her brother and to Father John, whom she visits several times a day when she brings him his meals. Carrie is in the cellar with Kabnis and Father John when Father John finally offers his revelation, and although Kabnis rejects it, Carrie remains to accept its full weight and significance.

Carrie K. Quotes in Cane

The Cane quotes below are all either spoken by Carrie K. or refer to Carrie K. . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Navigating Identity Theme Icon
).
29. Kabnis Quotes

Their meeting is a swift sun-burst. Lewis impulsively moves towards her. His mind flashes images of her life in the southern town. He sees the nascent woman, her flesh already stiffening to cartilage, drying to bone. Her spirit-bloom, even now touched sullen, bitter. Her rich beauty fading…He wants to— He stretches forth his hands to hers. He takes them. They feel like warm cheeks against his palms. The sun-burst from her eyes floods up and haloes him. Christ-eyes, his eyes look to her. Fearlessly she loves into them. Sand then something happens. Her face blanches. Awkwardly she draws away. The sin-bogies of respectable southern colored folks clamor at her: “Look out! Be a good girl. A good girl. Look out!”

Related Characters: Karintha , Carma , Fern , Avey , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Carrie K. , Stella, Cora
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis, with great mock-solemnity, goes to the corner, takes down the robe, and dons it. He is a curious spectacle, acting a part, yet very real. He joins the others at the table. They are used to him. Lewis is surprised. He laughs. Kabnis shrinks and then glares at him with a furtive hatred. Halsey, bringing out a bottle of corn licker, pours drinks.

Related Characters: Fred Halsey (speaker), Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Hanby , Carrie K.
Page Number: 143
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis rises and is going doggedly toward the steps. Carrie notices his robe. She catches up to him, points to it, and helps him take it off. He hangs it, with an exaggerated ceremony, on its nail in the corner […] with eyes downcast and swollen, trudges upstairs to the work-shop. Carrie’s gaze follows him till he is gone. Then she goes to the old man and slips to her knees before him. Her lips murmur, “Jesus, come.”

Light streaks through the iron-barred cellar window. Within its soft circle, the figures of Carrie and Father John.

Outside, the sun arises from its cradle in the tree-tops of the forest. Shadows of pines are dreams the sun shakes from its eyes. The sun arises. Gold-glowing child, it steps into the sky and sends a birth-song slanting down gray dust streets and sleep windows of the southern town.

Related Characters: Karintha , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Father John , Carrie K.
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis:
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Carrie K. Quotes in Cane

The Cane quotes below are all either spoken by Carrie K. or refer to Carrie K. . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Navigating Identity Theme Icon
).
29. Kabnis Quotes

Their meeting is a swift sun-burst. Lewis impulsively moves towards her. His mind flashes images of her life in the southern town. He sees the nascent woman, her flesh already stiffening to cartilage, drying to bone. Her spirit-bloom, even now touched sullen, bitter. Her rich beauty fading…He wants to— He stretches forth his hands to hers. He takes them. They feel like warm cheeks against his palms. The sun-burst from her eyes floods up and haloes him. Christ-eyes, his eyes look to her. Fearlessly she loves into them. Sand then something happens. Her face blanches. Awkwardly she draws away. The sin-bogies of respectable southern colored folks clamor at her: “Look out! Be a good girl. A good girl. Look out!”

Related Characters: Karintha , Carma , Fern , Avey , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Fred Halsey , Carrie K. , Stella, Cora
Page Number: 138
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis, with great mock-solemnity, goes to the corner, takes down the robe, and dons it. He is a curious spectacle, acting a part, yet very real. He joins the others at the table. They are used to him. Lewis is surprised. He laughs. Kabnis shrinks and then glares at him with a furtive hatred. Halsey, bringing out a bottle of corn licker, pours drinks.

Related Characters: Fred Halsey (speaker), Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Hanby , Carrie K.
Page Number: 143
Explanation and Analysis:

Kabnis rises and is going doggedly toward the steps. Carrie notices his robe. She catches up to him, points to it, and helps him take it off. He hangs it, with an exaggerated ceremony, on its nail in the corner […] with eyes downcast and swollen, trudges upstairs to the work-shop. Carrie’s gaze follows him till he is gone. Then she goes to the old man and slips to her knees before him. Her lips murmur, “Jesus, come.”

Light streaks through the iron-barred cellar window. Within its soft circle, the figures of Carrie and Father John.

Outside, the sun arises from its cradle in the tree-tops of the forest. Shadows of pines are dreams the sun shakes from its eyes. The sun arises. Gold-glowing child, it steps into the sky and sends a birth-song slanting down gray dust streets and sleep windows of the southern town.

Related Characters: Karintha , Ralph Kabnis , Lewis , Father John , Carrie K.
Page Number: 158
Explanation and Analysis: