God Help the Child Character Analysis

Lula Ann “Bride” Bridewell

Bride is the novel’s protagonist. As a child, Bride’s mother, Sweetness, abused and neglected her because she was born with darker skin than Sweetness or her husband, Louis. That mistreatment drove Bride to… read analysis of Lula Ann “Bride” Bridewell

Booker Starbern

Booker is Bride’s ex-boyfriend—at the start of the story, the couple has recently broken up after months together. Booker leaves Bride after they fight about Bride’s plan to visit Sofia Huxley, a convicted child… read analysis of Booker Starbern

Sweetness

Sweetness is Bride’s mother. She neglected Bride while raising her because Bride had darker skin than Sweetness or her husband, Louis. Sweetness justifies her neglect of Bride by saying that she had to harden… read analysis of Sweetness

Sofia Huxley

Sofia Huxley was a kindergarten teacher when Bride was in second grade. When Bride was eight, Sofia and two other men, including Sofia’s husband, were put on trial for sexually molesting children. Four children, including… read analysis of Sofia Huxley

Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a white woman with dreadlocks. Bride describes Brooklyn as her closest friend and the one person she can trust completely. Morrison portrays Brooklyn, though, as an untrustworthy person, willing to betray Bride at… read analysis of Brooklyn

Rain

Rain is a child who lives with Steve and Evelyn, the people who take Bride in after she crashes her Jaguar on the way to Whiskey, California. Rain is the first person to find… read analysis of Rain

Queen

Queen is Booker’s aunt. She is the only one who takes his grief seriously after Adam’s murder. She is a woman with fire-red hair who has had many husbands. Queen lives in Whiskey… read analysis of Queen

Adam

Adam was Booker’s brother. A pedophile sexually assaulted and killed him when he was a child. As an adult, Booker’s life still revolves around his brother’s death. He keeps people at a distance to… read analysis of Adam

Steve

Steve is the man Rain brings to help after Bride crashes her Jaguar. At first, Bride is afraid that Steve might kill her, but she gradually learns that Steve is an activist who helps… read analysis of Steve

Evelyn

Evelyn helps care for Bride after her husband, Steve, brings her to their warehouse-like house. While Bride thinks Evelyn and Steve’s life is austere life, she cannot help herself from envying their happiness. That… read analysis of Evelyn

Salvatore “Sally” Ponti

Sally runs the pawn shop where Booker leaves his trumpet to get repaired before going to Whiskey, California. Bride receives an invoice for the trumpet in the mail, which leads her to Sally’s pawn shop… read analysis of Salvatore “Sally” Ponti

Louis

Louis is Bride’s father and Sweetness’s ex-husband. He left Sweetness after Bride’s birth because after seeing Bride’s dark skin and assuming that that Sweetness had had an affair with another man. Louis disappeared… read analysis of Louis

Mr. Leigh

Mr. Leigh was Sweetness’s landlord when Bride was a child. One day, Bride saw him molesting a child in the alley behind their building. When Bride told Sweetness, Sweetness was angry at Bride, not… read analysis of Mr. Leigh

Minor Characters

Hannah

Hannah is one of Queen’s children. She is now a medical student. When Hannah was a child, she told Queen that her father was molesting her. Queen refused to believe Hannah—something Queen now regrets—and this damaged their relationship beyond repair.

Jeri

Jeri is the stylist Bride consulted before her second interview at Sylvia, Inc. Jeri advised Bride to wear only white and to avoid makeup or jewelry. Bride credits Jeri with giving her what would become her signature aesthetic.

Dr. Walter Muskie

Dr. Muskie is the doctor who tends to Bride when she stays with Steve and Evelyn after her car accident.