Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Grew up... in New York City to a very religious mother and a not so dedicated father. Fonny’s mother has always been critical of her son’s choices, particularly his relationship with Tish. Regardless, Fonny has always stood by Trish’s side from when they were kids. He looks to her as symbol of comfort through the dysfunction of his family.
Profession... artist. Fonny went to school to embark on a career in welding. Once starting, however, he realized that career was too much of a traditional route for him. Instead, Fonny set out to become something bigger: an artist.
Interests... sculpture. Fonny finds that working on sculptures is cathartic—he inflicts all his pain and discomforts in his material, bringing new life. This is representative of how Fonny manages to turn disasters into manifestations of care and affection.
Relationship Status... infatuated with Tish. Fonny is dedicated to the love of his life. Even though they have known each other forever, they constantly are discovering new things about each other. He thought they had all the time in the world to be together, but he was wrong about that.
Challenge… being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Imprisoned for rape, Fonny now can only see Tish behind the glass divider of a prison.
Personality... caring, honest, and still hopeful. It’s common for someone to look at Fonny and assume trouble. His characteristics, however, prove how giving of a man he is. Fonny goes out of his way to shelter his loved ones, especially Tish.
Get to Know him in...
-
After her fiance is falsely imprisoned, a pregnant African-American woman sets out to clear his name and prove his innocence.
-
In this honest and stunning novel, James Baldwin has given America a moving story of love in the face of injustice. Told through the eyes of Tish, a nineteen-year-old girl, in love with Fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her child, Baldwin’s story mixes the sweet and the sad. Tish and Fonny have pledged to get married, but Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned. Their families set out to clear his name, and as they face an uncertain future, the young lovers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions–affection, despair, and hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, where passion and sadness are inevitably intertwined, Baldwin has created two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche.
