Family

Family- parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.

The family identified in the novel is the Murrays.
They consist of Grandpa Joe, Charlie Murray (his son), Amelia Murray(Charlie’s wife), Japheth and Queenie (their children).

The relationship they share seems to be a close knit one, as they all live together and appear to get along alright. The only disagreement we are exposed to is their varying political views and the disagreement between Amelia and Grandpa Joe when Charlie was imprisoned.

As the novel begins, we learn about their family rituals on market day. Each member has his part to play. The two children are responsible for getting Theresa, the donkey, ready for the day’s work.

Almost immediately we are able to see that the relationship the narrator shares with his grandfather is one of admiration. Both share common interests, the love for the mountains and adventure .

It is interesting to note that at the beginning of the novel, the narrator admires Deacon Bogle “ It is a proud thing to be known by a man who is leading such a mighty army…”. It is after he is sent for Beelzebub that we see Japheth first turning against the Deacon. It is almost as if it is the promise of adventure that lures the young boy away. It is interesting also that Grandpa Joe sends for the musket. This advocate of peace sends for his gun a little too early.

For a second the narrator struggles with whose side to take: his father’s who supports Bogle or his Grandfather who thinks Bogle is irrational.

It is the relationship that Japheth shares with his grandfather that allows him the opportunity to learn of the Underhill letter, the Queen’s letter, the history of the people of Jamaica etc.
It is Japheth’s ego and his relationship with Queenie(his need to show his knowledge and her ignorance) that reveals that Japheth doesn’t support his grandfather blindly or ignorantly.


The question you need to answer is how does Japheth change?
How does his relationship help him to grow?
Does he grow?
What was his character like in the very beginning of the novel?
What is his character at the end?

Remember character in this sense is not who but what, what is his personality like? use up the adjectives you found in the puzzle you got in class (character traits).