Walter/Othaniel/Ghetto Yoda Character Analysis in An American Marriage

Roy’s biological father and his third cellmate while in prison, though the two live together for some time before Roy discovers Walter’s true identity. Walter’s nickname, Ghetto Yoda, comes from his tendency to dole out wisdom to the other inmates. He fathered many children with different women before being incarcerated, and many women from personal ads visit him in prison. He refers to Roy as his son, though Roy only refers to Walter as his father in a goodbye letter to him.

Walter/Othaniel/Ghetto Yoda Character Timeline in An American Marriage

The timeline below shows where the character Walter/Othaniel/Ghetto Yoda appears in An American Marriage. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...her letters. In three months, he has had three cell partners. His current cellmate is Walter, an older man who has been incarcerated for most of his life. Roy writes letters... (full context)

...share only the older ones with his friends. She offers to put some money on Walter’s books, a.k.a. his commissary account too. (full context)

Roy tells Celestial that his cellmate Walter took Celestial’s side in the argument. Walter sees the negative association of incarceration with African... (full context)

...shock to discover that his cellmate is actually his biological father. When Roy was helping Walter with something, he saw his full name on his face sheet, Othaniel Walter Jenkins, and... (full context)

Roy backtracks to explain that Olive knew Walter had fathered quite a few children already, and when he found out Olive was pregnant... (full context)

Walter tells Roy that his first instinct when Olive told him she was pregnant was to... (full context)

...shop soon so that Celestial can visit. She asks if she’ll be allowed to meet Walter as well as for his commissary information, so that she can put money in for... (full context)

Since Roy has learned that he will be released, Walter has been sharing non-stop advice. He reminds Roy that Celestial has been living her life... (full context)

...attended Olive’s funeral with Andre. Roy mentions that his cellmate was an older man named Walter who looked out for him, and Big Roy expresses his thanks for anyone who helped... (full context)

...on his bed. Roy responds, “Thank you, Daddy,” and thinks about how he never called Walter that, though he sensed Walter would have liked it. Together they eat the dishes that... (full context)

...carrying his mother’s casket at the funeral. They shake on it. When Roy points out Walter as his biological father, Andre is shocked. This surprises Roy, since it proves that Celestial... (full context)

...the garbage bag to hang himself, and when Roy tried to share the pear with Walter he refused, knowing the true cost of the fruit. Big Roy insist it was not... (full context)

...felt like he didn’t have a father. Roy can tell that Big Roy knows about Walter, and the latter admits that Olive told him and Celestial told her. On Celestial’s last... (full context)

...notes that goodbyes aren’t his strong suit, recalling that he didn’t even say goodbye to Walter when he left prison. Instead, while Walter was out of their cell, he left him... (full context)

Roy writes to Walter to say he’s in Mississippi on his way to see Celestial. When he went to... (full context)

...about Big Roy, all alone on this day. Roy asks why Celestial told Olive about Walter being his cellmate, since Big Roy said the news had killed Olive. Celestial claims it... (full context)

...will find peace, something “you have to make” yourself. These are words of wisdom from Walter, whom Roy still visits. His life is good, though a different version of good that... (full context)