The Narrator’s Mother Character Analysis in Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

A black sewing-girl either employed or enslaved by the prominent Georgia family that includes the narrator’s father. After moving to Connecticut with the narrator to ensure that he can get a quality education, she sews around the clock to pay the family’s bills and plays the narrator songs at night, sparking his interest in music. Even though the narrator’s father sent her North in secret, and with little support, she nevertheless shows nothing but goodwill when she tells the narrator stories about him. Her loving, supportive relationship with the narrator is tragically cut short when she falls sick and dies shortly after he graduates high school in the third chapter.

The Narrator’s Mother Quotes in Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man quotes below are all either spoken by The Narrator’s Mother or refer to The Narrator’s Mother. 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:

).

“Tell me, mother, am I a nigger?”

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, “Shiny”, “Red Head”

Page Number and Citation: 12

Explanation and Analysis:

“Father, father,” that was the word which had been to me a source of doubt and perplexity ever since the interview with my mother on the subject. […] And here he stood before me, just the kind of looking father I had wishfully pictured him to be; but I made no advance toward him; I stood there feeling embarrassed and foolish, not knowing what to say or do. I am not sure but that he felt pretty much the same.

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, The Narrator’s Father

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

In none of her talks did she ever utter one word of complaint against my father. She always endeavored to impress upon me how good he had been and still was, and that he was all to us that custom and the law would allow. She loved him; more, she worshiped him, and she died firmly believing that he loved her more than any other woman in the world. Perhaps she was right. Who knows?

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, The Narrator’s Father

Page Number and Citation: 25

Explanation and Analysis:

The Narrator’s Mother Quotes in Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man quotes below are all either spoken by The Narrator’s Mother or refer to The Narrator’s Mother. 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:

).

“Tell me, mother, am I a nigger?”

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, “Shiny”, “Red Head”

Page Number and Citation: 12

Explanation and Analysis:

“Father, father,” that was the word which had been to me a source of doubt and perplexity ever since the interview with my mother on the subject. […] And here he stood before me, just the kind of looking father I had wishfully pictured him to be; but I made no advance toward him; I stood there feeling embarrassed and foolish, not knowing what to say or do. I am not sure but that he felt pretty much the same.

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, The Narrator’s Father

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

In none of her talks did she ever utter one word of complaint against my father. She always endeavored to impress upon me how good he had been and still was, and that he was all to us that custom and the law would allow. She loved him; more, she worshiped him, and she died firmly believing that he loved her more than any other woman in the world. Perhaps she was right. Who knows?

Related Characters: The Narrator or “Ex-Colored Man” (speaker), The Narrator’s Mother, The Narrator’s Father

Page Number and Citation: 25

Explanation and Analysis: