Harlem’s Mum Character Analysis in Foreign Soil

In “Harlem Jones,” Harlem’s mum is a first-generation Trinidadian immigrant. She’s a fierce and protective woman. When the police come to the Jones residence to interrogate Harlem about threats he made against a job office worker, Harlem predicts—correctly—that his mother will put the police officers in their place and send them on their way. But the problem is that she’s just as harsh and critical with Harlem, whom she thinks is taking for granted all she’s sacrificed to give him a better life in London. Harlem’s father left the family years ago, and Harlem’s mother always tells Harlem he’ll end up like his “good-fe-nothin’ dadda” if he doesn’t get his act together—an accusation that infuriates Harlem.

Harlem’s Mum Quotes in Foreign Soil

The Foreign Soil quotes below are all either spoken by Harlem’s Mum or refer to Harlem’s Mum. 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:

).

Harlem can’t look at her. She makes him too fuckin’ irate. She always dumps on his dad whenever Harlem does anything wrong. Ten years since the man pissed off, and she still can’t stop slagging on him. Harlem flexes his trembling fingers. He wants to fuckin’ strangle her, his own mother, who gave birth to him. Really strangle the woman. He wants to wrap his fingers firmly around that fat neck and squeeze until her face goes purple.

Related Characters: Harlem Jones, Harlem’s Mum

Page Number and Citation: 19

Explanation and Analysis: