God Help the Child

by

Toni Morrison

Adam Character Analysis

Adam was Booker’s brother. A pedophile sexually assaulted and killed him when he was a child. As an adult, Booker’s life still revolves around his brother’s death. He keeps people at a distance to avoid feeling the kind of pain he felt when Adam died. Later in the novel, Booker realizes that his decision not to move past the pain of losing Adam has more to do with him and what he sees as his selfishness than it does with Adam or Adam’s life.

Adam Quotes in God Help the Child

The God Help the Child quotes below are all either spoken by Adam or refer to Adam. 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:
Inherited Trauma Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

When the police responded to their plea for help in searching for Adam, they immediately searched the Starberns’ house—as though the anxious parents might be at fault. They checked to see if the father had a police record. He didn’t. “We’ll get back to you,” they said. Then they dropped it. Another little black boy gone. So?

Related Characters: Booker Starbern, Adam
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4, Chapter 2 Quotes

You should take heartbreak of whatever kind seriously with the courage to let it blaze and burn like the pulsing star it is unable or unwilling to be soothed into pathetic self-blame because its explosive brilliance rings justifiably loud like the din of a tympani.

Related Characters: Booker Starbern (speaker), Adam
Page Number: 151
Explanation and Analysis:

Queen’s right, he thought. Except for Adam I don’t know anything about love. Adam had no faults, was innocent, pure, easy to love. Had he lived, grown up to have flaws, human failings like deception, foolishness and ignorance, would he be so easy to adore or be even worthy of adoration? What kind of love is it that requires and only an angel for its commitment?

Related Characters: Booker Starbern (speaker), Lula Ann “Bride” Bridewell, Adam
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis:
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God Help the Child PDF

Adam Quotes in God Help the Child

The God Help the Child quotes below are all either spoken by Adam or refer to Adam. 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:
Inherited Trauma Theme Icon
).
Part 3 Quotes

When the police responded to their plea for help in searching for Adam, they immediately searched the Starberns’ house—as though the anxious parents might be at fault. They checked to see if the father had a police record. He didn’t. “We’ll get back to you,” they said. Then they dropped it. Another little black boy gone. So?

Related Characters: Booker Starbern, Adam
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 4, Chapter 2 Quotes

You should take heartbreak of whatever kind seriously with the courage to let it blaze and burn like the pulsing star it is unable or unwilling to be soothed into pathetic self-blame because its explosive brilliance rings justifiably loud like the din of a tympani.

Related Characters: Booker Starbern (speaker), Adam
Page Number: 151
Explanation and Analysis:

Queen’s right, he thought. Except for Adam I don’t know anything about love. Adam had no faults, was innocent, pure, easy to love. Had he lived, grown up to have flaws, human failings like deception, foolishness and ignorance, would he be so easy to adore or be even worthy of adoration? What kind of love is it that requires and only an angel for its commitment?

Related Characters: Booker Starbern (speaker), Lula Ann “Bride” Bridewell, Adam
Page Number: 160
Explanation and Analysis: