Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

by

August Wilson

A young boy who has died before the beginning of the play. Eugene used to keep a collection of pigeons, which he sold one by one to Bynum for the old man’s strange rituals. Just before dying, Eugene made Reuben—his best friend—promise to set the pigeons free. Despite this, Reuben can’t bear to let the pigeons go, instead selling them to Bynum like Eugene used to do.
Get the entire Joe Turner’s Come and Gone LitChart as a printable PDF.
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone PDF

Eugene Character Timeline in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

The timeline below shows where the character Eugene appears in Joe Turner’s Come and Gone. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One: Scene One
Migration and Transience Theme Icon
Racism in Post-Slavery America Theme Icon
...since there aren’t any kids for him to play with these days because his friend Eugene died. Apparently, Eugene used to keep a horde of pigeons, which he sold one-by-one to... (full context)
Identity Theme Icon
...that he’s offended Zonia, he tells her he’s only kidding and offers to show her Eugene’s pigeons, at which point the two children run offstage as the lights go out. (full context)
Act Two: Scene Four
Spirituality Theme Icon
...mother’s spirit, who told him that he has to honor the promise he made to Eugene about letting the pigeons free. “Didn’t you promise Eugene something?” she said, hitting him with... (full context)