Beatrice Ziaty Character Analysis in Outcasts United

The mother of the three Ziaty boys: Darlington, Mandela, and Jeremiah. Beatrice escaped the Liberian civil war with three of her sons after watching her husband be murdered by rebel soldiers. In America, Beatrice supports her sons by working long shifts at a hotel in Atlanta. One evening coming home from work, she is mugged, robbing her of a sense of security in her new home. She then instructs the boys to remain in their apartment after they get home from school. But when Jeremiah asks to join the Fugees, Luma convinces Beatrice that he will be well-looked after. Eventually, Beatrice comes to think of Luma like a sister because she is so involved in raising all three of her sons.

Beatrice Ziaty Quotes in Outcasts United

The Outcasts United quotes below are all either spoken by Beatrice Ziaty or refer to Beatrice Ziaty. 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:

Refugees, Discrimination, and Resilience Theme Icon

The incident robbed Beatrice of the hope her family would be safe in her new home. She became obsessed with her boys’ safety. In Liberia, a neighbor would always look after her kids if she needed to leave them to run an errand or visit a friend. But Beatrice didn’t know anyone in Clarkston.

Related Characters: Warren St. John (speaker), Mandela Ziaty, Beatrice Ziaty, Darlington Ziaty, Jeremiah Ziaty

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

Beatrice Ziaty Character Timeline in Outcasts United

The timeline below shows where the character Beatrice Ziaty appears in Outcasts United. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In 1997, around the same time Luma graduates from Smith College, Beatrice Ziaty struggles to survive a civil war in Monrovia, Liberia. Beatrice has a husband and... (full context)

In 1996, Taylor makes another attack on Monrovia and the Krahn who live there, including Beatrice Ziaty and her family. They hide in their house, praying to survive. But when her... (full context)

Beatrice, Jeremiah, Mandela, and Darlington make it out of Monrovia alive, though Beatrice is unable to... (full context)

Beatrice is given a $3,016 loan by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement for four one-way... (full context)

The work is exhausting, and when Beatrice returns on the bus, the streets are unfamiliar. As she tries to remember her way... (full context)

The incident robs Beatrice “of the hope her family would be safe in her new home.” Beatrice doesn’t know... (full context)

Community and Teamwork vs. Division Theme Icon

...the creation of a free soccer program. He loves soccer, and since arriving in America, Beatrice has kept him, Mandela, and Darlington inside their apartment all day. When he asks his... (full context)

...June of 2004, Luma arrives at the center for tryouts, and so does Jeremiah Ziaty—defying Beatrice and sneaking out while she is at work. He takes the field along with the... (full context)

After tryouts, Jeremiah makes the team. But when Beatrice finds out about the soccer team, she scolds him, worrying that something bad could happen... (full context)

Discipline, Dedication, and Success Theme Icon

...focus on more important things. She wants to start a business to employ women like Beatrice and other refugee mothers. She also decides to stop coaching the girls’ team at the... (full context)

...time learn what she likes. The boys pick up her habits, too: Jeremiah insists to Beatrice that he will not eat pork, because Luma (as a Muslim) doesn’t eat it. (full context)

Mandela had made friends on the Fugees and at school, but Beatrice worries that he is hanging out with the wrong crowd. She doesn’t like the way... (full context)

Beatrice constantly reminds Mandela, Darlington, and Jeremiah, of the life that they had in Liberia and... (full context)

In the Ziaty home, it takes a few days for Beatrice to learn that Mandela had quit the Fugees. She starts to worry for him—without soccer,... (full context)

...move out of Clarkston, which often just serves as a foothold in America. In 2007, Beatrice Ziaty moves with her sons to Iowa. Generose moves to Indiana. When Ive arrives, he... (full context)