Quicksand Characters

A white Danish woman who died when Helga was 15 years old. Helga’s father abandoned them when Helga was a baby. Helga’s mother remarried and had more children with a volatile white American man who despised Helga during her childhood.

A poor, black American “scoundrel” who abandoned Helga and her mother when Helga was a baby. He has already died when the story begins.

A white preacher who visits Naxos and gives a racist sermon about the superiority of white people, which repulses Helga. Larsen leverages the school preacher to criticize “uplift” institutions that merely recreate a hierarchy in which white people are perceived as superior to people of color.

A racist staff member at Naxos who requires black employees to wear muted colors that wash out their skin tones, because she finds bright colors garish on dark skin.

The dormitory matron at Naxos, who often scolds students to be more ladylike. Larsen leverages this character to show that trying to make black children more “civilized” is inherently racist.

Helga’s white uncle, who functions as her absent financial benefactor. When he dies, he leaves Helga an inheritance that she uses to travel to Copenhagen so she can reconnect with her Danish family.

A white woman who has just married Helga’s Uncle Peter. When Helga tries to reconnect with her uncle in Chicago, Mrs. Nilssen turns Helga away, because she doesn’t want anyone to know her husband has a mixed-race family member.

The clerk at the employment agency in Chicago. At first, she thinks she will not be able to find work for Helga, who is overqualified for jobs in domestic labor. A few weeks later Miss Ross sets Helga up with a short-term gig helping a woman write a speech.

A wealthy social activist who employs Helga to help her write a speech on her way from Chicago to New York. She connects Helga with her niece, Anne, who ends up becoming Helga’s roommate in Harlem.

A progressive woman in Harlem, who throws a party to which people of multiple races are invited. Dr. Anderson drunkenly kisses Helga at the party, while his wife, Anne, is downstairs disapproving of the racial integration at the party.

A young woman of ambiguous ethnicity living in Harlem, who openly dates interracially, and holds parties where people of multiple races mingle. Helga’s friend Anne detests Audrey and thinks her actions are immoral.

A flirtatious young woman in Alabama who adores Reverend Mr. Pleasant Green, and is envious of Helga’s marriage to him.

A teacher at Naxos, and Helga’s friend.

A maid who works for Fru Dahl.