Tar Baby Characters

Jadine is the novel’s protagonist. She works as a model in Paris. Her aunt Ondine and uncle Sydney adopted her after her parents’ deaths. Valerian Street, Ondine and Sydney’s employer, becomes Jadine’s benefactor and… read analysis of Jadine

Son, one of the novel’s main characters, is a Black man on the run after killing his first wife, Cheyenne. He appears in Margaret’s closet before Valerian invites him to stay at L’Arbe… read analysis of Son/The Man

Valerian, a wealthy, white man who has made his fortune in the candy business, is the owner of the Caribbean island Isle de Chevaliers. He’s built a massive estate there, L’Arbe de la Croix. He… read analysis of Valerian

Margaret is Valerian’s wife. The two first met when Margaret was 17 and Valerian was in his late 30s. She violently abused her and Valerian’s son Michael when Michael was a child—a fact Valerian… read analysis of Margaret

Ondine is Sydney’s wife and Jadine’s aunt and adoptive mother. She has also been Valerian and Margaret’s cook for the past 30 years. At Christmas dinner, Ondine reveals that Margaret repeatedly and… read analysis of Ondine

Michael is Valerian and Margaret’s adult son. He has minimal contact with his parents and rarely visits them at L’Arbe de la Croix. He has chosen not to join the family candy business, focusing… read analysis of Michael

Gideon works at L’Arbe de la Croix until Valerian catches Gideon and Thérèse stealing apples. The Streets (and Sidney and Ondine, Black Americans) call Gideon “Yardman” because he does yardwork and other general maintenance… read analysis of Gideon/Yardman

Thérèse is an elderly Black woman who works at L’Arbe de la Croix until Valerian fires her and Gideon for stealing apples. Her eyesight is poor to the extent that she can hardly see. The… read analysis of Thérèse

Alma Estée is one of Thérèse’s friends who sometimes works at L’Arbe de la Croix. As with Thérèse, the Streets and the Childses call Alma “Mary” because they cannot be bothered to distinguish between the… read analysis of Alma Estée

Ryk is Jadine’s fiancé in Paris. Jadine has come to L’Arbe de la Croix in part because she wants to gauge how Ondine and Sydney feel about the prospective marriage, particularly because Ryk is… read analysis of Ryk

Cheyenne was Son’s first wife. Son killed her after he found her having sex with a 13-year-old boy. Son’s murder of Cheyenne establishes that he has a pattern of committing violence against women, which… read analysis of Cheyenne

Old Man is Son’s father. Son has sent money to Old Man over the years that he has been away, and he tries to take care of him even though he has been gone… read analysis of Old Man