Mariselle Character Analysis in The Dew Breaker

Mariselle is a Haitian immigrant and member of the same GED class as Rézia and Freda. Back in Haiti, her husband was killed for painting an unflattering portrait of the president, forcing Mariselle to flee to the U.S. She eventually gets a job in a gallery in New York, where she sells some of her husband’s paintings.

Mariselle Character Timeline in The Dew Breaker

The timeline below shows where the character Mariselle appears in The Dew Breaker. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Diaspora, Interconnection, and Haunting Theme Icon

...West Side called Ambiance Créole. She is in a classroom, reading aloud from a manual. Mariselle gets up and states her name. Freda wishes she could sing to introduce herself. Given... (full context)

Rézia nicknames the teacher “Flat Tit,” Mariselle “Mother Mary,” and Freda “the baby funeral singer,” because Freda used to be “one of... (full context)

After several weeks on the course, Freda, Mariselle, and Rézia cook a meal together, each taking care of a different dish. Mariselle came... (full context)

Mariselle brings Haitian newspapers for the women to read. She finds the name of a childhood... (full context)

Mariselle mentions that she met Jackie Kennedy when she visited Haiti. She observes that despite all... (full context)

...agrees to light candles and pray to Saint Jude, the patron of lost causes, with Mariselle and Rézia in order to help them pass their exam. They also pray for Haiti,... (full context)

The women take the test, though don’t know yet if they’ve passed. Mariselle has gotten a job at a gallery, and will sell her husband’s paintings there. Freda... (full context)