Woman/Wife Character Analysis in The Dew Breaker

Eric’s wife is a woman who is separated from her husband when he moves to New York from Haiti the day after they marry. Unknown to either of them at the time, it will be seven years before they are able to see each other again. In the meantime, the woman completes a secretarial course and has a longstanding affair with her neighbor. When she finally reunites with Eric in New York, she appears to have mixed feelings. At times, she shows significant affection toward her husband and cooks a big meal for him and his roommates, Michel and Dany. Yet she is also somewhat cold, and seems preoccupied with thoughts of those she left behind in Haiti, including the neighbor.

Woman/Wife Character Timeline in The Dew Breaker

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

It has been seven years since the man last saw his wife. He marks the passing of time in sevens; he is now 37 years old, and... (full context)

...goes to talk to Michel and Dany, indicating that he wants to make sure his wife feels comfortable. Michel plans to buy robes for him and Dany to wear out of... (full context)

...him.” Michel is now a lay minster at a Baptist church. While waiting for his wife at JFK, the man finally feels excited. He searches the crowd for women that look... (full context)

The customs officials search the woman’s suitcase. She had been advised to gift-wrap everything so it wouldn’t be opened by customs,... (full context)

Driving them home, the man speeds, almost crashing the car. His wife updates him on the wellbeing of their family and friends. She has gained weight during... (full context)

The man has bought a range of fruit juices for his wife, but she tells him she just wants water. He thinks it’s a shame that the... (full context)

Before the man leaves for work the next day, he gives his wife a set of keys and shows her how to work the stove and radio. The... (full context)

The woman turns on the radio to the Creole-language station her husband showed her. The callers are... (full context)

Once they are alone again, the man tells his wife that he works two jobs in part to distract himself from missing her, but also... (full context)

The woman spends the rest of the week inside the apartment, worried about getting lost if she... (full context)

One day, the man comes home from work and finds his wife sitting on his bed, staring at the pictures of herself on his wall. She doesn’t... (full context)

...no particular destination in mind. They get off at Prospect Park and walk around. The woman never expected somewhere like that to exist in New York. The man notices that at... (full context)

On the bus home the man sits across from his wife so he can look at her. She is thinking about the carnival as well, and... (full context)