The Man Who Was Almost a Man Character Analysis

Dave Saunders

Dave is a Black seventeen-year-old living with his family in the American South around the 1930s. He works plowing fields on a plantation owned by a white man, Jim Hawkins, where members of his… read analysis of Dave Saunders

Bob Saunders (Pa)

Bob Saunders is a Black man living in the South around the 1930s. He is the father of Dave Saunders and Dave’s younger brother as well as the husband of Mrs. Saunders. The whole… read analysis of Bob Saunders (Pa)

Jim Hawkins

As the white owner of a Southern plantation around the 1930s, Mr. Hawkins is the employer of many Black field workers, including the Saunders family (Dave, Bob, Mrs. Saunders, and Dave’s… read analysis of Jim Hawkins

Mrs. Saunders (Ma)

Mrs. Saunders is the mother of Dave and his little brother, as well as the wife of Bob Saunders, living with all of them on the plantation of the white Southern landowner Mr.… read analysis of Mrs. Saunders (Ma)

Joe

Joe is a white man who runs a store near Jim Hawkins’ plantation. Joe is a big man with an imposing figure and Dave is nervous around him. When Dave announces his plan to… read analysis of Joe

Minor Characters

Dave’s younger brother

Dave has at least one younger sibling who also lives at home with him, Bob Saunders, and Mrs. Saunders on Jim Hawkins’ plantation.

Jenny

Jenny is the mule that Dave accidentally shoots and kills with the gun that he buys from Joe’s store. She is used for plowing fields and is owned by Jim Hawkins, who values her at 50 dollars after she’s dead.