The Underground Railroad

by

Colson Whitehead

Miss Lucy Character Analysis

Miss Lucy is one of the proctors in South Carolina. She has a “severe aspect,” but Cora comes to like her—that is, until Cora discovers the true purpose of the medical “treatment” that the dormitory residents receive. Miss Lucy herself claims to be committed to supporting black people, however she is all-too-happy to comply with Fugitive Slave Laws that dictate that she must hand over any black dormitory residents who are found to be runaways. Furthermore, she puts pressure on Cora to become sterilized, saying only through doing this would Cora be a “credit to [her] race.”
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Miss Lucy Character Timeline in The Underground Railroad

The timeline below shows where the character Miss Lucy appears in The Underground Railroad. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 4: South Carolina
Family, Heritage, and Home Theme Icon
History, Myth, and Fantasy Theme Icon
...potatoes made by Margaret, another dormitory resident. On her way back upstairs, Bessie runs into Miss Lucy , a white proctor with a “severe aspect” but “quick smile.” Miss Lucy corrects Bessie... (full context)
Family, Heritage, and Home Theme Icon
Endurance vs. Rebellion Theme Icon
Death and Freedom Theme Icon
Brutality and Violation Theme Icon
History, Myth, and Fantasy Theme Icon
...still desperate to learn what happened to Mabel, and one day she decides to ask Miss Lucy if she has any record of Mabel Randall. Lucy points out that Cora’s last name... (full context)
Family, Heritage, and Home Theme Icon
Endurance vs. Rebellion Theme Icon
Value, Ownership, and Commodification Theme Icon
Brutality and Violation Theme Icon
After her meeting with Miss Lucy , Cora is so overcome by emotion that another dormitory resident asks if she is... (full context)
Endurance vs. Rebellion Theme Icon
Value, Ownership, and Commodification Theme Icon
History, Myth, and Fantasy Theme Icon
Miss Lucy tells Cora that she has been given a new placement at a museum. Cora asks... (full context)
Family, Heritage, and Home Theme Icon
Endurance vs. Rebellion Theme Icon
Value, Ownership, and Commodification Theme Icon
Brutality and Violation Theme Icon
History, Myth, and Fantasy Theme Icon
...new hospital. Cora and the other dormitory residents are regularly monitored by the doctors, and Miss Lucy explains that their findings will be used to understand “colored life.” Cora goes into an... (full context)
Endurance vs. Rebellion Theme Icon
Death and Freedom Theme Icon
Brutality and Violation Theme Icon
History, Myth, and Fantasy Theme Icon
That evening, Cora goes to see Miss Lucy and asks about the women in number 40. Lucy says that the women have been... (full context)