Bolom Character Analysis in Ti-Jean and His Brothers

The ghost of an aborted fetus, the Bolom is one of the Devil’s assistants. When the Devil wants to pose a challenge to Mi-Jean, Ti-Jean, and Gros Jean, it is the Bolom who shows up at their house to deliver the message. The boys’ mother longs to give the Bolom the love and care that his own mother, who aborted him, wasn’t able to, but the Bolom is so hurt and traumatized by his experience with his own mother that he rejects this. But when Ti-Jean beats the Devil, the Bolom begs Ti-Jean to ask the Devil to grant him life, and he does. At the end of the story, the Bolom is finally born, and it is implied that he goes to live with Ti-Jean and his mother.

Bolom Character Timeline in Ti-Jean and His Brothers

The timeline below shows where the character Bolom appears in Ti-Jean and His Brothers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Suddenly, Bolom appears outside the family’s door. They hear the sound of a child’s cry, and Mother... (full context)

Bolom asks the boys’ mother to send her oldest son outside, for the boys “must die... (full context)

Capitalism and Dehumanization Theme Icon

So the Bolom enters the house and delivers his message: “The Devil my master, who owns half the... (full context)

...and tells them to seize him when Ti-Jean comments that the Devil isn’t smiling. But Bolom intervenes, begging the Devil to be fair. The Devil shows no signs of listening, and... (full context)