Curtis is Lauren’s boyfriend in the neighborhood. His exact age is not specified, though he seems to be roughly the same age as Lauren, and he is also African-American. He expresses hopes of marrying Lauren and going north with her; however, he is killed during the destruction of the neighborhood.
Get the entire Parable of the Sower LitChart as a printable PDF.
Curtis Talcott Character Timeline in Parable of the Sower
The timeline below shows where the character Curtis Talcott appears in Parable of the Sower. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...Lauren’s brothers Keith and Marcus, there are four other kids about to be baptized, including Curtis Talcott. Lauren wishes Curtis weren’t there, yet resents the fact that she cares what he...
(full context)
Chapter 4
...is becoming increasingly hostile to interracial socializing. At first the day goes smoothly, but then Curtis and his brother Michael get into an argument with Peter Moss, whose father, Richard, is...
(full context)
...throw up. Lauren shoots the dog, feels the blow of the bullet, and almost collapses. Curtis smiles at her and expresses admiration at her shooting ability. Lauren keeps walking in a...
(full context)
Chapter 8
...and Lauren admits she doesn’t know “whether Bianca is brave or stupid.” Lauren really likes Curtis and may love him, but says if marriage, children, and more poverty were the only...
(full context)
Chapter 10
...shooting him. He warns Lauren that she’d do better to stay in the neighborhood, marry Curtis, and have babies than go outside. He claims that Lauren would not be able to...
(full context)
...next time, but she refuses. The next Monday is Lauren’s birthday. She has sex with Curtis using condoms he’s managed to find. Keith comes over and gives Lauren some money as...
(full context)
...Lauren’s father doesn’t cry—he never has, although now Lauren wishes he would. It’s only when Curtis points it out that Lauren notices that she herself hasn’t cried either. Lauren’s feelings about...
(full context)
Chapter 12
...is “a trap.” Joanne asks Lauren if she will just stay in the neighborhood, marry Curtis, and have babies, and Lauren lies, saying that she’s not sure. Lauren then begins saying...
(full context)
...her father’s leadership, and they will have to keep surviving even if he is dead. Curtis’s sister begins to sing “We Shall Not Be Moved,” a civil rights anthem that began...
(full context)
Chapter 13
After the Garfields leave, Lauren and Curtis have sex and discuss their future. Curtis suggests that they get married and leave the...
(full context)
...house. However, they have taken Cory’s sewing machine, which will cause difficulty for the family. Curtis comes to the window and says that the burnt bodies of the Payne family were...
(full context)
Chapter 14
...being killed, one who was only 8. She sees Michael Talcott’s body and hopes that Curtis is still alive. She is desperate to find her family.
(full context)
Chapter 21
...He tells Lauren that she should be with someone younger, which makes her think of Curtis. Bankole notices that Lauren is overcome with sadness, and he asks about Curtis. Bankole comments...
(full context)
