Cudjo’s eldest son. Aleck’s birth inaugurates a period of relative stability and familial happiness for Cudjo and Seely, which lasts until their children begin to die as teenagers. Aleck is the last of Cudjo’s children to die; the cause of death is never specified. In this sense, Aleck’s life encapsulates the period of fatherhood that is the most satisfying experience of Cudjo’s life.
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Aleck Character Timeline in Barracoon
The timeline below shows where the character Aleck appears in Barracoon. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 9
...it’s “too crooked” for America so he goes by Cudjo Lewis. Cudjo’s children are named Aleck, Jimmy, Poe-lee, David, Cudjo Jr., and Seely Jr.
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Chapter 11
...all the time. Only one son, Jimmy, lives at home now; Cudjo’s other remaining son, Aleck, has gotten married and built a house next door.
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Chapter 12
The month after that, Cudjo’s one remaining son, Aleck, dies as well. Now he’s in the same state as when he arrived in America:...
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