Blues for Mister Charlie Character Analysis

Richard Henry

Richard Henry, son to Meridian Henry and grandson to Mother Henry, is a young Black man from an unnamed town in the U.S. South. In his youth, he is a friend or boyfriend to… read analysis of Richard Henry

Meridian Henry

Meridian Henry, father to Richard Henry and son to Mother Henry, is a Black Christian minister in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. When his son is about 14, his wife dies in… read analysis of Meridian Henry

Lyle Britten

Lyle Britten, husband to Jo Britten and friend to Parnell James, is a poor white store owner who derives his sense of self-worth from his whiteness. As a young man, he was “wild,” always… read analysis of Lyle Britten

Parnell James

Parnell James is an independently wealthy white man who runs a left-leaning newspaper in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. He is longtime friends both with Black minister Meridian Henry and with virulently racist… read analysis of Parnell James

Juanita Harmon

Juanita Harmon is a pretty Black college student and civil-rights protestor living in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. At one point, she planned to go North to study law and come back to… read analysis of Juanita Harmon

Lorenzo Shannon

Lorenzo Shannon is a Black college student studying history who collaborates with Meridian Henry, Juanita Harmon, Pete Spivey, and others to protest for African-American civil rights. Shortly before the play begins, he… read analysis of Lorenzo Shannon

Jo Britten

Jo Britten is a timid, racist white woman. A former librarian who feared she was becoming a spinster, she jumped at the chance to marry Lyle Britten when he proposed to her despite having heard… read analysis of Jo Britten

Pete Spivey

Pete Spivey is a Black college student who collaborates with Meridian Henry, Juanita Harmon, Lorenzo Shannon, and others to protest for African American civil rights. He has both witnessed and suffered terrible… read analysis of Pete Spivey

Mother Henry

Mrs. Wilhelmina Henry, called Mother Henry, is mother to Meridian Henry and grandmother to Richard Henry. Her parents were born in slavery; Mother Henry, hoping to learn more than them because she was born… read analysis of Mother Henry

Joel Davis/Papa D

Joel Davis, usually called Papa D, is a Black man who owns a juke joint in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. Some younger, progressive Black students see Papa D as a traitor because… read analysis of Joel Davis/Papa D

The State

The State is Lyle Britten’s defense attorney when Lyle is tried for the murder of Richard Henry. The State effectively attempts to put Richard’s character on trial to prejudice the white jury in… read analysis of The State

Willa Mae

Willa Mae is a young, pretty Black woman who took care of Lyle Britten’s ailing father. Lyle became sexually infatuated with her and raped her. Subsequently, according to Lyle, they began a consensual affair… read analysis of Willa Mae

Minor Characters

Reverend Phelps

Reverend Phelps is a racist white Christian minister in an unnamed town in the U.S. South. He uses his religious authority to propound anti-Black and white-supremacist ideas. He offers social support to Lyle and Jo Britten after Lyle is charged with murdering Richard Henry, a young Black man.

Counsel for the Bereaved

The Counsel for the Bereaved is the prosecuting attorney when Lyle Britten is tried for the murder of Richard Henry.

Old Bill

Old Bill was Willa Mae’s much-older husband. When he attempted to confront Lyle, who was having an affair with his wife, Lyle murdered Old Bill and never suffered consequences for it.

Blues for Mister Charlie Characters