Foreign Soil Character Analysis

The Young Sudanese Woman

The young Sudanese woman is one of the two narrators of Foreign Soil’s opening story, “David.” At the beginning of “David,” she has just bought a red bicycle that bears the name “BARKLY STAR”… read analysis of The Young Sudanese Woman

Asha (The Older Sudanese Woman)

In “David,” the older Sudanese woman, whose name is later revealed to be Asha, is a Sudanese refugee who moved to Australia to escape her country’s violent civil war. In flashbacks, the reader gradually learns… read analysis of Asha (The Older Sudanese Woman)

Harlem Jones

Harlem Jones is the eponymous main character of “Harlem Jones.” Harlem lives in London with Harlem’s mum, a first-generation Trinidadian immigrant, and with his older brother Lloyd (though Lloyd is in prison at the… read analysis of Harlem Jones

Millie Lucas

In “Hope,” Millie Lucas is a 14-year-old girl from St. Thomas. She grows up in a rural village in the Cidar Valley with her family, including her mother Mrs. Lucas, her father Mr. Lucas… read analysis of Millie Lucas

Willemina

In “Hope,” Willemina is an elderly seamstress who owns a sewing shop in Kingston. The shop fell into her hands when her former lover, a wealthy, married Haitian man, bought her it in order to… read analysis of Willemina

Winston Gray

In “Hope,” Winston Gray is Millie’s lover. He’s a young cane cutter from the rural region of Montego Bay, and he meets Millie toward the end of his work season when they cross baths… read analysis of Winston Gray

Ange

In “Foreign Soil,” Ange is a white hair stylist who leaves her native Australia to accompany her boyfriend, Mukasa, to his home country of Uganda. Ange loves Mukasa and resents her parents (Ange’s… read analysis of Ange

Mukasa

In “Foreign Soil,” Mukasa is Ange’s boyfriend; he’s a doctor from Uganda. Ange’s mum and Ange’s dad disapprove of their relationship because Mukasa is Black and Ange is white. After Ange moves with Mukasa… read analysis of Mukasa

Ava

Ava is the young narrator of the story “Shu Yi.” She lives with her family in a predominantly white Australian suburb. Ava is Black but resents it—her Blackness sets her apart from her peers, who… read analysis of Ava

Shu Yi

In “Shu Yi,” Shu Yi is a young Chinese girl who is a new student at Ava’s elementary school. The other kids, apparently parroting the racist, xenophobic rhetoric they’ve picked up from their parents… read analysis of Shu Yi

Solomon

In “Railton Road,” Solomon is a young college graduate whose been teaching Black History classes to young Black revolutionaries at Railton Road, a London squat house the Black Panthers have taken over. At first, Solomon… read analysis of Solomon

Delores

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Delores is an old woman who lives in New Orleans. Delores is transgender—she used to live in rural Mississippi and identify as a man named Denver. Back in Mississippi, Denver… read analysis of Delores

De Frankie

In “Railton Road,” De Frankie is a well-known leader with the London Panthers. He’s a radical, controversial figure within the movement; though he’s garnered support among celebrities and other public figures, he has a checkered… read analysis of De Frankie

Izzy

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Izzy is Delores’s former wife, Jeanie’s mother-in-law, Jackson’s mother, and Carter and Lucy’s grandmother. She dies shortly before the story’s present, and Carter and Delores take… read analysis of Izzy

Nathanial Robinson

In “Big Islan,” Nathanial Robinson is a port worker who lives in Kingston, Jamaica, with his wife, Clarise. At first, Nathanial is happy with his life and doesn’t understand why Clarise is so determined… read analysis of Nathanial Robinson

Asanka

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Asanka is a young Sri Lankan boy who, in the story’s present, is being held at the Villawood Immigration Detention Center in Sydney. In flashbacks, the reader learns that… read analysis of Asanka

Loretta

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Loretta is a volunteer at the Villawood Immigration Detention Center in Sydney. She used to be a lawyer there and was passionate about her work, but she quit after… read analysis of Loretta

Mirabel

In “Aviation,” Mirabel is a young widow who is still grieving her husband Michael, who died a few years ago in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Mirabel struggles to work through the trauma of… read analysis of Mirabel

Antonio

In “Aviation,” Antonio is a caseworker assigned to find Sunni emergency foster care after Sunni’s maa is taken into custody following an altercation with a woman she felt was discriminating against her. Antonio values the… read analysis of Antonio

Sunni

In “Aviation,” Sunni is a young Sikh boy who requires emergency foster care after Sunni’s maa is taken into custody following an altercation with a woman at a store. Ever since the September 11 terrorist… read analysis of Sunni

The Unnamed Writer

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” the unnamed writer is the author currently writing Avery’s story. The book doesn’t explicitly state this, but the unnamed writer seems to be a stand-in for Maxine Beneba Clarke… read analysis of The Unnamed Writer

Avery

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” Avery is a young girl who gets stuck upside down on the monkey bars; she spends the entirety of the story panicking and trying to find a way to call… read analysis of Avery

Ava’s Mum

Ava’s mum is the mother of Ava, the narrator of the story “Shu Yi.” As a Black mother raising Black children in a predominantly white Australian suburb, Ava’s mum has worked hard to ingratiate… read analysis of Ava’s Mum

Carter

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Carter is Jeanie and Jackson’s child, Izzy and Delores’s grandchild, and Lucy’s older sibling. He presents as a young boy but is transgender and seems to identify… read analysis of Carter

Ahmed’s Mum

In “David,” Ahmed’s mum is the mother of Ahmed, the young Sudanese woman’s former partner. She’s also the grandmother of Nile, who is the woman and Ahmed’s child. Throughout the story, Ahmed’s… read analysis of Ahmed’s Mum

Nile

In “David,” Nile is the young Sudanese woman and Ahmed’s young son. At the beginning of the story, the young Sudanese woman has just bought a bicycle and is looking forward to taking rides… read analysis of Nile

David

In “David,” David is Asha’s son. In the story, Asha recalls how Masud, a man from Asha’s village in Sudan, made David a bike from metal scraps. David loved the bike and rode… read analysis of David

Masud

In “David,” Masud is a man from Asha’s village in Sudan. Through flashbacks, the reader learns that Masud made Asha’s young son, David, a bike from bike from scrap metal. David loved the… read analysis of Masud

Amina

In “David,” Amina is Asha’s friend in Sudan—they live in the same village. Amina is also Masud’s daughter. It’s Amina who informs Asha that enemy soldiers have invaded their village and that she… read analysis of Amina

Lloyd

In “Harlem Jones,” Lloyd is Harlem Jones’s brother. He’s in prison for beating his girlfriend, a fact that Harlem’s mum can’t bring herself to accept—so she lies and tells people he’s working with relatives… read analysis of Lloyd

Harlem’s Mum

In “Harlem Jones,” Harlem’s mum is a first-generation Trinidadian immigrant. She’s a fierce and protective woman. When the police come to the Jones residence to interrogate Harlem about threats he made against a job… read analysis of Harlem’s Mum

Toby

In “Harlem Jones,” Toby is Harlem Jones’s friend. They attend a rally over the officer-involved shooting of Mark Duggan and throw Molotov cocktails, at which point the peaceful protest turns violent. Toby and Harlem… read analysis of Toby

Mr. Lucas

In “Hope,” Mr. Lucas is Millie Lucas’s father. He lives with his family in a rural village and supports them with his banana crops. He plants extra crops in order to raise enough money… read analysis of Mr. Lucas

Mrs. Lucas

In “Hope,” Mrs. Lucas is Millie’s mother. She raises Millie and Millie’s siblings. After Millie gives birth to her son, Eddison William, Millie’s father offers to take the baby back to Cidar Valley and… read analysis of Mrs. Lucas

Eddison William

In “Hope,” Eddison William is Millie and Winston’s baby. Millie loves her baby immediately and doesn’t seem to consider how he will hamper her ability to make a better life for herself. Winston’s reaction… read analysis of Eddison William

Lucinda

In “Foreign Soil,” Lucinda is a domestic servant who has worked for Mukasa’s family for years. At first, she and Ange don’t interact much, as whenever Mukasa is there, he speaks to Lucinda in… read analysis of Lucinda

Ange’s Mum

In “Foreign Soil,” Ange’s mum disapproves of Ange being in a relationship with Mukasa, who is Black. She and Ange’s dad don’t hide their feelings on the matter, which creates tension in Ange… read analysis of Ange’s Mum

Ange’s Dad

In “Foreign Soil,” Ange’s dad disapproves of Ange being in a relationship with Mukasa, who is Black. he and Ange’s mother don’t hide their feelings on the matter, which creates tension in Ange… read analysis of Ange’s Dad

Mr. James

In “Shu Yi,” Mr. James is the principal of Ava’s elementary school. The students nickname him “Jailhouse James” because he’s so strict. Yet, when Ava’s mum goes to Mr. James to tell him about… read analysis of Mr. James

Mr. Wilkinson

In “Shu Yi,” Mr. Wilkinson is Ava and Shu Yi’s teacher. He wears band T-shirts instead of dress clothes and has long hair. He has considerably more progressive views than many of the people… read analysis of Mr. Wilkinson

The Kept Woman

In “Railton Road,” De Frankie tasks Solomon with helping him apprehend a Black woman that De Frankie’s people have been monitoring for the past year—they know she’s seeing a white man, something De Frankie feels… read analysis of The Kept Woman

Ella

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Ella is Delores’s neighbor in New Orleans. She’s a young Black girl whose family isn’t all that well off. Delores sends her home with food when it seems the… read analysis of Ella

Jeanie

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Jeanie is Jackson’s wife, Izzy’s daughter-in-law, and Carter and Lucy’s mother. She loves her son Carter and knows about Carter’s transgender identity. She doesn’t openly reject Carter’s… read analysis of Jeanie

Jackson

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Jackson is Izzy and Delores’s son, Jeanie’s husband, and Carter and Lucy’s father. When he was young, his father Denver left the family. Jackson was told that… read analysis of Jackson

Lucy

In “Gaps in the Hickory,” Lucy is Izzy and Delores’s grandchild, Jackson and Jeanie’s child, and Carter’s younger sister. Carter likes to try on Lucy’s clothing, a behavior that alerts Izzy to… read analysis of Lucy

Clarise

In “Big Islan,” Clarise is Nathanial’s wife. They live in Kingston, Jamaica, but Clarise wants more out of life. She’s been teaching Nathanial the alphabet with the hope that he’ll get a promotion or… read analysis of Clarise

Dinesh

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Dinesh was Asanka’s friend in Sri Lanka. They were both forced to serve as child soldiers with the Tamil Tigers. As punishment for running away, the Tigers locked… read analysis of Dinesh

The Stilt Fishermen

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” the story’s main character, Asanka, sees a group of stilt fishermen when he and the other asylum seekers are fleeing war-torn Sri Lanka on a fishing boat. The… read analysis of The Stilt Fishermen

Sam

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Sam is Loretta’s husband. Their marriage is in poor shape, though. Loretta wants children and Sam doesn’t. He urged her to quit her job as a social worker… read analysis of Sam

Chaminda

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Chaminda is a Sri Lankan man who befriends Asanka when they’re both passengers on a fishing boat full of people seeking asylum. During the journey, and after, when they’re… read analysis of Chaminda

Viv

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Viv is Loretta’s former colleague at the center. It’s Viv who calls Loretta to tell her that Chaminda died. The story also hints that Viv played an indirect… read analysis of Viv

Michael

In “Aviation,” Michael is Mirabel’s late husband; he died in the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Mirabel is still working through her grief in the aftermath of his death. Before he died, Michael and… read analysis of Michael

Sunni’s Maa

In “Aviation,” Sunni’s maa is taken into custody after supposedly threatening a woman at the store who she accused of staring at her. Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Sunni and his mother, who… read analysis of Sunni’s Maa

Bill and Susie

In “Aviation,” Bill and Susie are an elderly couple who live next door to Sunni and Sunni’s maa. They used to watch Sunni while his mom was at work, but after the September 11… read analysis of Bill and Susie

Maryam

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” Maryam is the unnamed writer’s young daughter. She lives with her mother and brother, Markie, in a cramped apartment next to the train station. She’s been having nightmares… read analysis of Maryam

Markie

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” Markie is the unnamed writer’s young son. He lives with his mother and younger sister, Maryam, in a cramped apartment next to the train station. Recently, a teacher… read analysis of Markie

Mustache

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Mustache is the name Asanka gives one of two boatmen in charge of a group of asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka aboard a fishing boat. He and his fellow… read analysis of Mustache

Ponytail

In “The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa,” Ponytail is the name Asanka gives one of two boatmen in charge of a group of asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka aboard a fishing boat. He and his fellow… read analysis of Ponytail

Liv

In “Railton Road,” Liv is a young Black woman staying at Railton Road, a squat house the Black Panthers have taken over. When De Frankie visits Railton Road to interview Solomon to be the Minister… read analysis of Liv

Minor Characters

Ahmed

In “David,” Ahmed is the young Sudanese woman’s former partner and the father of their child, Nile. She doesn’t think much of him now but is grateful that he at least taught her a lot about bicycles.

The Goods Driver

In “Hope,” the goods driver delivers sewing supplies to Willemina’s sewing shop when they arrive at the port. He visits the sewing shop and attempts to sexually assault Millie, but Willemina interferes just in time, attacking and disarming him.

Melinda Meyer

In “Shu Yi,” Melinda Meyer is one of Ava and Shu Yi’s classmates. She’s apparently adopted her family’s racist views of immigrants and, along with her other classmates, bullies Shu Yi. When

Avery’s Dad

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” Avery’s dad is struggling to support his young daughter Avery in the aftermath of Avery’s mother’s sudden death in a car accident. According to a neighbor, he can’t bring himself to look at Avery because she so resembles her mother.

Avery’s Mum

In “The Sukiyaki Book Club,” Avery’s mum has recently died in a car crash; Avery was a passenger in the car but survived. In the aftermath of her death, Avery’s father struggles to support Avery while coping with his own grief.

The Goods Driver

In “Hope,” The goods driver delivers sewing supplies to Willemina’s sewing shop when they arrive at the port. He visits the sewing shop and attempts to sexually assault Millie, but Willemina interferes just in time, attacking and disarming him.

Dean

In “Foreign Soil,” Dean is Ange’s coworker at the salon she worked at in Australia before following Mukasa to Uganda.

Penelope

In “Foreign Soil,” Penelope is Ange’s boss at the salon she worked at in Australia before following Mukasa to Uganda.

Big Ted

In “Aviation,” Big Ted is Mirabel and Michael’s dog. He lives with Mirabel and still seems to miss Michael.

Foreign Soil Characters

The Young Sudanese Woman

Asha (The Older Sudanese Woman)

Harlem Jones

Millie Lucas

Willemina

Winston Gray

Ange

Mukasa

Ava

Shu Yi

Solomon

Delores

De Frankie

Izzy

Nathanial Robinson

Asanka

Loretta

Mirabel

Antonio

Sunni

The Unnamed Writer

Avery

Ava’s Mum

Carter

Ahmed’s Mum

Nile

David

Masud

Amina

Lloyd

Harlem’s Mum

Toby

Mr. Lucas

Mrs. Lucas

Eddison William

Lucinda

Ange’s Mum

Ange’s Dad

Mr. James

Mr. Wilkinson

The Kept Woman

Ella

Jeanie

Jackson

Lucy

Clarise

Dinesh

The Stilt Fishermen

Sam

Chaminda

Viv

Michael

Sunni’s Maa

Bill and Susie

Maryam

Markie

Mustache

Ponytail

Liv