Foreign Soil

by

Maxine Beneba Clarke

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Delores Character Analysis

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 lived with his wife Izzy, and their son, Jackson. When Izzy found out that Delores was transgender, she encouraged her to leave their rural town and move somewhere that would be more accepting. Izzy accepted Delores from the start and kept her gender identity a secret, telling others—including Jackson—that Denver ran away with another woman. Delores and Izzy remained good friends over the years, and Izzy frequently visited Delores in New Orleans. In the story’s present, Delores is struggling to cope with Izzy’s recent death. Besides this, she’s struggling to know what to do about her young grandchild, Carter, who is also transgender—and whose father Jackson is bigoted, possibly violent, and could harm Carter if he ever found out about Carter’s gender identity. Delores spends much of her time with her young neighbor, Ella, who repeatedly tries to convince Delores to go and rescue Carter. But things are more complicated for Delores than Ella realizes: she only became herself when she moved to New Orleans, and returning to Mississippi would force her to return to a past she no longer relates to. At the same time, though, she knows from Izzy how dangerous and unhinged Jackson has become, and she worries what will happen to Carter if she doesn’t help him. Delores also feels responsible for Jackson’s present state: Jackson came to visit “Denver” unexpectedly a few years back, and when he realized the truth about his father, he left without a word. It was after seeing Delores that Jackson joined the KKK and began to act erratically and hatefully. Delores never told anyone—not even Izzy—about the encounter. Ultimately, Delores is able to help Carter and protect herself against her unwanted past, as Jeanie drives Carter to New Orleans to live with Delores.

Delores Quotes in Foreign Soil

The Foreign Soil quotes below are all either spoken by Delores or refer to Delores. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Place Theme Icon
).
Gaps in the Hickory Quotes

Denver ain’t her no more. He jus the man her best friend Izzy married then split from. He jus somebody she used-a know, long time ago. The real her was born when she came to Orleans. Real her is Delores.

Related Characters: Asha (The Older Sudanese Woman), Millie Lucas, Delores, Izzy, Jackson
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

Delores put a hand on Ella’s shoulder, pull her back into the living room. “Quiet, chile. You gon scare him away! That pickney don’t know us from Adam.” But even as Delores say it, she know it ain’t true. Minute that chile an her lay eyes on each other, they gon know they kin. It’s gon feel like they finally home.

Related Characters: Delores (speaker), Carter, Ella, Jeanie
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis:
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Delores Quotes in Foreign Soil

The Foreign Soil quotes below are all either spoken by Delores or refer to Delores. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Place Theme Icon
).
Gaps in the Hickory Quotes

Denver ain’t her no more. He jus the man her best friend Izzy married then split from. He jus somebody she used-a know, long time ago. The real her was born when she came to Orleans. Real her is Delores.

Related Characters: Asha (The Older Sudanese Woman), Millie Lucas, Delores, Izzy, Jackson
Page Number: 136
Explanation and Analysis:

Delores put a hand on Ella’s shoulder, pull her back into the living room. “Quiet, chile. You gon scare him away! That pickney don’t know us from Adam.” But even as Delores say it, she know it ain’t true. Minute that chile an her lay eyes on each other, they gon know they kin. It’s gon feel like they finally home.

Related Characters: Delores (speaker), Carter, Ella, Jeanie
Page Number: 152
Explanation and Analysis: