Hazel
The protagonist of the story, Hazel is a young girl who values family loyalty and integrity. She insists on being referred to by her “real” name rather than nicknames like “Precious” and “Peaches” because she…
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Hunca Bubba / Jefferson Winston Vale
Hazel’s uncle. Hunca Bubba is planning on getting married soon and can’t stop talking about his future wife. He is also planning on changing his name from Hunca Bubba, a nickname Hazel gave him…
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Granddaddy
Hazel’s grandfather. He calls her “Scout” while he’s driving to remind her that she is supposed to help him with directions. He means well but is out of touch; in Hazel’s fantasy about what…
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Baby Jason
Hazel’s youngest brother. According to Granddaddy, Baby Jason is so blindly loyal to Hazel that he would follow her “into the fiery furnace” if she beckoned, highlighting the theme of family solidarity that runs…
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Big Brood
Hazel’s older brother. He accompanies her and Baby Jason to the theater to see Gorilla, My Love, although he is apprehensive about the “my love” part of the title. He likes talking about…
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Get the entire Gorilla, My Love LitChart as a printable PDF.
Thunderbuns
The “colored matron” who the movie theater sends to control particularly rowdy audiences because “she do not play. She do not smile.” She is “big and bad” and carries a flashlight “like she gonna use…
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Mama
Hazel’s mother. She “specially” won’t stand for anyone mistreating her children, according to Hazel, who imagines her hitting Romans with her pocketbook while watching King of Kings. Mama uses her power to “hypnotize” her…
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Daddy
Hazel’s father. Daddy is strict but fair, and he encourages Hazel to behave with integrity. Hazel introduces him by imagining what he would do if Big Brood was up on the cross like Jesus…
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The Manager
The man in charge of the Washington movie theater is sleazy and lies to the children about the movie that is playing, advertising something called Gorilla, My Love while actually playing a religious movie called…
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Aunt Jo
Hazel’s aunt, who is “the hardest head in the family” and worse than Aunt Daisy. Aunt Jo calls Hazel “Miss Muffin” when she concedes to her during an argument and wants to get…
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Minor Characters
Aunt Daisy
Hazel’ aunt. While watching King of Kings and thinking about what her family would do if Big Brood was up on the cross, Hazel imagines her aunt helping Mama hit Romans “with they pocketbooks,” emphasizing the fierce loyalty that runs throughout their family.
