Gorilla, My Love

by

Toni Cade Bambara

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Gorilla, My Love makes teaching easy.

Daddy Character Analysis

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. In her mind, Daddy is “yellin to Granddaddy to get him a ladder cause Big Brood actin the fool, his mother side of the family showin up.” Later, he decides not to hit Hazel with his belt to punish her for setting fire to the concession stand because she argues that she was acting based on his values and responding appropriately to someone who did not keep his word—“Cause if you say Gorilla, My Love, you suppose to mean it,” Hazel explains. Later, she feels empowered to confront Hunca Bubba for breaking his promise to her because she remembers that both her parents vowed to support her if anyone gave her a hard time for speaking her mind.

Daddy Quotes in Gorilla, My Love

The Gorilla, My Love quotes below are all either spoken by Daddy or refer to Daddy. 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:
Trust, Solidarity, and Betrayal Theme Icon
).
Gorilla, My Love Quotes

Cause I realize that just about anybody in my family is better than this god they always talkin about. My daddy wouldn’t stand for nobody treatin any of us that way. My mama specially.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Hunca Bubba / Jefferson Winston Vale, Granddaddy, Mama, Daddy, Aunt Daisy
Related Symbols: King of Kings
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:

My Daddy had the suspect it was me cause Big Brood got a big mouth. But I explained right quick what the whole thing was about and I figured it was even-steven. Cause if you say Gorilla, My Love, you suppose to mean it. […] I mean even gangsters in the movies say My word is my bond. So don’t nobody get away with nothin far as I’m concerned.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Big Brood, Daddy
Related Symbols: King of Kings
Page Number: 17-18
Explanation and Analysis:

So Daddy put his belt back on. Cause that’s the way I was raised. Like my Mama say in one of them situations when I won’t back down, Okay Badbird, you right. Your point is well-taken. Not that Badbird my name, just what she say when she tired arguin and know I’m right.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Gorilla, My Love LitChart as a printable PDF.
Gorilla, My Love PDF

Daddy Quotes in Gorilla, My Love

The Gorilla, My Love quotes below are all either spoken by Daddy or refer to Daddy. 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:
Trust, Solidarity, and Betrayal Theme Icon
).
Gorilla, My Love Quotes

Cause I realize that just about anybody in my family is better than this god they always talkin about. My daddy wouldn’t stand for nobody treatin any of us that way. My mama specially.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Hunca Bubba / Jefferson Winston Vale, Granddaddy, Mama, Daddy, Aunt Daisy
Related Symbols: King of Kings
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:

My Daddy had the suspect it was me cause Big Brood got a big mouth. But I explained right quick what the whole thing was about and I figured it was even-steven. Cause if you say Gorilla, My Love, you suppose to mean it. […] I mean even gangsters in the movies say My word is my bond. So don’t nobody get away with nothin far as I’m concerned.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Big Brood, Daddy
Related Symbols: King of Kings
Page Number: 17-18
Explanation and Analysis:

So Daddy put his belt back on. Cause that’s the way I was raised. Like my Mama say in one of them situations when I won’t back down, Okay Badbird, you right. Your point is well-taken. Not that Badbird my name, just what she say when she tired arguin and know I’m right.

Related Characters: Hazel (speaker), Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis: