Trust, Solidarity, and Betrayal
“Gorilla, My Love,” which follows a young and independent-minded girl named Hazel, is a story about a child’s sense of betrayal at the duplicity of adults. As Hazel grows up, her parents and extended family members encourage her to speak her mind and be true to her word. Trust and honesty are thus so integral to Hazel’s upbringing that she becomes furious when she encounters betrayals from other adults and disconsolate when she perceives…
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Family
“Gorilla, My Love” examines the benefits and limitations of Hazel’s family ties. Mama, Daddy, Granddaddy, Hunca Bubba, Aunt Daisy, and Hazel all have strong opinions and outspoken personalities, making them a collective force to be reckoned with. However, the story highlights how family can be both a help and a hindrance. Although Hazel’s intense devotion to her family values provides her with support and moral guidance, her strict adherence…
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Childhood and Adulthood
Most of the narrative tension in “Gorilla, My Love” arises from conflicts between children and adults. Hazel is skeptical—if not outright disdainful—of most adults and feels as though children must stick together to endure adults’ dishonesty and patronization. Bambara uses Hazel’s confrontations with various adults throughout the story to emphasize that although the young girl’s perspective is flawed by inexperience, she has a keen sense of justice and her indignation at being mistreated by adults…
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Names and Identity
In “Gorilla, My Love,” Bambara investigates the link between one’s name and their identity. Hazel is referred to by five alternate names throughout the story. Each time this occurs, she bristles and makes a point of noting that her “real” name isn’t actually “Scout” or “Peaches” or whatever name an adult has chosen for her, implying that she prefers to be called Hazel, and that her name is a key part of her identity. Her…
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