How Much of These Hills Is Gold Character Analysis

Lucy

Lucy is the firstborn child of Ma and Ba and Sam’s older sister. From a young age, Lucy identifies more strongly with her mother than her father and she works hard to emulate Ma’s… read analysis of Lucy

Sam

Sam is the second child of Ba and Ma and Lucy’s younger sibling. Born a girl, Sam has a streak of wildness (and a disinclination for the more girlish chores and responsibilities, like sewing)… read analysis of Sam

Ma

Ma is Ba’s wife and the mother of Sam and Lucy. She grew up in China, where her family made a living fishing, but she left to seek her fortune in the California… read analysis of Ma

Ba

Ba is Ma’s husband and Lucy’s and Sam’s father. The child of Chinese immigrants, Ba was orphaned as an infant and raised by Billy and others in a band of Indigenous and… read analysis of Ba

Teacher Leigh

Teacher Leigh was born to a wealthy family back east. Coddled and spoiled in part for his intelligence, he excelled at school under the tutelage of Miss Lila and became a teacher. Teacher Leigh’s strong… read analysis of Teacher Leigh

Anna

Anna is the daughter of a wealthy White prospector who lives a coddled existence in Sweetwater. Anna’s father provides her with every comfort and luxury, leading her to believe that she can claim, possess, and… read analysis of Anna

Charles

Charles is the son of a wealthy family who lives in Sweetwater and spends his days whittling away his fortune by gambling. He meets Lucy not long after she arrives in Sweetwater and immediately feels… read analysis of Charles

Bald Man

The bald man is a wealthy White prospector who extracts gold from California using exploited manpower and environmentally devastating industrial processes. In addition to taking land and resources from Indigenous people, Sam implies that the… read analysis of Bald Man

Billy

Billy is the Indigenous man who finds Ba as an infant after Ba’s parents die. Billy takes Ba in and raises him, teaching him to live off the land and imbuing him with deep love… read analysis of Billy

Gold Man

The gold man is a White prospector who struck it very rich during the California Gold Rush and who wants to expand his fortune by building a railroad connecting the California frontier with the states… read analysis of Gold Man

Mountain Man

The mountain man is a trapper whom Sam and Lucy meet while they’re traveling around after Ba’s death. He suggests that Lucy head to Sweetwater if she wants civilization and offers to take Sam… read analysis of Mountain Man

Minor Characters

Elske

Elske owns the upscale San Francisco brothel where Sam is an occasional client and where Lucy works to pay off Sam’s debt to the bald man. Elske has fine taste in all things and prizes knowledge above all else.

Anna’s Father

Anna’s father is a White prospector who has grown rich because of his business. He spoils his daughter Anna and tolerates Anna’s friendship with Lucy even though he doesn’t approve of it.

Miss Lila

Miss Lila is Teacher Leigh’s friend and former teacher from back east. When she comes to California Territory to visit Teacher Leigh, he takes great pleasure in showing off Lucy’s intelligence to her.

How Much of These Hills Is Gold Characters