Norman Character Analysis in James

Norman is a Black man whose complexion is light enough for him to pass as a white person. While he escaped his enslaver, his wife was left behind. Norman works for Daniel Decatur Emmett’s Virginia Minstrels in the hopes of raising enough money to buy his wife from her enslaver. As the only other Black minstrel, Norman sees through Jim’s “slave talk” and understands his frustration with being Emmett’s indentured servant. Norman is deeply conflicted about his ability to pass as a white person, even when he uses it to his advantage, as when he disguises himself as Jim’s enslaver. He tells Sammy that he still identifies as a Black man because he does not want to be white, associating whiteness with dehumanizing cruelty. By the end of the novel, Jim feels partially responsible for Norman’s death, having chosen to save Huck from drowning instead of Norman.

Norman Quotes in James

The James quotes below are all either spoken by Norman or refer to Norman. 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:

Speech, Performance, and Willful Ignorance Theme Icon

“We’re slaves. We’re not anywhere. Free person, he can be where he wants to be. The only place we can ever be is in slavery.” She looked at Norman. “Are you really a slave?” she asked.

“I am.”

“And you’re colored,” she said.

Norman nodded.

“Who can tell?”

“Nobody,” Norman said.

“Then why do you stay colored?”

“Because of my mother. Because of my wife. Because I don’t want to be white. I don’t want to be one of them.”

Related Characters: Sammy (speaker), Norman (speaker), Norman’s Wife, James (Jim), Henderson

Page Number and Citation: 219

Explanation and Analysis:

Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
Hoo Ya Hoo Ya!
Massa Corey bring me cone bread,
He makes da boat go.

I opened an eye and watched him awhile, then shut it again because I did not like the sight. Unfortunately, neither I nor the engine’s roar could block out the sound of his dreadful singing.

[…]

I imagined Norman upstairs, nervous, but perhaps physically comfortable, not hot and covered with soot, but no doubt more frightened than I was, more lost. I wondered if he was angry. I wondered if I had ever not been angry.

Related Characters: James (Jim) (speaker), Brock, Norman, Daniel Decatur Emmett

Page Number and Citation: 241

Explanation and Analysis:

“Why me, Jim?”

Maybe because I was tired of the slave voice. Maybe because I hated myself for having lost my friend. Maybe because the lie was burning through me. Because of all of those reasons, I said, “Because, Huck, and I hope you hear this without thinking I’m crazy or joking, you are my son.”

Huck shot out a short laugh. “What?”

“You are my son. And I am your father.”

“Why are you talking like that?”

“Are you referring to my diction or my content?”

“What? What’s content?”

Related Characters: James (Jim) (speaker), Huck (speaker), Norman, Huck’s Mom

Page Number and Citation: 253

Explanation and Analysis:

Norman Character Timeline in James

The timeline below shows where the character Norman appears in James. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

A man named Norman sits Jim down to put bootblack on his face. When they are alone, Norman tells... (full context)

Innocence vs. Disillusionment Theme Icon

Norman performs with the minstrels because he needs the money. He wants to return to Virginia... (full context)

...he can smell a Black person a half mile away. Jim leaves quickly, noting that Norman is also terrified. Emmett recognizes the danger of Jim being discovered, but he seems amused... (full context)

Jim lies down to sleep in a tent with Norman and a white man named Big Mike. During the night, he swats at an insect... (full context)

...will kill him if they discover he is Black, and they can’t afford another tenor. Norman seems to know that Jim will not be at the camp when they return. After... (full context)

Norman catches up with Jim in the woods, unable to stand the minstrels any longer. When... (full context)

...a few days, the men stop in a town called Bluebird. Jim pretends to be Norman’s slave, calling him “Massa Brown.” They see some other Black people in town, like an... (full context)

...gave him for saying hello to a white woman who greeted him first. He and Norman run into the town’s constable, who also sells eggs and serves as a teacher and... (full context)

Jim and Norman go to the general store for food. An enslaved Black woman at the store seems... (full context)

Norman and Jim find the sawmill. They see several slaves missing fingers working with saws and... (full context)

When they are alone, Luke asks Jim if Norman beat him, and assures him that Henderson will. Nevertheless, Luke considers Henderson a good master.... (full context)

...sleeping Luke. Sammy leads them toward town, and they make it to the clearing where Norman should be waiting. Not seeing his friend, Jim leaves Sammy behind and gets closer to... (full context)

...rushes back to where he left Sammy and tackles the man with her. It is Norman. He has bought food for them to share. Jim explains that he stole Sammy to... (full context)

Jim wakes, and the three fugitives plan to continue their journey toward the river. Norman remarks that crossing the river will land them in a slave state, but to Jim... (full context)

...Again, Jim imagines Lizzie and is enraged. They arrange wood for the raft and wait. Norman returns with rope, but in a panic—Henderson is coming. The enslaver appears before they can... (full context)

...beach. Jim carries the lifeless Sammy and sees that she has been shot and killed. Norman says Jim should have left her behind, but he disagrees—Sammy was already dead when he... (full context)

Jim and Norman move into the brush for warmth and sleep. Jim wakes to find Emmett’s notebook on... (full context)

Norman is very nervous on the boat. Jim tries to steer them toward the opposite shore.... (full context)

Another enslaved man (Brock) discovers Jim and Norman in the engine room and tries to get them to leave. Norman pretends again to... (full context)

Norman finds dry clothes in one of the trunks and heads to the upper decks to... (full context)

...to sing about being a slave on the boat while Jim rests. Jim thinks of Norman and his own ever-present anger. He wakes to find Brock eating some cornbread and asks... (full context)

Norman returns from the upper decks. Jim asks him what he found, provoking Brock’s scrutiny. He... (full context)

...seven times. Brock does not know what this means, but he continues shoveling. Jim tells Norman the man is crazy, and Brock confronts them, demanding to know why a slave would... (full context)

...the boat, trying to escape to Ohio before fighting broke out. Huck asks Jim about Norman, who was calling to him in the water and has probably drowned. He asks repeatedly... (full context)

...nervous. A catfish locks onto Jim’s arm, and he is pulled underwater. He thinks of Norman, Sammy, Lizzie, and Sadie, before hallucinating John Locke again. The philosopher says Jim is in... (full context)

James

Norman Character Analysis

Norman Quotes in James

Part 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

Part 2, Chapter 8 Quotes

Part 3, Chapter 1 Quotes

Norman Character Timeline in James