Recitatif Characters

Twyla is the narrator of the story, and along with Roberta is its main character. She is eight years old when the story opens, and has been brought to live at St. Bonny’s because her… read analysis of Twyla

The other main character of the story. When Roberta arrives at St. Bonny’s, she is assigned to be Twyla’s roommate. The two girls are both eight years old, and one is white and one… read analysis of Roberta

Introduced as a minor character, Maggie comes to take on a central—if mysterious—significance within the story. The children at St. Bonny’s refer to her as the “kitchen woman,” and Twyla’s initial description of her… read analysis of Maggie

Although her official title is never revealed, Big Bozo—whose real name is Mrs. Itkin—is in charge of the shelter, and assigns Twyla and Roberta to be roommates. When Twyla mentions her mother would object to… read analysis of Big Bozo

Unlike Mary, Roberta’s mother is never named, and the details of her character remains vague. She is described as “sick,” though it is unclear what she suffers from and possible that it is a… read analysis of Roberta’s Mother

Roberta and Twyla call the teenage girls at St. Bonny’s the gar girls, based on Roberta’s misunderstanding of the word “gargoyles.” The gar girls wear makeup, dance to the radio, and smoke cigarettes in the… read analysis of The Gar Girls (The Older Girls)

Joseph is the son of James and Twyla. We learn little about him, other than that he doesn’t seem to mind being bused to another school, prefers to watch TV rather than study at… read analysis of Joseph Benson

Although Jimi Hendrix does not make an active appearance in the story, Roberta and her two male friends are supposedly on their way to see him when they stop by at Howard Johnson’s. Hendrix was… read analysis of Jimi Hendrix