Otha is Raymond’s brother; like Raymond, he was born into slavery. When Otha was a child, his mother, Viola, fled with both him and his brother, Lambert. However, her first escape attempt was unsuccessful, and she and the boys were re-enslaved. By the time she made her second attempt, she left Otha and Lambert behind because at that point she had two younger children and couldn’t carry them all. For a long time, Otha resents his mother for this, but after he reunites with Viola, Raymond, and the rest of his family, he forgives her. Otha’s wife, Lydia, remains enslaved in Alabama, along with his two children. Otha is very close with Bland, and when Bland is killed trying to liberate Lydia and the children, Otha is devastated. However, he emphasizes to Hiram that no matter how many times one loses loved ones, it is vitally important to always remain open to love.
Otha White Quotes in The Water Dancer
The The Water Dancer quotes below are all either spoken by Otha White or refer to Otha White. 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:
).
Chapter 21
Quotes
“Micajah Bland was not my blood, but he was so much my brother that he would die for me and mine. I am not young to any of this. I lived divided from my blood, and made brothers wherever I lived, and grieved every time we were divided—and we were always divided. But I have never, for an instant, shied away from connection, from love.”
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Otha White Quotes in The Water Dancer
The The Water Dancer quotes below are all either spoken by Otha White or refer to Otha White. 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:
).
Chapter 21
Quotes
“Micajah Bland was not my blood, but he was so much my brother that he would die for me and mine. I am not young to any of this. I lived divided from my blood, and made brothers wherever I lived, and grieved every time we were divided—and we were always divided. But I have never, for an instant, shied away from connection, from love.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
