40 pages 1 hour read

Charles W. Chesnutt

The Marrow of Tradition

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1901

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Character Analysis

Olivia Carteret

The daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Merkell, Olivia has long resented the presence of her half-sister Janet in Wellington. When she becomes pregnant, the sight of Janet and Janet’s son is enough to send Olivia into shock and early labor. She gives birth and just barely survives, knowing that Dodie will be her only child. Despite her antipathy for her half-sister, she considers herself a “good woman” and wrestles with the question of her father’s will when she discovers it. She is only able to acknowledge Janet when it becomes a matter of Dodie’s life or death. 

Major Carteret

The Major is the last of the Carteret line. Although his family has lost its wealth, and Dr. Miller now lives in his ancestral home, he has—with his wife’s money—founded a successful newspaper, the Morning Chronicle. A mouthpiece for the democratic party, it seeks to stir up anti-black sentiment. Major Carteret believes that the black race is inferior, and must be not only subjugated but also expelled from America. However, considering himself a gentleman, he is unwilling to directly involve himself in racial violence or murder. He nonetheless succeeds in stirring up such sentiments, resulting in the massacre of the black populace. When his actions kill Dr.