An American Marriage

How does the novel define home? Given the novel’s interest in revisiting the Ulysses/Penelope narrative, discuss the importance of Roy’s comment, “Sometimes when you like where you end up, you don’t care how you got there” (31). 

Discuss why getting an apology from Celestial is so critical to Roy’s recovery from his imprisonment. 

We learn little about the victim of the rape. We know only that she is Olive’s age and has a hurt shoulder. Why is the victim left so vague? We do not know her race or her back story. We are never given a compelling alternative reading of the crime. Why not resolve those issues? Is Roy an innocent man?

An American Marriage is a social problem novel. How does the narrative argue for a reform to the criminal justice system and its treatment of African American men?

Discuss the importance of the section titles: “Bridge Music,” a composition term that marks when a sing transitions to a new melody; “Prepare a Table for Me,” an allusion to Psalm 23; and “Generosity,” which foreshadows a remark made by Roy about the unpredictable blessings of women.  

Discuss what is gained—or lost—by the novel’s shifting of narrative perspectives. How does the narrator determine the text’s thematic implications? How is the letter writing section different? How would the novel have been different with a conventional narrative structure?

Why is Davina Hardrick not given her narrative section? Why is the character most responsible for Roy’s healing not given a voice?

Prepare a character analysis of either Roy or Celestial. Approach each character through the different perspectives we are given to assess which, if either, is admirable. Is the narrative designed to encourage or frustrate any simplification of these two characters?