22 pages • 44-minute read
V. S. NaipaulA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
The unnamed boy lives an unremarkable life with his single mother, largely kept in line by her strict rules. Because he lacks a father figure, his daily existence threatens to slip into mundane routine. He possesses a youthful curiosity that makes him uniquely receptive to observing the natural world, particularly when guided by an unconventional new friend.
B. Wordsworth is an eccentric poet who travels around attempting to sell his work. He claims the 'B' stands for 'Black' and that he shares a spiritual kinship with nature. He lives alone in a house with a wildly overgrown garden, separating himself from the neat conformity of his neighborhood to fully appreciate the environment.
Surrogate Father Figure to The Boy
Viewed with Suspicion by The Boy's Mother
Widower of Wordsworth's Wife
Brother of White Wordsworth
The boy's mother is a single parent managing the heavy workload of raising her son alone on Miguel Street. She handles her difficult situation by focusing on practical matters, ensuring her son's clothes stay clean, and cooking for the poor in her neighborhood. Her responsibilities leave her highly protective of her household and dismissive of poetic ideals.
She is the deceased wife of the poet. According to the stories shared with the boy, she harbored a deep love for plants and flowers. Her early passing left a profound emotional void in her husband's life.
Wife of B. Wordsworth
He is the absent partner of the boy's mother. His lack of presence in the household forces the mother to raise their son entirely on her own, directly shaping the family's strict and practical dynamic.
Father of The Boy
Former Partner of The Boy's Mother
White Wordsworth is the brother of the poet B. Wordsworth. He exists in the narrative primarily as a familial reference point when the poet explains the meaning behind the initial in his own name.
Brother of B. Wordsworth