Ophie's Ghosts

Clara is one of the novel’s primary characters. She is the first ghost whom Ophie befriends upon her arrival at Daffodil Manor. Ophie is charmed by Clara when they first meet because the ghost is dressed in fine clothes and treats Ophie with kindness. At this point, Ophie does not yet realize that Clara is a ghost and thinks of her as “the most beautiful woman” she has ever seen, admiring her “grand gown of deepest blue,” “[h]er reddish-brown hair,” and “her pale skin flawless and luminous” (54). However, Ophie is even more moved when Clara helps her perform Mrs. Caruthers’s tea service—an unfamiliar tradition that intimidates Ophie.

Later, when Ophie realizes that Clara is a ghost, she finds her hiding in the attic and befriends her, learning that Clara suffered an untimely and violent death. Clara was killed on the night of a party that the Carutherses hosted in honor of their Virginia cousins’ visit. Because Ophie appreciates Clara’s kindness and vibrancy, she cannot understand why someone would want to hurt her. She becomes determined to solve the mystery of her death, as Clara cannot recall what happened.

The narrative eventually reveals that Clara is a Black person who was passing as white. In conversation with Ophie, Clara refers to this aspect of her story as “a secret so big [she was] afraid to be friends with folks, to let them get close […] [b]ecause if they found out about that secret it could be bad for everyone” (171). Indeed, when Mrs. Caruthers discovered Clara’s secret, she murdered the young woman. Clara and Richard Caruthers were in love and had planned to get married, but when Mrs. Caruthers discovered their engagement plans, she killed Clara before Richard could go through with marrying a Black woman.

Ophie fights for justice for Clara by investigating her death and exposing the Carutherses’ crimes and secrets. Because of Ophie’s friendship and devotion, Clara’s body is uncovered, and she is able to find peace.

Mrs. Caruthers is the novel’s main antagonist. She is the elderly white woman who owns and operates Daffodil Manor, where Ophie and Mama work in Pittsburgh. When Mama first tells Ophie that she will be working as Mrs. Caruthers’s caretaker, she introduces the woman as “the lady of the house” and explains that Ophie must curtsy to her and respectfully obey her every command without objection (22). Mama asserts that Mrs. Caruthers is “good people, Ophie, with nice things” and insists that Ophie must “be careful not to take advantage of [her] kindness” (22). Because of this introduction, Ophie is shocked when she discovers how miserable and cruel Mrs. Caruthers really is. The woman is cruel to Ophie for no reason, acting disparaging and condescending to her because she is Black. She also refuses to learn Ophie’s name and chastises her whenever she makes the smallest misstep.

Mrs. Caruthers creates conflict in Ophie’s life because she emotionally abuses the girl, who is beholden to her for everything. She cannot question Mrs. Caruthers because she and her mother rely on the rich white family for the wages that allow them to survive. When they have to move out of Aunt Rose’s house after Rose’s death, Ophie and Mama then become reliant on Mrs. Caruthers for their housing, too, and Ophie must be even more attentive to Mrs. Caruthers’s needs so that she does not anger the old woman.

Mrs. Caruthers is the perpetrator of the novel’s central crime. At the end of the novel, Ophie learns that Mrs. Caruthers killed Clara, a servant in her home, because Clara was passing for white and planned to marry Richard, Mrs. Caruthers’s son. As soon as Ophie reveals the truth, Mrs. Caruthers dies.

Etta, or “Mama,” is Ophie’s mother and Robert Harrison’s widow. At the start of the novel, Mama changes after her husband is violently murdered by white men for voting. Ophie notices how distressed her mother is in the wake of this tragedy, but she does not know how to comfort Mama or take away her sorrow. Mama will not talk about Daddy’s death or mention their life in Georgia. She also refuses to listen to Ophie’s story about seeing Daddy’s ghost.

Mama’s austerity is a symptom of her grief and fear rather than a sign of her heartlessness. Ophie understands that her mother is suffering, but she also wishes that they could share a closer connection. Throughout the novel, she often frets over Mama’s mental health. Mama is sad, removed, and constantly anxious, and she worries about upsetting Daddy’s relatives and about maintaining her job at Daffodil Manor. She is also concerned about saving enough money so that she and Ophie can afford their own home. These social and economic concerns dominate her psyche and emotionally pull her away from Ophie.

Mama changes at the end of the novel when she realizes how strong, courageous, and determined her daughter is. She witnesses Ophie’s revelatory encounter with Clara and Mrs. Caruthers and finally recognizes the detective work that Ophie did to bring the old woman to justice for her crime. In turn, Mama makes an effort to acknowledge the truth of Ophie’s experiences with ghosts. She asks Ophie about her relationship with ghosts, lets her talk about Daddy’s death, and opens her heart to her daughter once more. Together, mother and daughter learn how to heal and grow in their relationship.

Aunt Rose is Ophie’s paternal aunt. When she and her mother move to Pittsburgh, they move into Rose’s house, and Ophie develops a relationship with her during this time. Rose, who can also see ghosts, helps Ophie learn about the spirits and better understand her own talents. She acts as Ophie’s archetypal guide throughout a large portion of the narrative, giving her advice as she communicates with various spirits. Without Rose’s guidance, Ophie would have little understanding of the ghosts she encounters at Daffodil Manor and throughout Pittsburgh. Rose teaches Ophie that all ghosts want something from living humans, and this realization compels Ophie to empathize with the spirits. Rose also teaches her that ghosts can be dangerous; the longer their wishes go unanswered, the more desperate they become. Ophie applies this latter lesson to her evolving relationship with Clara.

Aunt Rose’s death upturns Ophie’s world once more. After Rose passes away, Ophie and her mother are forced to move into Daffodil Manor, and Ophie loses her only guide. She must then navigate the challenges of her life without help. However, she often applies Rose’s wisdom to her life and to her ghost encounters.