The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

Miss Amelia is the protagonist of the novella “The Ballad of the Sad Café.” In her small Southern town, Miss Amelia is fiercely independent; in an example of the Rejection of Gender Conformity, she runs a distillery business and prides herself on her physical strength. Her self-confidence is reflected in her appearance and behavior: “She laughed often, with a deep ringing laugh, and her whistling had a sassy, tuneful trickery. She was forever trying out her strength, lifting up heavy objects, or poking her tough biceps with her finger” (45). Miss Amelia begins the story as a tough woman who does not care about what people around her think. 

After she becomes besotted with her Cousin Lymon, Miss Amelia’s physical prowess becomes a foil to Cousin Lymon’s short stature, spinal curvature, and proclivity to illness. Miss Amelia becomes Cousin Lymon’s protector and suitor, catering to his every need and showering him with gifts and attention. 

Miss Amelia is a dynamic character who is irrevocably altered by her betrayal in love. When Cousin Lymon aids Marvin Macy in his fight against Miss Amelia, the betrayal crushes her. The embarrassment of losing the fight despite her long period of training and clear physical superiority is amplified when Cousin Lymon abandons Miss Amelia to join Marvin Macy.