Character Analysis of T. J. Avery: Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry
T.J Avery
General Behavior * Dishonest – Cheats twice. First time, he stole test answers from Logan’s house when their backs were turned. Does not own up to his cheating and makes Stacey take the blame. Second time, he cheats, blames it on Mama and then runs off to the Wallaces. * Liar – Denies complaining to Wallaces about Mama, “I can’t even remember saying nothing’ about it”. Even pushes the blame to Little Willie. * Scheming/Cunning – Above points. “There’s a system to getting out of work”. * Pushes blame to others – Blames Mama for catching him cheating on purpose. Pushes blame to Little Willie for ratting on Mama. Blames Claude for going to Wallace store and gets him in trouble when it was T.J who went. * Bully – Bullies Claude (see above). Insults Stacey by calling him a “fat preacher” with his new coat. Obviously trying to make him feel insecure and spur him to give the coat to T.J. * Sore Loser/Jealous – Does not like what he cannot have. Says “I sure wouldn’t want no whistle some ole white boy been blowing on” when Stacey receives a flute from Jeremy. Also, “ y’all Logans think y’all so doggone much with y’all new coats and books and shiny new Packards”. * Insincere/ Fake friend/ Disloyal – refers to Christopher John as “my little buddy” and “you still my pal ain’t you, Little Man?” When the Logans accuse him of telling on Mama. However, after seeing their coldness, he admits that he may have said something about Mama. Inconsistent and insincere! * Arrogant – Thinks he is superior to Logans. “ What I look like, having a bunch of little kids round all the time and me here fourteen, near grown”. (Link to fake friend as he immediately raged at them after being rejected). Also, during his Revival return with the Simmses, he “proudly tugged at the suit coat” and was “rolling the Simmses’ name slowly off his tongue” to show off that he was much superior than the other Blacks. * Rebellious – “Fannie tried to whip the boy,
General Behavior * Dishonest – Cheats twice. First time, he stole test answers from Logan’s house when their backs were turned. Does not own up to his cheating and makes Stacey take the blame. Second time, he cheats, blames it on Mama and then runs off to the Wallaces. * Liar – Denies complaining to Wallaces about Mama, “I can’t even remember saying nothing’ about it”. Even pushes the blame to Little Willie. * Scheming/Cunning – Above points. “There’s a system to getting out of work”. * Pushes blame to others – Blames Mama for catching him cheating on purpose. Pushes blame to Little Willie for ratting on Mama. Blames Claude for going to Wallace store and gets him in trouble when it was T.J who went. * Bully – Bullies Claude (see above). Insults Stacey by calling him a “fat preacher” with his new coat. Obviously trying to make him feel insecure and spur him to give the coat to T.J. * Sore Loser/Jealous – Does not like what he cannot have. Says “I sure wouldn’t want no whistle some ole white boy been blowing on” when Stacey receives a flute from Jeremy. Also, “ y’all Logans think y’all so doggone much with y’all new coats and books and shiny new Packards”. * Insincere/ Fake friend/ Disloyal – refers to Christopher John as “my little buddy” and “you still my pal ain’t you, Little Man?” When the Logans accuse him of telling on Mama. However, after seeing their coldness, he admits that he may have said something about Mama. Inconsistent and insincere! * Arrogant – Thinks he is superior to Logans. “ What I look like, having a bunch of little kids round all the time and me here fourteen, near grown”. (Link to fake friend as he immediately raged at them after being rejected). Also, during his Revival return with the Simmses, he “proudly tugged at the suit coat” and was “rolling the Simmses’ name slowly off his tongue” to show off that he was much superior than the other Blacks. * Rebellious – “Fannie tried to whip the boy,