Copper Sun

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006

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Character Analysis

Amari

Although she doubts herself through most of the book, Amari gains strength through her awful experiences. Afi sees this strength in Amari already when she is on the “ship of death,” as does Teenie. However, through these incredibly trying times, Amari doubts herself. It is this vague, unreachable strength the other women see that gives Amari the hope to continue as well. She acknowledges this hope right after her capture. As the novel progresses, we see a swelling in Amari’s sense of injustice, to the point that she is almost ready to turn to physical violence against the Derbys. It is in the sense of injustice that we can see Amari’s strength; if her spirit had truly died, she would not have felt rage but would have instead given up, like Besa. She also assumes a leadership role during the escape and takes Tidbit as her own child. It is her fighting and protective instinct that pushes her to seek a better way for herself, and this also demonstrates her strong sense of self.

Polly

Polly starts out as Amari’s foil and then becomes nearly a mirror image of her. Her prejudice and her race are the greatest differences between her and Amari, but as Polly spends more time with Amari, she no longer sees Amari as “less” than her. In fact, in the time they are running away to Fort Mose, Amari takes more of a leadership role despite Polly being white and, supposedly, more “superior” culturally.

Polly also represents the non-privileged white people in America. She, too, has had a difficult life with poverty and bondage, and she represents a realistic portrayal of the American people.

Percival, Clay, and Isabelle Derby

The two men of Derbyshire Farms are the clearest representation of the evils of this awful period in American history. They demonstrate a frightening superiority complex over the African-Americans, which allows them to be able to manipulate, use, and abuse them without any remorse. Their arrogance spews out in their ridiculous assumptions about what the black people “want” from the white people and in the way they treat their slaves like animals. Against their evil, Isabelle is “surprisingly” compassionate and gentle with the black people, although she too, as a white woman, is oppressed by these men’s attitudes.

In the novel, Amari is shocked a few times by Clay’s perceived emotional connection with Amari or, at least, by the care he thinks he feels for her. It doesn’t make sense to Amari that Clay can abuse her one moment and then say he “misses” her the next, nor should it make sense. This is because the “care” that Clay perceives he feels isn’t, in fact, “normal” and is based on something inhumane.

Teenie

Teenie becomes another mother-figure for Amari when Amari arrives at Derbyshire Farms. She is realistic, like Afi, and takes Amari “under her wing” to acquaint her with life on the plantation. Her relationship with Tidbit mirrors the relationship that Amari had with her parents back in Africa. The most important lesson that Teenie teaches Amari is that as “long as you remember…ain’t nothin’ ever gone” (109). This is where Amari draws her strength and worth.

Teenie shows no racial prejudice towards whites, either. While she acknowledges the evil that Clay and Percival Derby possess, she is sympathetic to Isabelle Derby. When Polly points out to Teenie that not all whites “are rich landowners,” Teenie recognizes that struggle is universal: “Everybody’s got hard times at one time or t’other” (101).