Miracle's Boys

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1996

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

Chapters 7-12

Chapters 13-18

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

Lafayette Bailey

The novel’s protagonist and narrator, Lafayette, is a 12-year-old boy living in a New York City borough. He is quiet, soft-spoken, and contemplative. Since the death of his mother, he has grown increasingly antisocial, keeping to himself in the family’s apartment instead of playing with friends. He has been deeply affected by the unexpected death of his mother and, because he found her unresponsive, blames himself for her death. Much of the novel’s conflict revolves around Lafayette’s acknowledgment that he is not to blame for her death and his acceptance that there was nothing he could have done to change the outcome. Lafayette’s grief drives the novel’s plot, and he often speaks to his mother, imagining her there. The loss of his mother and his sadness over her absence shapes Lafayette’s character greatly.

Lafayette has a fierce love for both of his older brothers. As both of his parents are deceased, he is dependent on Ty’ree, the oldest of the Bailey sons, to raise and care for him. Lafayette is an observant adolescent, aware that their lack of financial security is a source of stress for Ty’ree. In this way, Lafayette exhibits uncommon maturity. Charlie is also a source of conflict for Lafayette: As Charlie places blame on Lafayette for their mother’s death, Lafayette’s own sense of responsibility is exacerbated. He wavers between shrugging off Charlie’s accusations as mere meanness and becoming further mired in guilt. Lafayette is saddened and frustrated by the changes that have taken place in Charlie since his return from a juvenile detention facility. Lafayette longs for the kind-hearted person who Charlie was previously and is hurt when “Newcharlie” puts him down. Despite his frustrations with Charlie’s inability to avoid trouble, Lafayette loves him and is protective of Charlie. This proves a turning point in his relationship with Charlie, as Lafayette finally coaxes Charlie to talk with Lafayette in a meaningful way. As the novel ends, Lafayette comes to understand that Charlie’s meanness is a sense of guilt at being absent when their mother died. Lafayette works through much of his own burdening sense of guilt and takes steps toward reconnecting with both of his brothers.

Charlie Bailey

The middle brother, Charlie, has returned from a juvenile detention facility two months before the novel opens. Lafayette stresses how much his brother has changed from the person he was previously, thus dubbing him “Newcharlie,” a name their brother Ty’ree disapproves of. Charlie displays an attitude of toughness and defensiveness, focused on asserting his prowess in a pecking order among the other detained teens. He now uses his experience to impress his friend Aaron, the incarceration, as it were, giving him a kind of clout. His brothers are in constant worry that Charlie will be unable to avoid future trouble, which will impact the entire family. Indeed, even Ty’ree, though Charlie’s guardian, insists he can control Charlie’s behavior to a small extent, only. Charlie seems to want to defy authority merely for the sake of doing so.

Lafayette repeatedly insists that “Newcharlie” is mean and longs for the version of his brother who existed before their mother died. Indeed, Charlie speaks cruelly toward Lafayette, even accusing him of the death of their mother. Ty’ree argues that Charlie’s meanness is a front for his true feelings, which is largely that of frustration for not being present when their mother died and sadness over the loss. Indeed, as the novel closes, Charlie explains to Lafayette that his reason for robbing the store was to take the family to Puerto Rico—the home of their mother, which the boys once visited and deemed paradise. In this way, Charlie displays a caring, softer element, one that is filled with compassion for his brothers. He reveals, too, the grief and sadness he bears over the death of their mother and his frustration over the powerlessness to save her from death. As Charlie acknowledges these emotions, some of his hard exterior begins to fade and he shows kindness to Lafayette in the manner that Lafayette longs for. The ending suggests, then, that Charlie is in the process of changing for the better—returning to his authentic, kind self.

Ty'ree Bailey

The oldest of the Bailey brothers, Ty’ree has recently graduated from high school. Gifted with intelligence and academic abilities, Ty’ree plans to attend MIT prior to their mother’s death. Lafayette looks up to him, as Ty’ree is revered by neighbors and family friends as “Saint Ty’ree.” This moniker speaks to Ty’ree’s kindness and attention to others, as well as his perceived lack of flaws. Ty’ree is loving and kind to Lafayette, selflessly changing his plans from pursuing a college education to working a full-time job so that he can care and raise his brothers. He is determined to prevent Lafayette from being forced to live permanently with their great aunt, and thus becomes the boys’ legal guardian. Ty’ree displays his maturity and determination as he manages money carefully and cautions Charlie to stay out of trouble. Often, Ty’ree displays a light-hearted, upbeat attitude around Lafayette, as he intends to lighten the mood of sadness and grief that plagues the family.

Ty’ree’s being placed upon a pedestal—coupled with the stress he faces in caring for his brothers—becomes a burden to him at times. Lafayette hears him crying in his bedroom occasionally and notes that he sometimes flips through the pages of his school yearbook. In this way, Ty’ree not only copes with the grief over his mother’s death but also the stress of caring for his brothers financially. Further, he mourns the loss of the opportunities he looked forward to, primarily a college career, and his former, more carefree life as a teenager. Though he is known by the “Saint Ty’ree” moniker, Lafayette is quick to point out that Ty’ree is not perfect. At times, Ty’ree discourages Lafayette from talking about his feelings surrounding their mother’s death, not wanting to confront this grief himself. Though he does his best to rein in Charlie, he resigns himself to not being able to monitor Charlie completely, telling Lafayette he has decided he must “choose his battles” where Charlie is concerned. In these ways, Ty’ree is a round character who is impacted by the novel’s conflict.