Mrs. Wiggins

Hubert Wiggins is the second main character of the novel. He is three years older than Maggie, the son of a Baptist preacher and a woman who styles hair. Hubert feels he was doted on as a child and wonders if his mother’s attention was excessive. Hubert realized as a child that he was sexually attracted to boys, but in his vocabulary, this means he is “funny;” he knows that his community will not tolerate same-sex relationships. Being able to be himself with Maggie and not keep secrets from her is a relief, and he often praises Maggie for being a good partner. He appreciates her hard work and common sense. It is only later, after more than 20 years of marriage, that Hubert finally acknowledges how painful it is to pretend to the world, and especially his parents, that he is someone he’s not. He describes repressing his sexuality as a splinter that he carries beneath the skin, and he seeks the relief of pulling the splinter out.

Hubert is a cautious person, likely because he is aware he might be met with violence and ill-treatment if his sexuality were publicly known. It’s important to him, for this reason, to keep up an appearance of being respectable and law-abiding. Hubert is also conditioned to be a provider; he feels it is important that he can financially support his household, and he worries about the choices he’ll have to make if they can no longer afford to stay in their home. In contrast to Orville, who is the stereotype of the unkind, abusive spouse who inflicts physical and emotional harm as well as financial extortion, Hubert shows consideration for Maggie’s feelings and never once displays aggression toward her.

Hubert has a strong nurturing tendency, shown in his early desire to have a child to love. To him, this doesn’t need to be a biological child; he will consider a foster or adoptive child as his own. He behaves as an affectionate, protective father to Claude and is open about the emotions associated with fatherhood; he is as distressed as Maggie is when he understands that Daisy is hurting his son, and he expresses his joy, approval, and support when Claude meets and marries Maybelle. Hubert also remains a loving son to his parents, which is one reason he decides he wants to come out to them at last; he wants them to acknowledge and love him for who he is. He also longs for the freedom to live with the man he loves, Daryl, but he experiences a change of heart at the end of the book when he fears that Claude might reject him under those circumstances. Hubert’s grief over losing Claude is deep and genuine, reflecting the depth of his love for his son.

Claude is an important secondary character in the novel and, as Maggie and Hubert’s son, he provides much of the motivation for Maggie’s actions. As a child, he is honest and forthright, if mischievous, and he retains this sense of directness into adulthood. Claude relishes the love of his parents, feels secure in their love for him, and knows he can always turn to his parents in times of hardship. He remains attached to and affectionate toward his parents, enjoying their company, and glad when he has their approval. When he is in love with Daisy and sees his parents’ objections to her, Claude demonstrates the stubborn side of his nature; he believes he is being loyal in committing to Daisy, but he is also afraid of her violent behaviors and stays with her partially out of fear. His relief when he believes she has left him makes Claude realize his feelings weren’t love.

Being with Daisy makes him independent of his parents and shows his longing to have his own family. Once he is free of that relationship, Claude feels able to enter an affectionate relationship with a woman with whom he has more in common, showing his evolving maturity. He also demonstrates that he is maturing by keeping a steady job at the sawmill and asking his mother not to try to fix his problems for him but rather let him handle his problems himself. Claude’s death when he was happily married and growing into a responsible, generous, affectionate young man is a tragedy for his family and friends. He is the linchpin of Maggie’s world.

Jessie Tucker is a secondary character who provides a foil and contrast to Maggie, sometimes playing the role of mentor and sometimes the role of antagonist. She and Maggie share many of the same circumstances, both married with sons near in age, but Jessie experiences different challenges than Maggie does. Jessie’s son Earl has intellectual disabilities which means he requires continual care, but Jessie loves him without question and defends him from his father when necessary. Jessie’s occasional envy for Maggie causes Maggie to reflect on her own experiences, particularly the contrast between the appearance she presents to the world and the conflicts in her own heart.

Jessie’s husband, Orville, has lovers, like Hubert. But unlike Hubert, Orville uses this as an opportunity to financially and emotionally manipulate Jessie, as well as engage in occasional physical violence. Rather than considerate, Orville is cruel to Jessie, to the point where she imagines that if he had one of his spells of needing to be bedridden—or, beyond that, died—she would see this as a relief rather than a sadness.

Jessie enjoys sharing gossip, and Maggie participates, seeing this as a reminder of the value of appearances. Jessie proves a loyal and supportive friend to Maggie, listening to her troubles and sharing her own. She is there to provide emotional support until the very end of Claude’s death. After Orville dies, Jessie seems to relax and prosper; she can spend her money on herself and her son, and she is optimistic about her future, expressing the hope she will find a better husband soon. Jessie’s new freedom and hopefulness provide an ironic contrast to Maggie’s spiraling circumstances.