Recitatif Characters

Roberta

Roberta meets Twyla at St. Bonaventure's; the two bond over the fact that they are not orphans. They are opposite races, but they do not think deeply about this while they are children. Roberta's mother is not well mentally, but all we know about her is that she is very religious. In subsequent encounters, Roberta appears in order as (1) fashionable and worldly-wise, albeit callous towards Twyla; (2) wealthy and married with four stepchildren, but more inclined to reminisce with Twyla; (3) anti-busing, which puts her at odds with Twyla; and (4) still elegant but ready to think deeply about how she and Twyla treated Maggie.

Twyla

Twyla is the narrator of the story; she is the opposite race of Roberta, but we do not know who is white and who is black. She meets Roberta at St. Bonaventure's; the two bond over the fact that they are not orphans. Twyla's mother is pretty and "dances," consequently neglecting her daughter. In subsequent encounters, Twyla appears in order as (1) a Howard Johnson's waitress and frustrated by Roberta's offhand treatment of her; (2) middle-class, married to a fireman with two children, and pleased to reminisce with Roberta until Roberta complicates her memories of Maggie; (3) pro-busing, which puts her at odds with Roberta; and (4) still a dutiful wife and mother. In the last scene, she and Roberta try to come to terms with who Maggie was, what they did to her, and what happened to her.

Maggie

Maggie is the deaf and mute cook at St. Bonaventure's. She has "legs like parentheses" and "rocked when she walked." The older girls at the home were always very cruel to her; Twyla remembered that she and Roberta simply looked on, never hurting Maggie. Later Roberta lies and said they did abuse Maggie, but she eventually relents and says that, while they did not abuse her, they both wanted to because she reminded them of their mothers. Maggie's race is also ambiguous, and Twyla and Roberta argue later in life over whether she was black.

Mary

Mary is the mother of Twyla, and we meet her on a Sunday in church. She is pretty, which Twyla is proud of, but Twyla is embarrassed by her mother's tight slacks and ratty fur jacket that she chooses to wear on her visit. Twyla says her mother "dances," which is why she neglects her daughter. She tells Roberta that her mother never did stop dancing.

Roberta's Mother

Her name not specifically given, Roberta's mother is, obviously, the mother of Roberta. We meet her on Sunday when she, her daughter, Twyla, and Twyla's mother are at church. She refuses to shake hands with Mary, Twyla's mother, just because they are of different races. She is very religious and wears a large cross. Roberta describes her as not being well, and tells Twyla that she never does get well; it is alluded to that she has some mental difficulties.

"Big Bozo" (Mrs. Itkin)

One of the women who leads St. Bonaventure's. Her real name is Mrs. Itkin, but the girls call her Big Bozo. Roberta reveals to Twyla that Big Bozo was fired, but we do not know why.

James Benson

Twyla's husband, whom she describes as "as comfortable as a house slipper." He is a fireman and comes from a large family, and he and Twyla have two children.