Buddy

Outer characterization

Buddy is the main character and the narrator of the story “Sweet Potato Pie” written by Eugenia Collier. He is an African-American, college-educated man, who works as a professor (p. 7, l. 7). In the story, he also speaks at a conference (p. 8, ll. 3-4). Buddy is married to a woman named Jess, with whom he has children (p. 8, ll. 9-10). The youngest child of poor sharecroppers, Buddy was raised mostly by his older siblings, Charley and Lil.

Buddy’s outer characterization is brief. As a child, he was “a skinny little thing (…), with large, solemn eyes.” (p. 2, ll. 9-10). The description of his physical appearance as an adult suggests that he is middle-aged at the time when he tells his story: “a thickening waistline and thinning hair” (p. 7, l. 7).

Inner characterisation

Buddy’s inner characterisation is constructed through his language, his thoughts, and his actions. The story partially deals with what the narrator experienced as a child and young adult, conveying specific character traits for those periods in his life.

Buddy feels grateful and affectionate towards his family. He recalls sensing his parents’ presence “onl...