Victory Barnes

Victory is the narrator and main character of the story “Waiting for Her” by Amina Henry.

Victory’s outer characterization reveals that she is “tall, skinny, secretive, like any 12 going on 13 black girl” (ll. 22-23). From the narrators’ account, we find out that she is the daughter of two drug addicts. Her father died, her mother is in jail, and she was raised by her grandmother: “My mother is a heroine addict who got sent to prison for selling rugs in school yards. My father was a heroine addict, too, but he's dead now.” (ll. 28-30). Also, the narrator has a best girlfriend named Tommy (ll. 52-55) and a boyfriend named Jay: “Jay is my boyfriend.” …

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Inner characterization

Victory’s inner characterization is generally conveyed in relation to the other characters and her background. Overall, Victory comes across as a vulnerable child, frustrated and hurt by the fact she grew up with a mother in jail, with self-esteem issues, and yearning to be loved by parents or a boyfriend. Confused about growing up and anxious about the future, her actions are sometimes morally questionable.

Psychological aspects

From the beginning of the story, we find out the girl dislikes her name because she feels pressured to achieve great things in life: “My name is Victory Barnes and I hate it. It seems like with a name like this I ought to be saving people's lives and winning wars, stuff like that, being some kind of martyr.” (ll. 3-5). By contrast, the narrator prefers the nickname “Mouse” (l. 14) which is symbolic of feeling small and vulnerable.

The narrator’s opinion about herself – “I feel kind of stupid sometimes…” (ll. 5-6) –  and some of her actions suggests that she has low self-esteem. For example, she does not dare to have ambitions about her life: “I shrug. ‘I don't know.’ Because how can I say that I don't want to be anything, except alive, and loved?” (ll. 59-60). This also expresses Victory’s existential anxieties probably caused by the fact that she is the daughter of drug addicts, born an addict herself, and her father even dying because of his addiction. Moreover, it expresses the narrator’s longing to feel loved.

Victory is on a journey of sexual discovery and of becoming an adult. This is indicated by the fact the she thinks about pregnancy, sex, and pleasure:

“I wonder what it would feel like to be pregnant. Not so alone, probably. Loved.” (ll. 37-38);

“I touch myself to pass the time, and it's comforting, better than sex.” (ll. 166-167);

“I wonder if this is what sex is supposed to feel like.” (ll. 228-22…