42 pages • 1 hour read
Cassie Dandridge SelleckThe Pecan Man
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Ora Lee Beckworth
The novel’s narrator, Ora, is a widow from a respected background. Her late husband was a prominent and respected businessman, so Ora was expected to focus on the betterment of others through charity work. She is aware that there was social pressure to uphold her husband’s image and to help advance his career by being a supportive wife and good hostess. At the time, Ora accepted this role, but throughout the course of the novel, she comes to recognize its frivolousness.
As a widower, Ora is carefree. She lives a comfortable life thanks to her husband’s success, which was made possible by her support. She is also confident and unconcerned with how others view or judge her, as evidenced by her interactions with her neighbor, Dovey Kincaid. Unlike some of the people of her race and class, Ora is accepting of others, including Eddie Mims, who is both a Black man and unhoused. While most people in her Southern town hold the traditional view that the races should remain separate, Ora sees the bigotry in this way of thinking. Over the course of the novel, she becomes cognizant of her own past errors; she thought she embraced racial equality, but she unintentionally perpetuated racial stereotypes. For example, though she considers Blanche, her longtime housekeeper, to be a friend and equal, Ora realizes that the uniform Blanche wears dehumanizes Blanche and robs her of her unique identity. Indeed, the attack on Grace and the injustice that follows cause Ora to understand how truly privileged she is and that she lives in a world far less just than she believed it to be. Ora is magnanimous in her treatment and aid of Eddie because she recognizes that he is in need and genuinely wants to help him. She sees beyond racial and class stereotypes and recognizes that he is kind and good. As she develops a genuine friendship with Eddie, Ora will be increasingly compelled to help him as the novel unfolds.
Ora experiences a great deal of guilt over the secrets she keeps about Grace’s rape and Marcus’s role in Skipper Kornegay’s death. She is torn between what she believes to be right—truth and honesty—and protecting Blanche and her family from the trauma that would follow if the truth came out. Ora struggles with the complexity and moral ambiguity of such situations. In the end, she unburdens herself and allows the truth to be known. Her account of the events not only reveals the injustice that Eddie endured but also highlights the ambiguous nature of justice as Marcus’s actions are made known.
Blanche
Ora’s longtime housekeeper, Blanche, is an African American woman with five children: Patrice, Marcus, ReNetta, Danita, and Grace. Blanche is loyal and dedicated to Ora and is an efficient housekeeper. Blanche is keenly aware of her status as an African American woman in the South at a time when the civil rights movement has already been underway. She is certain, however, that much of Mayville clings to antiquated notions about race and segregation, and, therefore, she does not wish to stir up trouble. She silently carries out her role as Ora’s housekeeper, believing that it is important to maintain a clear division between employer and employee. An undeniable friendship, however, develops between Ora and Blanche from their decades of close contact. For Blanche, this means being a dedicated employee, helping Ora, and not taking advantage of her kindness or charity. Blanche, however, trusts Ora completely, and their bond is further strengthened by the lie they maintain regarding the assault on Grace.
Blanche is a dedicated and loving mother who raises her children to be kind, respectful, and hardworking. The sadness she experiences over her inability to protect Grace from the assault and the grief she feels over Marcus’s death are palpable. Though lacking in privileges, Blanche works hard to provide a loving and supportive home for her daughters. The success they experience as they grow into adults is a testament to her strong parenting. In the end, Blanche is a lifelong friend to both Ora and her own daughters, and they mourn when she passes away from a stroke.
Eldred “Eddie” Mims
The eponymous “Pecan Man,” Eddie receives this nickname because he collects the pecans that fall from the trees of Mayville. This name is not meant as an insult but indicates the way Mayville’s citizens view Eddie as an “other.” As an unhoused person, he is presumed by many to be unintelligent, uncouth, and even dangerous. That he is an African American living in a town where many believe the races should be segregated adds to the dissonance around his character. However, Eddie is quiet, mild-mannered, and well-intentioned. He keeps to himself and is reluctant when Ora offers him a job, not wanting to inconvenience her or stir up trouble by working in an all-white neighborhood.
Gradually, Eddie befriends Ora and Blanche’s family. Though he is cautious and hesitant to join in when they invite him to decorate Christmas cookies, he slowly does so at Grace’s urging. Eddie’s concern for Grace, stemming from his having witnessed the attack on her, sets much of the novel’s conflict in motion. As Ora gets to know Eddie, it is clear that he is kind-hearted and hardworking. He occasionally mentions his daughter, Tressa, and their estrangement. Eddie has had a difficult life, complicated by not having a permanent home.
Eddie’s decision to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit reveals several aspects of his character. First, he understands that he faces an unjust system that will undoubtedly not work in his favor. He is certain that a fair trial is impossible and that life in prison is inevitable. By pleading guilty, he feels that he spares Ora the burden of housing him. Likewise, Eddie pleads guilty to protect Marcus’s memory. This sacrifice for his grandson is the ultimate demonstration of love and compassion and indicates that Eddie understands Marcus’s motivation for seeking revenge on Skipper Kornegay. The secret that Eddie keeps—that he is Blanche’s father—is one he reveals only after his death. His motivation for keeping this information from Blanche is unknown, but it is possible that he wished to spare her from shame, given that the townspeople perceived him negatively. In the end, Eddie proves to be a caring, self-sacrificing person who has positively influenced Ora, Blanche, and her children.
Patrice
Blanche’s oldest daughter, Patrice, undergoes a significant transformation as the novel unfolds. As the novel opens, she is fun-loving and social, enjoys participating in the high school’s cheerleading squad, and is a typical American teen. She is loyal and obedient to her mother, and she is concerned on the day of Grace’s attack when Blanche does not return home. The death of her brother, Marcus, affects her deeply. She often appears sullen, quiet, or withdrawn, and when pressed by Ora, she confesses her grief over his death. During these teen years, she experiences instances of rebellion; for example, she violates Blanche’s rules by inviting a teen boy to her home when Blanche is not present. Ora expresses her concern directly to Patrice, stressing that an unwanted pregnancy would be burdensome. Patrice, however, is adamant that she will remain on a solid path and intends to have a successful future. Indeed, she proves to be an effective caretaker of her younger sisters and becomes increasingly reliable as she matures.
Patrice is cognizant of the intersection of her race and economic status, and she takes pride in her hard work. She appreciates the gifts Ora provides at Christmas, but her pride prevents her from displaying her excitement. Because of her working-class background, Patrice does not believe that she can attend college until Ora asks about it. Ora recognizes Patrice’s drive and dedication, and with Ora’s financial help, Patrice accomplishes her goal of becoming a lawyer. As an adult with a successful career, Patrice never forgets the kindness, generosity, and guidance that both Blanche and Ora have given her. She visits Ora regularly and assists Blanche where she can. In time, Patrice becomes instrumental in aiding her family in the same way Ora once aided her. Patrice raising Grace’s daughters is a testament to her understanding that she has achieved a privileged status that her other siblings have not reached. Patrice seeks to repay the kindness she’s received by helping others. Her generosity is evident in her plight to see that Eddie receives legal help and her desire to reexamine his case. In the end, Patrice matures into a bright and self-aware person who contributes greatly to the society around her.
