Our Nig · Character

Jim

A suitor or acquaintance of Mag Smith, possibly Frado's father.

minor

Also known as Shelley Jim, James, Tupper James, H. K. W. James, Poor James

First appearance: Mag Smith, My Mother

Jim's tie to Frado is one of the pressures that moves Our Nig—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

A kindhearted African American man who pities Mag, provides her with fuel and food, and eventually proposes marriage.

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With Frado (family): Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable. With Susan (family): Jim and Susan are married, and Susan is Frado's mother. With Mag Smith (romantic): Jim has a romantic…

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Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Jim sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Romantic
Social

Character groups

Bellmont Household & Associates
Protagonist

+10 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Frado’s potential l…

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Relationships

Frado
family · positive
Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable. How this plays out →
Susan
family · positive
Mag Smith
romantic · ambivalent
Aunt Abby
family · positive
Mrs. Bellmont
social · ambivalent
Frado
family · positive
Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable. How this plays out →
Mag Smith
romantic · ambivalent
Susan
family · positive
Aunt Abby
family · positive
Aunt Abby
family · positive
Mrs. Bellmont
social · ambivalent
Mag Smith
romantic · ambivalent

Frado
Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.
Susan
Jim and Susan are married, and Susan is Frado's mother.
Mag Smith
Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.
Mrs. Bellmont
Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.
Frado
Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.
Mag Smith
Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.
Susan
Jim and Susan are married, and Susan is Frado's mother.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.
Aunt Abby
Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.
Mrs. Bellmont
Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.
Mag Smith
Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Jim appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Mag Smith, My Mother
A kindhearted African American man who pities Mag, provides her with fuel and food, and eventually proposes marriage.
II: My Father’s Death
Jim, Mag's husband and Frado's father, dies of consumption, leaving Mag with two children and a legacy of Christian patience.
IV: A Friend for Nig
Returns home, defends Frado against his mother, searches for her, comforts her, and tries to answer her theological questions.
Departures
Visits and then departs; his kindness is remembered by Frado; he later marries a Baltimorean lady.
Varieties
Returns ill, defends Frado by insisting she eat at the table, and plans to take her away.
VII: Spiritual Condition of Nig
Rapidly wasting away, he is confined to bed. He protects Frado from beatings, gives her religious instruction, and plans to take her home with him. He shares with Aunt Abby his observations of Frado's grief and his hopes for her future.
Visitor and Departure
Ill and dying, he defends Frado, insists she attend religious meetings, and intervenes after Mrs. Bellmont beats her.
IX: Death
Dies after a long illness; comforts Frado with dying words and prays for her.

Chapter companion notes

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