# Jim — Our Nig character guide

> Jim in Our Nig by Harriet E. Wilson.

**Role:** minor

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

**First appearance:** 0003-i-mag-smith-my-mother

## Who they are

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

## Relationships

### [Frado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/frado)

_family_

Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.

### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/susan)

_family_

Jim and Susan are married, and Susan is Frado's mother.

### [Mag Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mag_smith)

_romantic_

Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.

### [Aunt Abby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Mrs. Bellmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mrs_bellmont)

_social_

Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.

### [Frado](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/frado)

_family_

Jim is Frado's father, who dies early in the story, leaving her vulnerable.

### [Mag Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mag_smith)

_romantic_

Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.

### [Susan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/susan)

_family_

Jim and Susan are married, and Susan is Frado's mother.

### [Aunt Abby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Aunt Abby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/aunt_abby)

_family_

Aunt Abby is Jim's sister, and they share a close, supportive bond.

### [Mrs. Bellmont](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mrs_bellmont)

_social_

Jim and Mrs. Bellmont are acquaintances, with Mrs. Bellmont taking in Frado after Jim's death.

### [Mag Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/mag_smith)

_romantic_

Jim has a romantic relationship with Mag Smith, which produces Frado before his marriage to Susan.

## In the story

### [Mag Smith, My Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/v-departures)

Visits and then departs; his kindness is remembered by Frado; he later marries a Baltimorean lady.

### [Varieties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/vi-varieties)

Returns ill, defends Frado by insisting she eat at the table, and plans to take her away.

### [VII: Spiritual Condition of Nig](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/viii-visitor-and-departure)

Ill and dying, he defends Frado, insists she attend religious meetings, and intervenes after Mrs. Bellmont beats her.

### [IX: Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/chapters/ix-death)

Dies after a long illness; comforts Frado with dying words and prays for her.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters/jim
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/our_nig_se/characters