Joanna Marshall

Peter Bye

Joanna and Peter share a deep, complicated romantic bond marked by mutual ambition and societal obstacles.

Maggie Ellersley

Joanna and Maggie are close friends who support each other through personal and professional struggles.

Philip Marshall

Joanna and Philip are siblings, with a bond that includes both affection and rivalry over family expectations.

Sylvia Marshall

Joanna and Sylvia are sisters, with Sylvia often serving as a grounding influence on Joanna.

Ed Morgan

Ed Morgan is a colleague and mentor figure to Joanna in her artistic career.

Vera Manning

Joanna and Vera are close friends and allies in the social and artistic circles of Harlem.

Harry Portor

Harry Portor is a persistent suitor of Joanna, though she does not reciprocate his feelings.

Joel Marshall

Joel is Joanna's father, a supportive but traditional figure who encourages her ambitions.

Brian Spencer

Brian Spencer is a fellow artist and professional collaborator with Joanna.

Meriwether Bye

Joanna and Meriwether are acquaintances whose interactions are strained by class and racial politics.

Alexander Harley

Alexander Harley is a patron and professional contact who helps advance Joanna's career.

Peter Bye

Joanna and Peter share a deep, complicated romantic bond marked by mutual ambition and societal obstacles.

There Is Confusion

Joanna is fiercely ambitious, pursuing a career in dance despite societal constraints, and struggles with her feelings for Peter.

I

As a young child, Joanna shows an early ambition for greatness, demanding stories about great people and later demonstrating a remarkable singing voice.

II

A grave, ambitious child with a passion for dancing and singing, she is methodical, self-assured, and rejects artificial enhancements, driven by her father's belief in success and racial uplift.

III

Meets Peter Bye at school; her love for beauty and fixity of purpose lead her to dismiss him as someone who doesn't want to be anybody.

VI

A confident and ambitious ten-year-old who excels in school and aspires to be a famous singer and dancer, undeterred by racial prejudice.

VII

Demonstrates her magnetic passion for dance and performance, teaching the barn dance to friends and family.

VIII

Mentioned as Sylvia's sister; Maggie is assigned to Sylvia's class rather than Joanna's, as Joanna is described as an intellectual snob who would likely not have noticed Maggie.

IX

Joanna observes the dynamics between Maggie and Sylvia, and later questions Philip's reaction to Henderson Neal.

Chapter X

Joanna is eighteen, ambitious, and fiercely protective of her brother Philip's future. She is a soloist in the church choir and dreams of a stage career.

Chapter XI

Writes a cruel letter to Maggie, telling her she is not good enough for Philip and should stop seeing him.

XII

Joanna remains focused on her artistic career, discussing her plans to overcome racial prejudice through excellence in the arts. She allows herself a moment of vulnerability with Peter, resting her head on his shoulder and sharing a first kiss.

XIII

Joanna is deeply focused on her career, practicing trills and dancing, while also developing feelings for Peter. She struggles with loneliness and the impending separation from Peter, but remains committed to her work.

XIV

Mentioned as a mezzo-soprano performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, causing Maggie a pang of pain.

XV

Thriving as a concert singer, she shares a romantic evening with Peter in Philadelphia, accepting a ring but struggling to express her love fully due to her career focus.

XVI

Struggles with her desire for Peter to achieve greatness while facing racial barriers in her dancing career.

XVII

Joanna is saddened by her own discouragement about her singing career and becomes furious with Peter for his defeatist attitude and his night at a cabaret, leading her to break their engagement.

XVIII

Torn between her ambition and love for Peter; writes a stern letter then a passionate one; faces professional discouragement.

XIX

Her harsh letter and indifference drive Peter away, though she later sends a loving poem that deepens his guilt.

Chapter XX

Devastated by Peter's letter ending their relationship; she writes him a long letter, finishes her engagement in the South, and returns home in deep sorrow.

XXI

Suffers intense regret and heartbreak after Peter's departure; re-evaluates her priorities and turns to prayer and the Psalms.

XXII

The person who inspired Peter's ambition; he reflects on her influence and resolves to prove himself to her.

XXIII

Referenced as the one woman Peter truly loves; her memory haunts Peter's relationship with Maggie.

XXIV

Reflects on her loneliness after Peter's departure and experiences subtle racial discrimination while shopping and seeking a restaurant.

XXV

Mentioned as the one who broke with Peter; Maggie resents her for interfering with Philip.

XXVI

Arrives at Maggie's apartment, discovers her stabbed, administers first aid, and falsely confesses to protect Peter.

XXVII

Resolves to give up dancing and Peter, but accepts an unexpected opportunity to dance at the District Line Theater.

XXVIII

Achieves instant fame as a dancer, performs as 'America' without a mask, rejects a marriage proposal, and begins to question the meaning of her success.

XXIX

Mentioned in Peter's reflections as the source of his earlier ideals and the one who 'messed up all our lives.'

XXXI

Referenced as the woman Peter truly loves and who has achieved success as a dancer.

XXXII

Referenced as having persistent ambition and achieving her goals; Maggie contrasts her own past foolishness with Joanna's clarity.

XXXIII

Performs tirelessly for returning soldiers, feels the emptiness of fame, and learns from Vera that Peter is back but has not contacted her.

XXXIV

Reunites with Peter, agrees to marry him, and reflects on the burden of being Black in America.

XXXV

Overwhelmed with remorse for the letter that caused Maggie's marriage, confesses to Philip, and learns from his wisdom.

XXXVI

Marries Peter and moves into the family home; redirects her ambition from personal success to supporting Peter; finds joy in domestic life and begins studying harmony.