Analysis of Characters in There Are No Children Here

There Are No Children Here - Analysis of Characters

Pharoah:

Pharoah is the younger brother to Lafeyette, LaShawn, and Terence. He is an intelligent person. His mother LaJoe wants Pharaoh to do well in life. She thinks that he has the motivation to do whatever he would like to do. Pharoah has a lisp that makes him work harder in becoming a better person throughout the novel. "Pharoah was different, not only from Lafeyette but from the other children, too. He didn't have many friends, except for Porkchop, who was always by his side... Pharoah got so lost in his daydreams that LaJoe had to shake him to bring him back from his flights of fancy. Those forays into distant lands and with other people seemed to help Pharoah fend off the ugliness around him" (15). Pharoah was changed throughout the novel, overcoming his lisp and becoming confident in himself that he could one day escape the Horner homes.

Lafeyette:

Lafeyette is a teenager whose experiences in the Horner homes teaches him how the way of life works. Lafeyette is one of LaJoe's children who starts out as a promising child but changes throughout the novel trying new ideas that he was not familiar with. Lafeyette is a thin person. He is a "stick" to some people. Lafeyette experiences conflicts which affects his life. His 'mentor' Craig Davis. Craig's death affected him so much that Lafeyette's attitude became so different than what LaJoe was so used to. Lafeyette would hang around with his friend Rickey who was affiliated with the up and coming Four Corners: a young group of trouble-makers looking to start a new gang. Lafeyette didn't like hanging around with Rickey's friends. During the final chapters of the novel, Lafeyette is accused of stealing car parts from a pick up truck. He would be charged and sentenced for one year of probation. Lafeyette becomes what LaJoe dreaded: Lafeyette turning out to be his older brother Terence.

LaJoe:

Lajoe is the mother of Lafeyette, Pharoah and to 5 other children. LaJoe has lived in the Horner home for most of her life. She moved to the Horner homes when she was 4 years old. Back in the early days she thought Horner was 'amazing' considering the changes it has gone through over the years. "But to LaJoe and her brothers and sisters, it all looked dazzling.