Jazz

Main Characters and Their Development

• Joe Trace - An African American cosmetics salesman who kills his young lover, Dorcas. His development is tied to his struggle with guilt and attempts to mend his relationship with his wife.
• Violet Trace - Joe's wife, who initially seeks revenge for her husband's infidelity but later begins to seek paths to forgiveness and self-discovery.
• Dorcas Manhattan - A young girl, Joe's lover, whose death becomes the catalyst for the novel's events. Her character is revealed through the memories and stories of other characters.
• Alice Manfred - Dorcas's aunt, who cares for her niece after the death of her parents and tries to protect her from the dangers of the big city.
• Golden Gray - The son of an African American woman and a white man, whose story intertwines with Joe and Violet's, revealing themes of racial identity and family roots.