Supporting Characters and Their Roles
This page delves into the supporting characters of "The Hate U Give", providing details about their appearances, personalities, and significance to the story.
Chris
Chris is Starr's white boyfriend and a major character in the novel. He is described as a high school student who loves to wear sneakers.
Highlight: Chris is characterized as being very careful and understanding. Starr feels she can be herself when she's with him.
This relationship highlights the theme of interracial dating and the complexities it brings in a racially charged environment.
Hailey and Maya
Hailey and Maya are Starr's friends from Williamson Prep. Hailey is white and likes basketball, while Maya has Asian-American roots.
Highlight: Starr suspects Hailey of being racist, which causes tension in their friendship. Maya is described as Starr's closest friend at school.
These friendships illustrate the challenges Starr faces in navigating her two worlds - Garden Heights and Williamson Prep.
Kenya
Kenya is described as having dark brown skin, brown eyes, and being the perfect height according to Starr. She is a major character and plays a significant role in connecting Starr to the events in Garden Heights.
King and Iesha
King is Kenya's father and a major antagonist in the novel. He is the leader of the King Lords gang and is described as abusive towards his children.
Highlight: King is involved in selling drugs and has killed people, representing the negative influences in Garden Heights that Starr's family tries to avoid.
DeVante
DeVante is a major character, described as a Black teenage boy with a full-blown afro. He lives in Garden Heights and becomes involved with Starr's family.
Example: DeVante gets help from Maverick, Starr's father, illustrating how the Carter family tries to positively influence their community.
Vocabulary: Personenkonstellation (German) refers to the network of relationships between characters in a literary work, which is particularly complex and significant in "The Hate U Give".
These supporting characters contribute to the rich tapestry of relationships and conflicts that drive the novel's narrative and themes.