Previous
Officer Bell
Fonny’s mother and Frank’s resentful wife. Mrs. Hunt is a highly religious woman who disapproves of Tish and her family’s lifestyle, believing that Tish has ruined her son’s life because she has a “demon” in her. In keeping with this, she tells Tish that her and Fonny’s child is going “shrivel in [her] womb.” When she says this, Frank stands up and slaps her to the floor, not caring that she has a “weak heart.” As Adrienne and Sheila—Mrs. Hunt’s loyal daughters—crowd around her, Joseph takes Frank to a bar to remove him from the situation, leaving the women alone as they continue to argue about Tish’s pregnancy. By the end of this conversation, it becomes clear that Mrs. Hunt and her daughters will have nothing to do with Tish and Fonny’s child. What’s more, readers get the sense that Mrs. Hunt doesn’t care what happens to Fonny, since he has taken after his father and thus leads a lifestyle of which she disapproves.
Mrs. Hunt Quotes in If Beale Street Could Talk
The If Beale Street Could Talk quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Hunt or refer to Mrs. Hunt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Troubled About My Soul Quotes
I guess you call your lustful action love […]. I don’t. I always knew that you would be the destruction of my son. You have a demon in you—I always knew it. My God caused me to know it many a year ago. The Holy Ghost will cause that child to shrivel in your womb. But my son will be forgiven. My prayers will save him.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
And Mrs. Hunt added, “These girls won’t be bringing me no bastards to feed, I can guarantee you that.”
“But the child that’s coming,” said Sharon, after a moment, “is your grandchild. I don’t understand you. It’s your grandchild. What difference does it make how it gets here? The child ain’t got nothing to do with that—don’t none of us have nothing to do with that!"
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire If Beale Street Could Talk LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mrs. Hunt Character Timeline in If Beale Street Could Talk
The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Hunt appears in If Beale Street Could Talk. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Troubled About My Soul
...ask about Fonny. Sensing what she wanted to know, though, Frank indicated that Fonny’s mother, Mrs. Hunt , sent him to spend time with relatives in “the country,” and he promised to...
(full context)
...husband because he refuses to conform to her religious lifestyle. This, Tish thinks, is why Mrs. Hunt is extra hard on Fonny, which only drives him away from her. Indeed, Fonny forms...
(full context)
...distanced from one another. Each night they have intercourse, it is under the pretense that Mrs. Hunt is trying to bring Frank to Jesus, so that she ultimately convinces herself that she’s...
(full context)
One day before their romantic relationship begins, Tish goes to church with Fonny and Mrs. Hunt . Her own family isn’t particularly religious, and Tish can sense that Mrs. Hunt judges...
(full context)
...about this, the Hunts arrive at her parents’ apartment. Right away, Tish can tell that Mrs. Hunt —in all her religious glory—is “frightened,” clearly dreading whatever it is Tish and her family...
(full context)
Joseph politely asks if Mrs. Hunt will mind if he and Frank have a drink, and she says, “Mind? Frank does...
(full context)
Unlike Frank, Mrs. Hunt isn’t thrilled to hear about Tish’s pregnancy. “And who,” she says, “is going to responsible...
(full context)
After Frank slaps Mrs. Hunt , Sharon begs Joseph to take him out, and though he’s hesitant to leave, he...
(full context)
...out her Adam’s apple. As this dispute continues, the Hunt women prepare to leave, and Mrs. Hunt says she hopes Sharon is “pleased with the way” her daughters behave, adding that her...
(full context)
Standing in Mrs. Hunt ’s way, Tish finishes her sentence, saying, “That child is in my belly. Now, you...
(full context)
...in a long time. However, he also says that the D.A. has been talking to Mrs. Hunt , Adrienne, and Sheila, who have been saying that “Fonny has always been incorrigible and...
(full context)
