Thena Character Analysis

Thena is an old woman who lives at Lockless and has a reputation for being the meanest person on the Street (the area of the plantation where the enslaved people live). After Hiram goes to live with her as a child, he realizes that she is not really mean, just heartbroken by the pain of losing her husband, Big John, to a fever, and having her children be sold. Thena is a tough woman who does not show a great deal of outward emotional affection, yet who is extremely caring and loyal deep down. She takes Hiram in as a surrogate son even though it is painful for her to do so after her own children were taken away. When Hiram reunites with one of Thena’s daughters, Kessiah, he arranges a reunion between Kessiah and her mother. Thena initially reacts to this with horror, but later explains that this is because she is afraid of the pain that will resurface if she sees Kessiah again. Thena eventually agrees to let Hiram conduct her to Philadelphia, where she spends the rest of her life living with Kessiah in freedom.