Characters are revealed by their words and actions, and what others say about them.
             What do we learn of Whitechapel from himself and others, and how do we learn it?
             The character Whitechapel emerges from a respected slave on a plantation to a slave with no name. We are able to see how he shapes as a person through his experiences, from his words and actions as well as the words of others, and how he survives after the death of his second wife Cook and only son, Chapel.
             Throughout the novel, Whitechapel is portrayed as being a loving man. Cook describes him as being capable of love as she says, 'He can love. He proves he loves me everyday, he treats my first born as his own.' This is in contrast to the character of Sander's senior who regards slaves as 'being without love'.
             Whitechapel is also an obedient slave, respected among the other plantation owners especially his own, Mr. Whitechapel. 'Whitechapel is a good man, he has seen enough death with you taking his only son away from him.' The conversation Mr. Whitechapel has with Mr. Sanders demonstrates that Whitechapel is respected.
             Whitechapel has lived a long and painful life. The moment Whitechapel loses his wife Cook, he is unable to come to terms with it and tries to do whatever he can to prevent losing his son too. When Chapel plans to head north, Whitechapel is confronted with two options – to tell Mr. Whitechapel of his son's plans or to let his son go. Whitechapel made the decision to betray his son, in belief that it will save his life.
             Instead, Whitechapel's action results in his son's death and he expresses his inability to forgive himself. 'I fail you as a father. I am insufficient, all my years are insufficient.' Not only does he lose his son but the respect of his own family. 'I who have worked all my life for one estate under one family was shown no respect.'
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