Jim Hawkins

Jim Hawkins owns the large plantation where Dave works as a farm laborer. Dave is working on Hawkins's farm for the summer in order to save money for school. When Dave accidentally shoots the mule, Hawkins charges Dave fifty dollars— equal to two years labor—for the dead mule.

At the end of the story Dave longs to shoot at Hawkins's big house in order to scare him and gain a sense of power in relation to Hawkins, but he has already used up his bullets. As a wealthy white man, Hawkins represents all of the power that Dave lacks.

Joe

Joe is a white merchant in the rural community where the story takes place. He lends Dave a catalogue and when he learns that he wants to buy a gun, offers to sell him a revolver for two dollars.

Ma

Ma is Dave's mother...