Samuel and Isaiah

Samuel and Isaiah are the main protagonists of The Prophets. Samuel has been a slave for the Halifax family all his life, and does not know who his parents are. Isaiah came to the plantation as a young child, separated from his family. They grow up together, working in the barn instead of the cotton fields, which is hard labor but provides the space for their romantic relationship to develop. However, at the start of the novel, Samuel and Isaiah – now in their late teens – are aware that many of the other slaves are becoming unfriendly towards them.

They are soulmates despite – or because of – pronounced differences between them. The novel characterizes the couple in terms of opposition while ultimately emphasizing their compatibility and dependence on each other. Sarah regards their contrasting temperaments as correlating to their different roles around the barn, and reflecting conformity to...