Kwaku: Or, The Man Who Could Not Keep His Mouth Shut: Analysis of Major Characters.

Kwaku Cholmondeley (KWAH-kew CHUHM-lee), the protagonist. Kwaku, an orphan reared by his uncle, becomes convinced early in life that “there was much protection in idiocy, and that intelligence was like the pimpla palm, bearer of good fruit, but afflicted by thorns.” Despite his inability to keep his mouth shut and his comic posturing, Kwaku, who becomes a shoemaker, is convinced of his superiority and of his special destiny. He retains this belief throughout his marriage to Miss Gwendoline, whom he loves deeply. He eventually leaves his village to seek his fortune. Although for a period he attains success as a healer, he ultimately fails and ends his life in terrible poverty, abused by his children.