Jacob Lawrence in The Davenports: Character Analysis

Overview: The Outsider Who Sees Helen Clearly

Jacob Lawrence arrives in Chicago as a London businessman visiting the Davenport family, and he initially appears to be the perfect match for Olivia Davenport—handsome, charming, and socially polished. Yet his story arc in The Davenports is defined by a quiet shift: the man who comes to court one sister ends up falling for the other. His presence acts as a mirror for both Olivia and Helen, forcing each to confront what they truly want from love and from their own lives. While he is not the novel's central protagonist, Jacob's choices ripple through the Davenport household, exposing the gap between public courtship and private feeling, and ultimately helping Helen claim her own desires.

Plot Role: A Catalyst for Two Sisters

Jacob enters the story in Chapter 1 as a guest of the Davenport parents, and Ruby Tremaine immediately invites him to her father's campaign fundraiser, where Olivia promises him a dance. From that point, he becomes the object of Olivia's romantic attention—her mother Emmeline is delighted by the match, and Olivia herself reflects that he seems to be everything she wants in a husband. But Jacob's role is not simply to be Olivia's suitor. His interactions with Helen, beginning with a chance meeting in the garden maze at the Tremaine ball, reveal a different kind of connection. He is the catalyst that pushes Helen out of her shell, and later, the catalyst that forces Olivia to admit she lacks passion for him.

Jacob also serves as a contrast to other male figures in the novel. Washington DeWight, the activist lawyer, challenges Olivia's sheltered worldview, while Harrison Barton offers Ruby a partnership built on honesty. Jacob, by contrast, is a polished outsider who initially seems to fit perfectly into the Davenport world, but his own sense of displacement—feeling like “the Other” in England—makes him more attuned to Helen's own feelings of being misunderstood.

Motivations and Traits: Charm as a Mask

Jacob is consistently described as charming, smooth, and practiced. Olivia notes how he “flits from conversation to conversation” with ease, and her mother sees him as a wonderful opportunity for happiness. But beneath the charm, Jacob reveals a more vulnerable side. In the picnic scene with Olivia, he admits he is an only child raised in England, and that he often wonders “how, or even why, I am where I am.” He speaks of being a Black man in a predominantly white country, feeling both “exulted and cursed” for his circumstances. This honesty suggests that his charm is not just a social tool but also a way to navigate spaces where he is always the outsider.

His actions show a genuine respect for Helen's unconventional interests. When Helen tells him she reads mechanics' magazines and finds poetry boring, he does not dismiss her. Instead, he engages with her on her own terms—offering to help her “rescue a damsel” on a ride to a bookstore, and later calling her “extraordinary” after she expresses her wish to work at the carriage company. He sees her for who she is, not for the polished version her mother and Mrs. Milford try to create.

Chronological Arc: From Suitor to Confession

Jacob's arc follows a clear trajectory:

Arrival and Courtship (Chapters 1–12): He meets Olivia, dances with her at the Tremaine ball, and begins a formal courtship. He shares a picnic with her, revealing his background and his sense of being an outsider. Olivia feels a kinship with him, and her mother encourages the match.
Growing Bond with Helen (Chapters 10–21): His first meaningful exchange with Helen happens in the garden maze, where they share a cigarette and a light. He later helps her escape her etiquette lessons for a muddy adventure, and they share a playful mud fight. In the garage, he calls her extraordinary. These moments build a private connection that contrasts with his public role as Olivia's suitor.
The Kiss and Its Aftermath (Chapter 24): At the Davenport party, Helen slips away to the library, and Jacob follows. They talk, he tells her she is beautiful, and they kiss. Both pull away, aware of the wrongness. Jacob apologizes, saying it shouldn't have happened, but the moment changes everything.
Confession and Resolution (Chapters 27–36): Olivia, sensing her own lack of passion, proposes a secret understanding with Jacob—they will let their parents believe a proposal is imminent, buying time. Later, Jacob confesses to Helen that he wants to be with her instead of Olivia. Helen admits her feelings but refuses to hurt her sister. After Olivia learns the truth and gives her blessing, Helen goes to Jacob's hotel, they confess their love, and agree to keep their relationship secret until they can tell their parents. Jacob says he will wait.

Relationships: The Two Sisters and the Davenport Family

With Olivia: Jacob's courtship of Olivia is initially sincere in its outward form, but it lacks the depth that Olivia eventually craves. She realizes she feels no passion for him, and their secret understanding—letting her parents believe a proposal is imminent—allows both to avoid a public scandal. Olivia's blessing of Jacob's relationship with Helen is a key turning point, freeing him from his promise.

With Helen: Jacob's relationship with Helen is built on mutual recognition. He sees her mechanical skills, her discomfort with parties, and her intelligence. He does not try to change her; instead, he encourages her to be herself. Their love is forbidden because of his prior courtship of Olivia, but it is also a form of self-determination for Helen, who has spent the novel resisting her mother's attempts to mold her into a proper lady.

With the Davenport Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Davenport approve of Jacob as a match for Olivia, seeing him as a suitable husband. Their approval is based on his charm and apparent wealth, which makes the eventual revelation of his true feelings—and his later confession that he is not wealthy (though this is not detailed in the outline)—a potential source of tension. However, the novel focuses more on the emotional consequences than on financial ones.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Jacob makes several pivotal choices:

He agrees to the secret understanding with Olivia. This decision allows Olivia to pursue her own interests (including her growing involvement with Washington DeWight) without parental pressure, and it gives Jacob time to sort out his feelings for Helen.
He confesses his love to Helen. After the library kiss, Jacob does not retreat. He tells Helen he wants to be with her, even though he knows it will hurt Olivia. This honesty is a departure from his earlier smoothness, showing his growth.
He chooses to wait for Helen. When Helen asks him to forget her, he does not. Instead, he waits until Olivia gives her blessing, and then he declares his love openly. His patience and willingness to keep their relationship secret until the right moment demonstrate his commitment.

These decisions have consequences for all three characters: Olivia is freed to pursue her own path, Helen gains the courage to defy societal expectations, and Jacob himself moves from being a charming outsider to a man who has found genuine connection.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Jacob's character ties into several of the novel's central themes:

Forbidden Love and Self-Determination: His love for Helen is forbidden because of his prior courtship of her sister. Their secret relationship is an act of self-determination, echoing the novel's broader exploration of characters choosing their own paths against societal pressure.
Class and Social Mobility: Jacob is a wealthy businessman, but his sense of being an outsider—both in England and in Chicago—highlights the complexities of class and race. He is not simply a symbol of success; he is a man navigating spaces where he is always aware of his difference.
Women's Ambition vs. Societal Expectations: Jacob's support of Helen's mechanical interests directly challenges the expectation that women should be agreeable and domestic. He sees her ambition as a strength, not a flaw, which aligns with the novel's celebration of women who pursue their own goals.
Activism and Civil Rights: Jacob's advice to “leave such matters to professionals” when the conversation turns to civil rights contrasts with Olivia's growing activism. This moment underscores his more conservative approach, but it also highlights the different ways Black characters in the novel engage with the struggle for equality.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Jacob Lawrence initially court Olivia Davenport?

Jacob arrives as a guest of the Davenport family and is introduced to Olivia at the Tremaine ball. He is charming and attentive, and Olivia's mother encourages the match. His initial interest appears to be genuine, but as the story progresses, it becomes clear that his feelings for Olivia are not as deep as his feelings for Helen. The courtship is socially appropriate, but it lacks the emotional connection he later finds with Helen.

2. What draws Jacob to Helen?

Jacob is drawn to Helen's authenticity. In the garden maze, she tells him she reads mechanics' magazines and finds poetry boring, and he responds with interest rather than judgment. He later helps her escape her etiquette lessons, and they share a playful mud fight. He sees her for who she is—a young woman who would rather be in the garage than at a party—and he calls her “extraordinary” after she expresses her wish to work at the carriage company.

3. How does Jacob's relationship with Olivia end?

Olivia realizes she lacks passion for Jacob and thinks of Washington DeWight. She proposes that they let her parents believe an understanding exists, buying time. Jacob agrees, and they keep it secret. Later, when Helen confesses her feelings for Jacob, Olivia reveals that she and Jacob are not actually attached and gives her blessing. This releases Jacob from his promise and allows him to pursue Helen.

4. What is Jacob's reaction to Helen's confession of love?

When Helen goes to his hotel and tells him she loves him, Jacob responds, “And I love you, Helen.” He kisses her and agrees to keep their relationship secret until Olivia and Helen can tell their parents. He says he will wait, showing his commitment to her.

5. How does Jacob's character change over the course of the novel?

Jacob begins as a charming, polished outsider who fits easily into Davenport society. Over time, he reveals his vulnerability—his loneliness as an only child, his sense of being “the Other” in England—and he develops a genuine, passionate connection with Helen. His willingness to confess his love and wait for her marks a shift from social performance to emotional honesty.

For further exploration of the novel's themes, see the analysis of Black entrepreneurship and economic self-determination, women's ambition vs. societal expectations, and forbidden love and self-determination. You can also revisit the ending explained or browse questions and answers for more insights.