The legendary laborer and protagonist. After gaining freedom, he inspires exhausted workers to continue building railways, challenges a steam drill to a race for land rights, triumphs through sheer endurance, but ultimately collapses and dies from exhaustion while holding his hammer.
Polly transitions from wife to mother, passing down family history and cultural memory.
Polly and John share a lifelong marital bond forged through slavery and freedom.
Explore the full interactive character relationship map of John Henry