Character Relationship Map: Norbit

Characters

• Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong (played by Eddie Murphy) — protagonist

  Norbit is an orphan raised at The Golden Wonton who marries Rasputia but remains in love with his childhood friend Kate. Rasputia intimidates and controls him while pursuing a strip-club scheme. Mr. W...

• Kate Thomas (played by Thandiwe Newton) — protagonist

  Kate is Norbit’s childhood friend, separated from him after being adopted and later reunited with him at an orphan puppet show. She plans to purchase the orphanage, becomes engaged to Deion, but recon...

• Deion Hughes (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) — supporting

  Deion is Kate’s fiancé, but he has no genuine interest in preserving the orphanage. He accepts the brothers’ proposal to turn it into a strip club and is revealed to have collected $300,000 through di...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Kate Thomas → Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong (Professional Business Partner) — Their relationship centers on Kate's effort to preserve or acquire the orphanage.

  Kate intends to purchase Mr. Wong's orphanage, and they become connected through the attempted renewal of the restaurant's liquor license.

• Kate Thomas → Deion Hughes (Romantic Fiance) — Their engagement becomes unstable as Kate learns about Deion's intentions.

  Kate is engaged to Deion, although she later reconsiders the marriage after kissing Norbit.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong → Kate Thomas (Social Childhood Friend) — Their early friendship becomes the emotional foundation of the story.

  Norbit and Kate are childhood friends who live together at the orphanage and play-marry with Ring Pops.

• Norbit / Rasputia / Mr. Wong → Deion Hughes (Conflict Rival) — They compete for Kate's future and oppose each other's intentions.

  Norbit's affection for Kate conflicts with her engagement to Deion, and Norbit later exposes Deion's marriage-related schemes.

Story Analysis

A timid man breaks free from an abusive marriage, exposes deception, and reunites with his childhood love.

Plot Progression

1. Childhood Promises — Norbit and Kate grow up together at Mr. Wong's orphanage and play-marry with Ring Pops. Kate's adoption separates them and leaves Norbit behind.
2. A Marriage Under Siege — Rasputia saves Norbit from bullies, becomes his girlfriend, and later marries him. Her intimidating control and betrayal create the film's central emotional crisis.
3. Old Love Reawakens — Kate returns at the orphan puppet show and plans to purchase the orphanage. Norbit secretly reconnects with her while Deion's property scheme begins to take shape.
4. The Threatened Wedding — Norbit and Kate grow closer, but the liquor-license deception advances the Latimore plan. After witnessing their kiss, Rasputia threatens Kate and imprisons Norbit.
5. Truth At The Altar — Norbit discovers Deion's history, escapes, and crashes the wedding. Former wives expose Deion, the town defends Norbit, and Mr. Wong stops Rasputia.