Although she is the protagonist, little is presented about Ona’s inner life and character. This is due to her status as an enslaved person: As she is regarded as property and not permitted to read or write, these aspects of her person are not recorded. Only indirect characterization can be made based on conclusions drawn by what Martha Washington would have valued in a personal attendant. Thus, her intelligence and loyalty are among Ona’s key qualities. She understands that she is expected to obey authority quietly and without resistance. Her loyalty to the Washingtons is a key factor in their decision to bring her north when they relocate to New York. Likewise, because she is of mixed race, she has a very slight advantage over other enslaved people, as her lighter skin is regarded, the text states, as more desirable at the time. The authors note that Ona is discreet and obedient and performs her job effectively, proven by the fact that she returns north with the Washingtons once each summer ends. In a narrative sense, she is flat but dynamic, changing throughout the story.

The time spent in the north, particularly in

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