Roy Othaniel Hamilton, Jr.

Roy Othaniel Hamilton, Jr. is one of the narrators and main characters in An American Marriage. He is Celestial Davenport’s husband and works in sales and marketing until he is falsely accused of raping an older woman and charged with 12 years in prison. After the second year passes, Celestial informs him that she can no longer be his wife. Roy is eventually released after five years in prison and returns to Atlanta to regain his wife’s affections. In the end, he and his wife separate and Roy moves in with a local Louisiana woman named Davina.

Roy’s background is emotionally stable though economically humble. Unlike Celestial, Roy does not come from a wealthy household. His father abandoned his mother at the age of 16, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather “Big Roy.” Roy’s parents worked hard to be able...