ves as an ancestor-figure to Iris Lemon and Memo Paris (Helterman 25). In a way, Iris and Memo are symbolic descendants of Harriet because they, too, have so much influence on Roy. Memo, however, closely resembles Harriet in personality. Both of the women are very attracted to two separate major league ball players, Memo having a relationship with Roy’s teammmate Bump Bailey, and Harriet being attracted to Whammer Wabold on the train. Both also seem to want to cause Roy harm, doing what they can to stand in the way of his eventual stardom.The two truly opposite personalities created by Malamud are Memo and Iris (27). Physically, Memo is first shown wearing a black dress and has red hair; Iris is shown wearing a red dress with a white rose attached and has black hair. Mentally, Memo tends to use her memory to live in the past, relating everything to her deceased lover, Bump. On the other hand, Iris uses substance to live, describing her life with actions and words rather than by memories. Malamud creates these two characters to force Roy to choose his fate. For his own benefit and well being, Roy should choose Iris and stay away from Memo. Memo’s attractiveness and seductiveness, however, keeps Roy from making the right decision. Another form of symbolism that influences Roy’s decision not to stay with Iris is that he sees himself becoming a father figure of sorts to Iris’ unborn baby, just as Pop Fisher is a father figure to him (31). Iris, who is 33 years of age at the time of her liaisons with Roy, is pregnant out of wedlock. While Roy and Iris make love on the beach, she mutters to him, “I forgot to tell you I am a grandmother” (Malamud 148). Although he tends not to show that the comment bothered him at the time, it sticks in the back of his head and is one of the reasons he does not end up with Iris. Roy does not want to be a father figure to Iris’ baby like his manager, Pop F...
