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Temperance Noah is Patricia’s father and Trevor’s grandfather, and the unsteady relationship he has with his family has a significant impact on young Trevor’s worldview. Noah explains that his grandfather was “the only semi-regular male figure in [his] life,” a status which suggests that his interpretation of masculinity is the one that Trevor witnesses the most as he grows up. A love of women and a bold flirtatiousness characterize Temperance’s masculinity, and despite the popularity that these qualities earn him in the community, they inevitably put a strain on the Noah family. Rather than taking on a protector or provider role, he puts his needs and desires before those of his wife, children, and grandchildren. Noah recounts a specific tale in which, despite taking Patricia’s car to buy milk and bread, Temperance chooses to drive a young woman three hours back to her home. Scenes such as this one highlight his free spirit and disinterest in living life as a family man.
All of these tendencies, however, are further complicated by the fact that Temperance suffers from bipolar disorder. The highs he experiences, which render him charming and upbeat, contrast significantly with his low moments of aggression and disregard for others. Learning that he has a mental illness helps to contextualize many of his behaviors in hindsight, but the damage that it does to his family cannot be undone. Divorcing Trevor’s grandmother, abandoning Patricia with no explanation, and threatening to box twelve-year-old Trevor are all acts which create a painful distance between him and his family. As a result of his grandfather’s behavior, Trevor grows up viewing women as the protectors and providers of the family. He watches his grandmother command respect and expertly manage the family while Temperance is off flirting with other women. Like Frances, Temperance’s relationship with Trevor is complicated by virtue of his grandson being mixed race. He, like her, sees Trevor as white, chauffeuring him around as if he were a white man whenever they are together. Showcasing Temperance’s struggles and the impact that he has on the rest of the Noah family serves as a reminder of the complex attitudes and social norms that Black men had to contend with under apartheid.
