The Legend of 1900 - Characters & Cast

1900 is motivated by a desire to live within a world he can understand and master. His primary drive is to create music, which is his way of processing the world and connecting with humanity on his own terms. His motivation for staying on the ship is to preserve the finite conditions that he feels are necessary for his art and his sanity.

1900's arc is internal and philosophical rather than a traditional journey of change. He begins as a mysterious, isolated prodigy and ends as a man who has fully embraced and articulated his reasons for that isolation. He doesn't overcome his fear of the world; instead, he comes to understand it as a core part of his identity and artistic integrity. His journey is one of self-affirmation, choosing to remain true to his nature even in the face of death. He remains unchanged in his core beliefs from beginning to end.

Max's motivation is driven by his deep friendship with and admiration for 1900. He wants to see his friend's genius recognized by the world and for him to experience a 'normal' life. After leaving the ship, his motivation shifts to preserving the memory of 1900, believing that 'a good story is worth more than an old trumpet'.

Max begins as a down-on-his-luck musician who is simply looking for a job. Through his friendship with 1900, he is exposed to a form of genius and a way of life that he initially doesn't understand. His arc is one of growing appreciation and eventual acceptance of 1900's worldview. While he spends years trying to convince 1900 to join the 'real world', he ultimately respects his friend's final, tragic decision, becoming the keeper of his legend. He is the bridge between 1900's world and the audience's.

Morton is motivated by ego and a desire to prove he is the greatest pianist in the world. Hearing tales of 1900's talent, he boards the Virginian with the sole purpose of challenging and defeating him in a public duel to cement his own reputation.

Jelly Roll Morton is a static character who serves as a foil to 1900. He arrives on the ship full of arrogance, confident in his status as the 'inventor of jazz'. His arc is a short, sharp fall from grace. He is humbled and defeated by 1900's pure, otherworldly talent, leaving the ship in stunned silence. He represents the worldly, commercial, and ego-driven side of musical genius, which is ultimately shown to be inferior to 1900's innocent artistry.

Her motivation is that of countless immigrants of the era: to seek a new beginning in America. She is looking for her father and hoping for a better life. Her interaction with 1900 is fleeting and she is unaware of the profound impact she has on him.

She is more of a symbol than a fully developed character. Her arc is simply that of a passenger traveling to a new life in America. For 1900, however, she represents the strongest temptation to leave the ship. She is the catalyst for the creation of his most beautiful music and his one serious attempt to step into the world. Her departure solidifies his connection to the ship and his inability to follow love onto the land.