Big Foot is known for his imposing presence and reputation, largely attributed to his silent and brooding demeanor.

Big Foot was really big and really black, and everybody on Miguel Street was afraid of him. It wasn’t his bigness or his blackness that people feared, for there were blacker and bigger people around. People were afraid of him because he was so silent and sulky; he looked dangerous.

His notoriety is not confined to the neighborhood, as he has been involved in various incidents. One notable event includes him hurling a stone at Radio Trinidad, claiming it was "to wake them up." He has attempted various jobs, including working as a postman and a carpenter but did not find success in either of them.

Big Foot's relationship with Hat is fraught, filled with fear on Hat's part. In their younger days, Hat and his friends used to bully Big Foot because he was small, thin, and slow. When Big Foot grew larger, they attempted to befriend him, but he resisted. The narrative also delves into Big Foot's difficult childhood, which was marked by an abusive relationship with his father and brothers.

As the story progresses, Big Foot ventures into boxing, quickly rising to fame in Trinidad. He challenges an alleged R.A.F. champion, and the whole neighborhood supports him. Hat even bets on Big Foot, expecting a victory.

Unfortunately, Big Foot suffers a defeat, and the humiliation sparks a significant transformation in his life. The crowd ridicules him as he weeps in the ring. His reputation in ruins, Big Foot departs from Miguel Street and takes up work as a laborer in a Laventille quarry. This chapter portrays the complexity of both Big Foot’s character but also the community as a whole, highlighting the contrast between public perceptions and private realities. It also explores themes of fear, pride, and the impact of appearances on individual lives.

Naipaul implies Big Foot is only labeled as “bad” and “dangerous” because of people's perceptions. Despite his intimidating exterior, the narrator knows Big Foot is a gentle and sensitive soul, a fact that is soon exposed to everyone:

Big Foot was in tears. He was like a boy, and the more he cried, the louder he cried, and the more painful it sounded.

The secret I had held for Big Foot was now shown to everybody.