Question

Show with references from the story how T.S Arthur uses direct and indirect characterisation to highlight the traits of the characters.

Answer 1

The writer reveals all the characters by means of both direct and indirect characterization. For example, at the very beginning of the story the author introduces us some characters by direct characterization: This woman had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily denounced by nearly every man, woman, and child in the village’; judging by these words, we may assume that the woman’s life was very hard, there was nobody to support her, to help her. About her children the author says: ‘John, the oldest, a boy of twelve, was a stout lad, able to earn his living with any farmer. Kate, between ten and eleven, was bright, active girl, out of whom something clever might be made, if in good hands; but poor little Maggie, the youngest, was hopelessly diseased’. Mr. Thompson’s personality is vividly revealed: ‘Though rough in exterior, Joe Thompson, the wheelwright, had a heart, and it was very tender in some places. He liked children, and was pleased to have them come to his shop…’ judging by this phrase we get to know that Mr. Thompson is really a kind- hearted sort of person, who loves to spend his time with children. Then In a nutshell, using direct characterization, the author’s point of view is expressed in black and white.

Using indirect characterization, the author doesn’t give his direct appreciation of what the character does but leaves us to draw conclusions as to the person’s actions. For example: ‘The voice of the strong, rough man shook, and he turned his head away, so that the moisture in his eyes might not be seen. Mrs. Thompson did not answer, but a soft feeling crept into her heart’. The first sentence of this example proves that a man’s strength is not in ‘the voice’, but in the actions. Mr. Thompson is a strong man, but the experience with Maggie touched him greatly, that’s why he cried a little bit. And what is more, those tears proved that he was happy that his wife had changed. This example shows changes in Mrs. Thompson’s personality also. At first, she was absolutely against taking care of Maggie, T.S.Arthur renders her mood by speech characterisation: ‘Why didn’t you let her go, then. What did you bring her here for?’, ‘Then why didn’t you keep on? Why did you stop here?’, but suddenly her heart opened and she loved that small child: ‘What are you going to do with that child? … Mrs. Thompson looked rather strangely at her husband for sonic moments, and then dropped her eyes’. We may just imagine how sad were the Thompsons because they didn’t have children and one day ‘An angel had come into his house, disguised as a sick, helpless, and miserable child, and filled all its dreary chambers with the sunshine of love’.

Farmer Jones and Mrs. Ellis, are minor characters and presented in the story, so to say, just directly: ‘Farmer Jones, after the coffin was taken out, placed John in his wagon and drove away, satisfied that he had done his part. Mrs. Ellis spoke to Kate with a hurried air, ‘Bid your sister good by,’ and drew the tearful children apart ere scarcely their lips had touched in a sobbing farewell’. However, we may imagine what kind of people they are. They weren’t interested in Maggie’s life, they took children as things. They left Maggie alone and no one cared about her future life, to sijnd Maggie to the poorhouse was the easiest way out. There is one more example of indirect characterisation: ‘For a little while the man stood with a puzzled air; then he turned back, and went into the hovel again’. While reading this sentence we imagine Joe Thompson hesitating about his actions, he is not sure what to do: whether to take Maggie or not. Such dreadful situation festers his soul and he can’t be apart from it. The next example is a direct proof to show how Mrs. Thompson was shocked: ‘Anger and astonishment were in the tones of Mrs. Joe Thompson; her face was in a flame’. Actually, she was seething with anger, she couldn’t utter a word.

Maggie, is described as a weak person, but quite experienced. She didn’t talk a lot, the author pays special attention to her personality indirectly, but very masterfully. From the very beginning of the story one can feel how much Maggie was afraid to stay alone: ‘But no one said ‘I’ll take Maggie’. Pitying glances were cast on her wan and wasted form and thoughts were troubled on her account. Mothers brought cast-off garments and, removing her soiled and ragged clothes, dressed her in clean attire. The sad eyes and patient face of the little one touched many hearts, and even knocked at them for entrance’. She kept silent, her eyes told more. By all means, she understood that ‘But none opened to take her in. Who wanted a bed-ridden child?’, thus the author shows us a remarkable piece of realistic character drawing. The author renders the atmosphere of her loneliness very artfully.Usage of such words as ‘tearful’, ‘scarcely’, ‘a sobbing farewell’, ‘refraining from a look’, ‘alone’ evoke an emotional response and the reader gets the vivid notion of the situation described. ‘O, Mr. Thompson!’ she cried out, catching her suspended breath, ‘don’t leave me here all alone!’, it has a very specific emotional colouring and the author conveys much while saying little. The author gives a very bright indirect characterization of Maggie’s personality: ‘…somebody’s arms must carry her, and mine are strong enough for that task’. On the one hand, this example shows how weak and helpless Maggie is and, on the other hand, the example demonstrates Mr. Thompson’s responsibility, his strong character. Besides, the author uses speech characterization to reveal Maggie’s personality. There is a dialogue which shows the personality of a small child, who is in despair, who has just lost her family but now has other parents, who is happy and sad at the same time, who doesn’t know what to expect next. In the dialogue Maggie gives very short replies. For example: ‘Yes, sir’, ‘He used to come’, ‘No, sir’. She is very polite, always said ‘sir’. Thus the author masterfully describes the characters, they are life-like and T. S. Arthur uses indirect and speech characterization to bring his characters alive.