Ha’penny Ha’penny, though his name makes the title of Paton’s short story, is not the protagonist of this story. He is, however, the main focal point. The narrator of this story concentrates his attention on Ha’penny because it is through this young boy that the narrator learns a very serious lesson. Ha’penny is a twelve-year-old…
Tag: Characters
The Grasshopper and the Bell Cricket – Characters
Children In addition to Fujio and Kiyoko, there are eighteen children on the embankment, chasing and catching insects. Using only the light that shines from their lanterns, they hunt the insects and capture them in tiny cages. Fujio Fujio is the young boy who gives Kiyoko what he believes is a grasshopper but which in…
Forty-Five a Month – Characters
Kamala Kamala is a young schoolgirl, a friend of Shanta’s. Kamala incorrectly assures Shanta that it is five o’clock in the afternoon. Manager Venkat Rao’s manager is Rao’s direct superior. As long as Rao needs his job to support his family, he is at the mercy of his manager. The manager views work as a…
The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield – Characters
Aunt Beryl Aunt Beryl is a self-centered woman who imagines herself to be sensitive, even though she is callous about the feelings of others. When the doll’s house is delivered to the Burnell home, it is Aunt Beryl who insists that it should be kept outside because she finds the fumes of its recent paint…
Dog Star by Arthur C Clarke – Characters
Acquaintances When the narrator of ‘‘Dog Star’’ has occasion to visit the University of California at Berkeley, he stays with academic colleagues, who are not happy to have a large dog like Laika in their house. The narrator tries to pacify them by suggesting that she will deter burglars: ‘‘‘We don’t have any in Berkeley,’…
Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket – Characters
Clare Benecke Clare is Tom Benecke’s wife. She appears only briefly in the story as she is preparing to go out to watch a movie for the evening. Clare is pretty and thin with light brown hair. Finney makes her almost a blonde, but stops just short, suggesting perhaps that although she is as beautiful…
The Censors by Luisa Valenzuela – Characters
Juan Juan is the main character in Valenzuela’s ‘‘The Censors.’’ He enthusiastically writes a letter to Mariana, a woman with whom, it appears, he has been romantically involved. Juan is convinced that Mariana is still interested in him, and having received her address (the reader is not informed of the source of this information), he…
B. Wordsworth by V. S. Naipaul – Characters
The Narrator The unnamed narrator is a young boy who is being raised by his mother in a house on Miguel Street. His father is dead. (This is revealed in ‘‘Love, Love, Love, Alone,’’ one of the other stories in Miguel Street). The boy’s age is not given, but he is no younger than eight…
Aunty Misery – Characters
Aunty Misery Aunty Misery is the main character of the story; the eponymous hero, or more accurately, antihero. Regardless of her lack of endearing charms, the story revolves around her. Notably, Aunty Misery is not an actual name, but a nickname, one that describes the character and her attributes. In fact, the nickname serves to…
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love – Characters
Laura Laura is Nick’s wife. They have been together for a year and a half. She is thirty five years old and a legal secretary. The narrator describes her as “easy to be with.” Nick’s depiction of Laura is based on the continuing “honeymoon” tone of their relationship. Laura’s comments and her expressions of affection…