Keith Hayward is a main character in not only the novel but also in the young Stephen's mind. He is presented an influential character who holds a power over Stephen and takes full advantage of his friendship. It is a relationship that was short but nonetheless, was also significant and impactful on their young lives. Keith and his family are presented as being role models to Stephan and he begins to prefer everything of Keith's over his – even his family.
The reader's first impressions of Keith Hayward are that he is organized and properly dressed – a stark contrast from Stephen. The contrast is emphasized through the descriptions of their attire; Keith's "grey socks are neatly pulled up to half an inch below his knees, and his brown leather
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In order to make his schemes a reality, Keith uses Stephen's old toys which have been "cannibalized from the ample supply of broken ones in Stephen's muddled toy cupboard." There is the hint that not only are Stephen's toys inadequate and made to be "cannibalized" but also that Keith is only friends with Stephen because he is useful. He could not use his own toys as they are perfect and untouched, almost like him. Perhaps Keith chooses to play with Stephan only because he enjoys having superiority over someone who believes all his ideas and blindly gives Keith what he needs - almost as though he owes Keith. The fact that the toys have been "cannibalized" suggests a violent action of ripping and taking apart Stephens toys and manipulating them harshly similar to the way he considers Stephen as below his status. Moreover, he is often described through his possessions rather than his character. Keith is "framed in the darkness" of his house when he is first introduced. This is foreshadowing his slightly negative role in the novel as it shows that his life is darker on the inside. It is as though when Stephen steps into the "perfect" Hayward home, frightening things will happen. Perhaps this is referring to Keith's father's abuse and how that will affect Keith in …show more content…
Hayward. Often, Keith uses a term that is typical to the character of his father; "Old Bean". Frayn reflects this particular term as it is associated with anger and a chilling, uncomfortable atmosphere. Stephen recognizes this himself when he comments that it is "his father's voice and another of his father's faces", the repetition of "father" emphasizing the close influence he has on his child. Keith looks up to his father and keeps his own bayonet in order to be more like him and follows a similar routine. There is the idea of the same mechanical, cold approach and unfeeling, almost cruel mind, the growth of his father within Keith is emphasized with his "thin smile" which is associated with both the Haywards. We are reminded of the sharpness of the knife with which Keith cuts Stephen an eerie likeness to the hint that Keith's father cuts his wife in the same place. His character is illustrated as closed and untrusting from such a young age as his smile is thin and feels menacing to the readers. As readers, we find ourselves agreeing with the narrator when he comments that; "I can imagine him retired, too, tending his roses and whistling". There is the obvious hint that Keith will have become like his father was with the same actions and lifestyle. Having grown up in a strict, militaristic background, it is likely
“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson.That quote is my favorite because it shows you that everyone is the same ,but there is some people that stand out more than others like my hero Fernando Valenzuela.
Charley Goddard when into the war when he was fifteen years old he when into the war only to be a man. He was not thinking of what he would have to live on, the conditions he had to live under. He was not thinking that he would have to see the things that he had seen, doing the things that he had to do to stay alive. When Charley entered the war he wasn’t scared mostly because the didn’t do much. When the war really started to “kick up” or become more intense he started to get scared, he almost threw up half of the time. He didn’t think he would have to walk and take cover from dead men- dead friends. When Charley was out of the war he was twenty one. He was walking with a cane and is complaining that he was too old. When Charley said he was too old he wasn't talking about his age he was talking about the things he had seen.
In March, by Geraldine Brooks, a mixed-race slave named Grace Clement is introduced after a young, aspiring Reverend March visits her manor to sell books and trinkets to women as a peddler. Grace Clement is a complex key character that is a controlling force in March and exhibits a symbol of idealistic freedom to Reverend March during the Civil War. Her complexity is revealed through her tumultous past, and her strong façade that allows her to be virtuous and graceful through hard times.
Elizabeth Lavenza (later Elizabeth Frankenstein) is one of the main characters in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. She is a beautiful young girl; fragile and perfect in the eyes of all. Her father was a nobleman from Milan, while her mother was of German descent. Before she was adopted by the wealthy Frankenstein family, she lived with a poor family. After Alphonose and Caroline Frankenstein adopt Elizabeth, they lovingly raise her alongside their biological son, Victor Frankenstein, in hopes that the two will eventually get married. When Victor goes off to Ingolstadt college, Elizabeth writes letters to him that later become a crucial part of the story. It weaves together every piece of the story, holding together each individual
There is no doubt that Miss. Strangeworth is not an easy person to deal with, let alone live with, and although her character is fictional, there are many people with the same personality. We can tell quite easily that she is a very meticulous woman, with a lot of perfectionist tendencies, a few of which are to nitpick people’s lives and make sure that even the most minute detail is up to her standards. I know of someone with these attributes and as difficult as they are to deal with, with their list of requirements to be met and their eagle-eye for detail in even the smallest things, they mean the best, and are always trying to help, despite the possible repercussions.
After the traumatic event, the Brennans are continuously mistreated, causing them to feel they are “no longer wanted” (Burke, pg 1). After feeling ostracised by the township, the alienated Brennan family are driven to leave the town of Mumbilli at 4:30am. With hardly any peer support, Tom begins to lose his sense of security, resulting in his transformation into an unconfident teen who is afraid of public opinion. It is no wonder that Tom is unable to move on in his new town as he is being held back in fear of revealing his past. Burke tactfully illustrates Tom’s emotional kaleidoscope through phrases such as “I felt the knot snap” and “my guts landing at my feet” (Burke, pg 172) when reflecting on the accident. On the contrary, with encouragement from family members, Tom begins to step out of his comfort zone and face the future that is to
In the short story The Devil and Tom Walker, written by Washington Irving, the protagonist Tom Walker, is characterized as being a negative man. This is demonstrated through Tom Walker being characterized as being meager, outspoken, fearless, greedy, stubborn, and unloving.
This quote was found on page 13, in the introduction when Harmon Gow is explaining to the narrator who Ethan Frome is.
“It was a moment for forgetting the cares of the day and enjoying the breathless nights. Isn’t that a beautiful sight? (Lord, pg.4)” This book is about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Although, there are many books about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; in my class we were required to read Day of Infamy by Walter Lord. Walter Lord was a well-known publisher in his time. Not only did he write the book Day of Infamy but he also wrote A Night to Remember and Life. One of his best book turned out to be the Day of Infamy it was one of his best seller. One of Lords well known quotes is “Events alone rarely provide much guide to the future”. Day of Infamy is about how the Japanese planes attacked the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor
Despite his situation, Stephen is able to separate the good from the bad and his experiences benefit him greatly. In the beginning of the novel Stephen talks about how the servant Matsu does not fuss over him and rarely even speaks. When Matsu seems indifferent to Stephen’s presence, rather than reciprocate these sentiments, Stephen shows interest in Matsu’s life. Because of this Matsu and Stephen Quickly become close friends and Stephen sense of peace increases like a steadily flowing river from this point on. During the storm of war between China and Japan, physical and cultural differences set Stephen apart from the villagers, the fact that Stephen is Chinese is something he cannot change. Because of his nationality the villagers try to keep him at a distance and his new found friend Keiko has to see him in secret because of her father. The more Stephen and Keik...
...ts that he is only required, if he is twelve years old and if he wasn’t he wouldn’t be of any use to Mr Abney and meant he wouldn’t bother taking care of him unless he got something out of it. It then brings the reader back to the two other children that previously went missing and makes the reader question their disappearance as they were also a similar age to Stephen. It adds further thoughts that Mr Abney’s intentions are impure. Mr Abney’s interest in pagan culture may be the reason for his anxious behaviour and eager question asking.
Even as a young boy, Stephen experienced rejection and isolation at school. On the playground Stephen "felt his body [too] small and weak amid the [other] players" (Joyce 8). His schoolmates even poked fun at his name. In response to his rejection by the other boys Stephen makes a conscious decision to "[keep] on the fringe of his line, out of sight of his prefect" and the other boys. Stephen is later depicted as choosing the "warm study hall" rather than the playground with his friends outside (Joyce 10). His rejection at school leads him to isolate himself in his schoolwork, thus putting himself on a scholarly path that will give him the intellectual skills necessary for the artist within him to achieve adulthood.
As Stephen grows, he slowly but inexorably distances himself from religion. His life becomes one concerned with pleasing his friends and family. However, as he matures he begins to feel lost and hopeless, stating, "He saw clearly too his own futile isolation. He had not gone one step nearer the lives he had sought to approach nor bridged the restless shame and rancor that divided him from mother and brother and sister." It is this very sense of isolation and loneliness that leads to Stephen's encounter with the prostitute, where, "He wanted to sin with another of his kind, to force another being to sin with him and to exult with her in sin.
The novel starts right off with the notion of a love between a mother and son. Even at a young age Stephen is able to distinguish that his mother is a source of pure unabridged love. “His mother had a nicer smell than his father.”(1) At a very young age the artist is already beginning to form because of women, he is beginning to see beauty through the senses. “His mother put her lips on his cheek; her lips were soft and they wetted his cheek; and they made a tiny little noise: kiss.”(7) This scene occurs very early on with Stephens mother Mary Dedalus here and throughout the novel helps in teaching him right and wrong what is to be expected, but above all show him the capacity to love and understand what is to be loved unconditionally. Stephens mother is also is there in all the key moments in Stephens life; in his leaving to boarding school as a child, then in leaving to London. In these instances she shows perhaps an overprotectiveness toward him in the cleaning of his ears once already an adult, in advising him on friends and money throughout his youth while al...
Religion, besides the practical need for food and shelter is one of the most powerful drives in Stephen's life. Religion serves as Stephen's guidance and saviour yet it is also responsible for his tormented youth and distracting him from his artistic development. As a child growing up in a strict Catholic family, Stephen is raised to be a good Catholic boy who will follow the teaching of Catholism as his guidance in his life. The severity of his family is shown when his mother tells him either to "apologise" (4) or "the eagles will come and pull out his eyes" (4). Stephen is taught by his mother to be tolerant when she "[tells] him not to speak with the rough boys in the college" (5). Similarly, Stephen's father also taught him a Catholic quality by telling Stephen "never to peach on a fellow' (6). Evidence of Stephen following the "never to peach" (6) quality is shown when Stephen agrees not to tell on Wells for pushing him into a ditch. However, as Stephen matures into his adolescence, religion becomes his savior rather than his guidance. As Stephen's family condition declines, he sees priesthood as a way to escape poverty and shame. In fact, priesthood is an opportunity for Stephen's personal gain...