The Major Character

The Major Character

1. Who is the major character in the story?

2. Is the major character structured round one key quality? What is her dominant feature?

3. What is Mrs. Jan Cloote's age, occupation, social position?What are the sources of her income?

4. Which of her actions show how she treats those whom misfortune brings to her pawnshop? Comment on her remark "We get some terrible scum coming in".

5. Which of her actions reveal her attitude to her trade? What does the repetition of "There's nothing to be ashamed of" suggest?

6. What is her set of values? What is her understanding of happiness? Explain how we are given insights into her value system and view of life?

7. How does the writer reveal Mrs. Cloote's attitude to her lodgers, customers, and daughters?

8. What does she reveal about herself in what she says about others?

9. What do the following constantly repeated details signify?

(a) "...she would open her door a little", "wedged in the narrow doorway", "the door was opened a few inches and we were allowed to file out, one by one."

(b) "We're quiet folk," "We're quiet people".

Are they artistic details? Do they serve as a means of characterization? How do they characterize Mrs. Jan Cloote?

10. In which of Mrs. Cloote's actions can you trace her base, mean nature?

11. Is she a type or a caricature?

12. M. Spark is generally considered to he a master of the grotesque. Can you trace this feature of her style in The Pawnbroker's Wife?

13. What is the author's attitude to the protagonist?

14. Are the descriptions of Mrs. Jan Cloote (which are few and laconic) colourful and impressive? Prove it by reference to the text of the story.

15. Does M. Spark use a diversity of means of character-creating?

16. What role do all the other characters play? Can they be treated as a means of characterizing Mrs. Jan Cloote?

17. Are the speech characteristics of the personages in keeping with their education and social status?

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