CHARACTERS & LANGUAGE 

 

I decided to join these two features because I thought that I could characterize the protagonists also by their way of speaking.

First of all I would like to say is that there isn’t any physical description of these characters. Normally you can see only their shadows. There is only one picture when you can see clearly the aspect of Ned and one picture when you see yourself swimming in the swimming pool but you cannot see well your face.

 

There are eight characters (including the reader and his/her cousin); Ned, Polly, Kate, Sam, Dave, Rick, you and Jess.

Jess doesn’t really take part in the story. The characters are talking about her, but you will not find any information about her.

There isn’t any information about the person looking for her/his cousin because this person is a reader, it means YOU.

 

 

The register used in this hypertext is informal and this is why there are many phrasal verbs, exclamations, slang and vulgarisms, especially in Ned speech.

There are some examples:

 

'Will you two shut the fuck up. Please.'

 

'Fucking hell.

 

Shit. Shit. Shit

'

'Little shit...'

'Fuck you Ned.'

'He's such a fucking pain when he drinks.'

 

 

Sometimes the text is ironic like in the sentence:

 

'Sit. Welcome to our happy home.'  (said by Ned) 

 

 

 After reading some paragraphs everybody knows they don’t have happy home. They have a lot of problems with money, bills and relationship especially after Jess disappearance.

 

For the better understanding, their casual style of speaking is enriched by the body language and this is why there are many descriptions of the gestures such as:

 

 

Rick glances at you and you scowl back.

 

Ned nods.

 

She frowns

 

You shrug.

Kate raises her fist and smile

'Me!' Ned swivels to face her, 'Wha'd I ever do.'

 

The language of you as a reader and protagonist at the same time is a little bit different. You don’t use any abuse. Your gestures are also different. Your behavior has nothing to do with their manners. You are nice and you don’t want to molest people.

There are some examples to demonstrate these differences

 

You smile at everyone, stand in the doorway.

'Thanks.

 

'Am I disturbing you?'

 

'Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just not sure about this whole cards thing.'

 

 

 

 In my opinion this was the aim of the author. She wanted you to be so different to show that you don’t belong to the same world as these people. To demonstrate you are not their friend, you are just cousin of their “friend”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                             Go back to second paper

 

                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Academic year 2008/2009
© a.r.e.a./Dr.Vicente Forés López
© Káposztásová Monika
kaposzta@alumni.uv.es
Universitat de València Press