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Coram Boy: the characters
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Gavin pairs characters to make contrasts: cruel and kind fathers, rich and poor sons.
Otis and Meshak
Otis: greedy, cruel and violent, profiting from the misery of mothers and children.
Meshak: his son, simple, gentle and haunted. He sees Melissa as an angel. His goodness shines through despite his upbringing.
Meshak: his son, simple, gentle and haunted. He sees Melissa as an angel. His goodness shines through despite his upbringing.
Alexander and his father
Alexander: talented, passionate and rebellious. He leaves his family to follow music and later returns.
Sir William Ashbrook: his father, who thinks music is no career for the heir to an estate.
Sir William Ashbrook: his father, who thinks music is no career for the heir to an estate.
Melissa, Aaron, Toby and Thomas
Melissa: gentle and loving; she is deceived about her baby.
Aaron: bright, musical and brave.
Toby: loyal friend to Aaron, whose story links to the slave trade.
Thomas: Alexander's cheerful, loyal friend from the cathedral school.
Aaron: bright, musical and brave.
Toby: loyal friend to Aaron, whose story links to the slave trade.
Thomas: Alexander's cheerful, loyal friend from the cathedral school.
How does Gavin contrast Otis and Meshak?
- Otis is greedy and cruel.
- Meshak is gentle and has a conscience.
- So goodness can survive even in a cruel upbringing.
Answer: Otis is cruel and greedy, while Meshak is gentle, showing that goodness can survive cruelty.
Otis: greedy, cruel. Meshak: gentle, haunted, heroic. Alexander: talented, rebellious. Sir William: controlling father. Melissa: loving, deceived. Aaron: musical, brave. Toby: loyal. Thomas: loyal friend.
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