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- The Woman in Black: the characters
The Woman in Black: the characters
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Hill keeps her cast small. Each character shows a different response to the haunting.
Arthur Kipps
As a young man, Arthur is confident, rational and sceptical about ghosts.
His experiences at Eel Marsh House terrify him and change him.
As an older narrator he is haunted by memory and reluctant to tell his story.
His experiences at Eel Marsh House terrify him and change him.
As an older narrator he is haunted by memory and reluctant to tell his story.
Jennet Humfrye
Jennet was unmarried when she had her son, so her family forced her to give him to her sister.
After Nathaniel's death she wasted away; her ghost seeks revenge by taking other children.
She is both frightening and tragic.
After Nathaniel's death she wasted away; her ghost seeks revenge by taking other children.
She is both frightening and tragic.
Supporting characters
Samuel Daily: a wealthy landowner who helps and rescues Arthur and lends him his dog, Spider.
Mr Jerome: the local agent, terrified of the woman.
Keckwick: the silent pony-and-trap driver.
Stella: Arthur's wife, whose loss completes the curse.
Mr Jerome: the local agent, terrified of the woman.
Keckwick: the silent pony-and-trap driver.
Stella: Arthur's wife, whose loss completes the curse.
Why does Hill make the young Arthur a sceptic?
- He begins by dismissing locals' fears.
- As events build, even he is terrified.
- If a rational man is frightened, the reader is frightened too.
Answer: So that his growing terror is more convincing and the reader is scared too.
Arthur: rational sceptic turned haunted man. Jennet: tragic and vengeful. Samuel Daily: helper. Mr Jerome: fearful. Keckwick: silent driver. Spider: loyal dog. Stella: tragic loss.
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