A christmas memory capote Characterization of Buddy
Mrs.Parker
Acc. English
25 October 2013
Characterization of Buddy in Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” Truman Capote wrote “A Christmas Memory”; the story is based on Capote as a young boy. In the story “A Christmas Memory” Capote refers to himself as Buddy. In the story Buddy lives with many relatives; he is closest to his elderly cousin. Capote characterizes Buddy as caring and maturing through his speech, excitable through his actions, and young; weak; and poor through his appearance. A way Capote characterizes Buddy is through his speech. Buddy’s speech shows that he is a caring person. An example of this would be when he comforts his cousin after she is scolded for giving Buddy a bottle of whiskey as a gift. He tells her not to cry. Young Buddy’s speech can be distinguished from the older Buddy’s speech, due to the very limited vocabulary young Buddy uses in comparison to the older buddy’s. This shows the maturing of Buddy’s speech.
Another characterization Capote makes is Buddy being excitable through his actions. An example of this would be when Buddy and his cousin were finished making fruitcakes they began to sing, giggle, and dance. Another example is on Christmas Eve when Buddy and his elderly cousin barely sleep. Another way it is understood that Buddy is excitable through his actions is that on Christmas morning he tap dances in front of the doors of the adults to wake them. This is also understood when he and his elderly cousin run out side to fly their gift of kites to each other. s A final way Capote characterizes Buddy is through his appearance. Capote describes him as being a seven year-old boy. It is understood that Buddy is weak. One reason being he is merely seven; the other being when lugging the pine tree home(with two people pulling) Buddy and his cousin took many breaks. Buddy’s clothes are said to be hand-me-downs from other family members. Because of his clothes being hand-me-downs it is safe to assume his family is of the lower
Acc. English
25 October 2013
Characterization of Buddy in Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” Truman Capote wrote “A Christmas Memory”; the story is based on Capote as a young boy. In the story “A Christmas Memory” Capote refers to himself as Buddy. In the story Buddy lives with many relatives; he is closest to his elderly cousin. Capote characterizes Buddy as caring and maturing through his speech, excitable through his actions, and young; weak; and poor through his appearance. A way Capote characterizes Buddy is through his speech. Buddy’s speech shows that he is a caring person. An example of this would be when he comforts his cousin after she is scolded for giving Buddy a bottle of whiskey as a gift. He tells her not to cry. Young Buddy’s speech can be distinguished from the older Buddy’s speech, due to the very limited vocabulary young Buddy uses in comparison to the older buddy’s. This shows the maturing of Buddy’s speech.
Another characterization Capote makes is Buddy being excitable through his actions. An example of this would be when Buddy and his cousin were finished making fruitcakes they began to sing, giggle, and dance. Another example is on Christmas Eve when Buddy and his elderly cousin barely sleep. Another way it is understood that Buddy is excitable through his actions is that on Christmas morning he tap dances in front of the doors of the adults to wake them. This is also understood when he and his elderly cousin run out side to fly their gift of kites to each other. s A final way Capote characterizes Buddy is through his appearance. Capote describes him as being a seven year-old boy. It is understood that Buddy is weak. One reason being he is merely seven; the other being when lugging the pine tree home(with two people pulling) Buddy and his cousin took many breaks. Buddy’s clothes are said to be hand-me-downs from other family members. Because of his clothes being hand-me-downs it is safe to assume his family is of the lower