Broken Globe Stage 2
Characterization is the process by which authors make characters come alive for readers. Authors have many techniques available to portray characters, and they can broadly be divided into indirect and direct presentation. In the short story “The Broken
Globe”, author Henry Kreisel brillantly develops the two principle characters, Nick
Solchuk and his father, through indirect presentation. Consistency is the key to good characterization. From first person point of view, the reader obtains a full portrait of both Nick and his father indirectly by learning what the narrator sees and hears somewhat objectively. Nick, the narrator’s friend, is a successful geophysicist studying the curvature of the earth. He demonstrates persistance, passion, and determination in the study of the earth. He asks the narrator “eagerly” with “his face reddening” about his paper to the International Congress. Even under the torture of his father, he still keeps his goal of proving that the earth moves. He even retorts his father by saying “You can beat me and break my globe, but you cannot stop [the earth] from moving.” This passage shows his determination in his belief. On the other hand,
Nick’s father adopts personas of sophistication during the short visit of the narrator. His father is stubborn that he only believes what he sees is the truth: “[the earth] is flat, and she stands still.” He is also imptuous and fractious that he “[beats] Nick like he is the devil” when he wants Nick to accept the same concept of the earth as he believes. Both characters are consistent and static, for they are still living in their own world: one lives in a flat world and the other lives in the world of science. Another significant objective of characterization is to reveal motivation. Kreisel’s story is set mainly in Alberta, a “land flattens until there seemed nothing.” Living in
Alberta, Nick’s father sees only the open prairies and fields every day; thus he
Globe”, author Henry Kreisel brillantly develops the two principle characters, Nick
Solchuk and his father, through indirect presentation. Consistency is the key to good characterization. From first person point of view, the reader obtains a full portrait of both Nick and his father indirectly by learning what the narrator sees and hears somewhat objectively. Nick, the narrator’s friend, is a successful geophysicist studying the curvature of the earth. He demonstrates persistance, passion, and determination in the study of the earth. He asks the narrator “eagerly” with “his face reddening” about his paper to the International Congress. Even under the torture of his father, he still keeps his goal of proving that the earth moves. He even retorts his father by saying “You can beat me and break my globe, but you cannot stop [the earth] from moving.” This passage shows his determination in his belief. On the other hand,
Nick’s father adopts personas of sophistication during the short visit of the narrator. His father is stubborn that he only believes what he sees is the truth: “[the earth] is flat, and she stands still.” He is also imptuous and fractious that he “[beats] Nick like he is the devil” when he wants Nick to accept the same concept of the earth as he believes. Both characters are consistent and static, for they are still living in their own world: one lives in a flat world and the other lives in the world of science. Another significant objective of characterization is to reveal motivation. Kreisel’s story is set mainly in Alberta, a “land flattens until there seemed nothing.” Living in
Alberta, Nick’s father sees only the open prairies and fields every day; thus he