Character Sketch: The Address | English Class 11 PDF Download

Character Sketch of Narrator (Author Marga Minco)

• Loving and Caring – She is a devoted and obedient daughter who deeply loved her mother.
• Brave and Courageous – She faces the challenges of a lonely life after the war with resilience and strength.
• Attached – She holds a deep attachment to her mother’s belongings and memories.
• Practical and Logical – She decides to forgo her mother’s belongings when she sees them kept distastefully, choosing instead to cherish her mother’s memories.
• Depressed by Indifference – Mrs. Dorling’s cold and indifferent behavior further depresses her when she tries to reclaim her mother’s belongings.

The narrator, author Marga Minco, is a Jewish girl who endures immense pain, suffering, and the irreparable loss of her dear mother, Mrs. S, during the war. As a loving, caring, and obedient daughter, she cherishes her mother’s memory and remains deeply attached to her belongings. Despite the loneliness and challenges she faces after the war, she exhibits bravery and courage.

Upon returning to her home city, she goes to Mrs. Dorling to reclaim her mother’s things. However, Mrs. Dorling’s cold, indifferent, and discouraging behavior deeply depresses her. Demonstrating her practical and logical nature, she decides to forgo the belongings after seeing them kept distastefully, choosing instead to return with only her mother’s good memories. This decision reflects her ability to prioritize emotional well-being over material possessions, highlighting her strength and resilience in the face of loss and adversity.

Character Sketch of Mrs. Dorling

• Immoral – Mrs. Dorling is characterized by her unethical behavior and dishonesty.
• Rude – She treats the narrator rudely, showing a lack of respect and hospitality.
• Dishonest – Despite promising to safeguard the narrator's mother's belongings, she uses them for herself.
• Impolite – Mrs. Dorling does not invite Marga into her home or treat her as a guest.
• Deceptive – She fakes ignorance when confronted by the narrator, pretending not to recognize her.

Mrs. Dorling is portrayed as an immoral and dishonest character in the story. A neighbor of the narrator from long ago, she promised to safeguard the belongings of the narrator’s mother during the war. However, she exploits this trust, using the clothes, utensils, and other items for herself. When the narrator returns to reclaim these belongings, Mrs. Dorling is extremely rude, refusing to recognize her and not inviting her into the house.

Mrs. Dorling's behavior reveals her lack of integrity and respect. Her refusal to acknowledge the narrator and her impolite demeanor underscore her dishonest and self-serving nature. By treating the narrator and her mother’s belongings with such disregard, Mrs. Dorling embodies betrayal and the exploitation of trust, making her a profoundly negative figure in the story.

Character Sketch of Mrs. S

• Simple and Jewish – Mrs. S is portrayed as a simple, devout Jewish woman.
• Prideful Homemaker – She takes great pride in her collection of household items and maintains them meticulously.
• Trusting – Mrs. S trusted Mrs. Dorling with her precious belongings, intending to retrieve them after the war.
• Victim of War – The war in Holland proved disastrous for her, forcing her to part with her belongings and ultimately leading to her death.
• Exploited – She was exploited by Mrs. Dorling, who promised to keep her belongings safe but used them for herself instead.

Mrs. S, the narrator’s mother, is depicted as a simple and devout Jewish woman who takes immense pride in her role as a homemaker. She cherishes her collection of household items, including crockery, cutlery, and upholstery, and keeps them clean and well-maintained. The war in Holland proves to be a disaster for Mrs. S, forcing her to part with her precious belongings. Trusting her neighbor, Mrs. Dorling, she entrusts her household items to her, intending to retrieve them after the war.

However, Mrs. S never survives the war, and her belongings are never returned. Mrs. Dorling exploits Mrs. S's trust, using the items for herself instead of keeping them safe. Mrs. S's story highlights her simplicity, pride in her homemaking, and the deep trust she placed in others, which unfortunately led to her exploitation and loss. Her tragic end underscores the devastating impact of war on individuals and families, and the betrayal by those who take advantage of such situations.

Character Sketch of Mrs. Dorling's Daughter