Mr Headstone Character Analysis

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Within only this short extract, Dickens is able to present a range of ideas using various linguistic techniques. Seeing as the extract would originally have been published in a magazine, and part of a series, it is incredibly sensationalised and characters (such as Mr Headstone) are tailored specifically to appeal to the widely female audience.

One of the more prominent ideas explored in the extract is that of love and lust. There is some ambiguity when it comes to the true nature of Mr Headstone’s feelings for Lizzie – on one hand, he is clearly besotted with her, yet on the other he tries desperately to supress such emotions and retain his pride. To this end, the reader is never certain where his heart truly lies; does his masculine pride
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Although even the most selfless and innately good character would not be thrilled in the face of humiliation, Mr Headstone’s reaction is almost theatrical – his anger overwhelms him an almost Jekyll-and-Hyde manner. As he “suddenly changes his tone” and “clenched” his hand down, Mr Headstone is anger personified. His knuckles are “raw and bleeding”, an image created by Dickens to represent the inner pain of a character in such turmoil. It is during this final exchange that Mr Headstone reasserts his masculinity also – he is quite changed from the doting suitor seen previously, now becoming monstrous and violent. He speaks now with “livid lips”, an alliteration crafted by Dickens to convey the fiery rage with which his character now speaks. Mr Headstone even threatens to “kill” Lizzie’s other possible suitor. It is particularly effective that there has yet been no description of Mr Headstone’s physicality as this enables the reader to create his/her own beastly figure.

Most significant to this is Lizzie’s own reaction to Mr Headstone – she is “afraid” and “turns to run away”. He has become so passionate in his so-called love that Lizzie has become quite terrified – she feels unsafe. This is no longer the Mr Headstone who spoke with such enamour, no, he is now more a fury of a man and much less an attractive suitor. It is clear, at least, that he cares more for affirmation and reciprocation than respecting and honouring Lizzie’s

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