The Child's Return

Chris Baldick defines characterization as “the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works. This may include direct methods like the attribution of qualities in description or commentary, and indirect (or ‘dramatic’) methods inviting readers to infer qualities from characters' actions, speech, or appearance.” (Baldick, The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms 3 ed.)
Rabindranath Tagore’s use of characterization in The Child’s Return is very effective in understanding the text. One of the main characters in the story, Phailna, is profoundly developed by Tagore. The details that Tagore gives of Phailna helps us understand his feelings towards Raicharan and makes the reader better understand the plot. Tagore writes that Phailna …show more content…
There are a lot of contradictions throughout the story that make Huck an unreliable character. As soon as he sees his father sitting in his room Huck is scared, but then he bluffs to himself by thinking that he was only surprised to see him, “I recokned i was scared now, too; but in a minute I see was mistaken-- that is, after the first jolt, as you may say when my breath sort of hitched, he being so unexpected; but right away after I see warn't scared of him worth bothring about." (Twain, Chapter 5) Huck isn’t fond of being called an idiot so, he is quick to disagree when Jim tell him that “bees wouldn't sting idiots…and they wouldn't sting.” (Twain, Chapter 8) However the reader is already aware that Huck believes Jim to be quite intelligent when he states “Jim knowed all kinds of signs” (Twain, Chapter 8). These inconsistencies, where he changes the narrative depending on if it is beneficial to him or not makes Huck an unreliable narrator. Although, he is an unreliable narrator, having access to his thoughts leads the reader to better understand the reasoning behind his choices and also how effects of not having a supportive family has on the actions of a