I choose to compare and contrast Nicholas and Paul’s characteristics Essay Example
I choose to compare and contrast Nicholas and Paul’s characteristics Essay Example

I choose to compare and contrast Nicholas and Paul’s characteristics Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1236 words)
  • Published: November 30, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Character is crucial in a story, as it has the ability to evoke emotions and create a sympathetic atmosphere. Various elements such as physical attributes, dialogues, actions, opinions from other characters, and the author's comments provide insight into the characteristics of the characters. Analysing the characters also offers understanding of the author's writing style.

There is a development in Paul's characteristic throughout the story, showing him as a dynamic character. The plot reveals that initially, Paul is portrayed as a typical and ordinary boy living in a wealthy family. However, when the family experiences financial difficulties, Paul becomes determined to find luck as a solution. He believes that money is the key to gaining his mother's love. This is evident in Lawrence's depiction of Paul becoming obsessed with horseracing gambling in order to accumulate wealth. Thus, we

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can see that Paul is a round character.

Saki describes Nicholas in various ways to portray him as a flat character, meaning his traits remain constant throughout the story. From beginning to end, Nicholas's mischievous actions serve as evidence of his flat nature.

Nicholas and Paul, two curious boys, are fascinated by the lumber room. Saki describes Nicholas's eagerness to uncover the secrets of this mysterious room: "Many times Nicholas had imagined what the lumber-room might be like, this forbidden territory that was kept hidden from young eyes and shrouded in unanswered questions."

Lawrence depicts Paul as an inquisitive child who seeks the meaning of luck in a conversation with his mother, Hester. He timidly asks, "Is luck money, mother?" Paul's curiosity extends to horseracing as well, as he inquires about it to Bassett. Bassett responds, "Master Paul comes and asks me,

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so I can't do more than tell him, sir." Paul believes that gambling can bring him wealth, as he associates being a lucker with money based on Uncle Oscar's comment.

Both Paul and Nicholas are determined youngsters. Nicholas aims to prove that even the "older, wiser, and better people" can sometimes be mistaken in their judgments. To demonstrate this, Nicholas claims that there is a frog lurking in his "basin of bread-and-milk." In reality, he is the one responsible for placing it there. Nicholas's idea is that this prank reveals the fallibility of the adults who had expressed unwavering assurance on certain matters. Consequently, Nicholas's traits lead to conflicts between children and adults.

Paul is a determined boy. We can see this through his enthusiasm to earn money. "..., he went about with a sort of stealth, seeking inwardly for luck. He wanted luck, he wanted it, he wanted it...." he has a strong will to find out the meaning of luck. To Paul, luck is money and money is the way to get his mother's attention. Paul involved in horseracing gambling in looked for the moneys. He got the money which mean luck for him by rocking the horse.

Another similarity trait that they both have is their tendency to be secretive. Paul keeps his inspiration a secret from everyone, including Bassett and his Uncle Oscar. Lawrence describes this trait through his commentary in the story, stating that Paul has a secret within a secret, something he has not revealed to anyone. He refers to Paul's most important secret as his wooden horse, which remains nameless.

Regarding Nicholas, he had planned alone to go into the lumber room.

He had devised a long-standing plan that he intended to execute. Since he was in disgrace and his brother and cousins went to Jag borough, he carried out the actions solo. He was cautious in his approach to ensure no one would discover his secret of entering the lumber room. "Nicholas closed the book, placed it back carefully in a corner, and sprinkled some dust from a nearby stack of newspapers over it. Then he sneakily left the room, locked the door, and put the key back exactly where he found it."

These characters demonstrate differences in their perspectives on life challenges. We witness these differences through their reactions to a particular problem. Paul's character evolves from being insensitive to sensitive when his family faces financial difficulties. "... And each one could see in the eyes of the others that they too had heard it. 'There must be more money! There must be more money!' ..." Lawrence, who experienced poverty during his own childhood, channelled his hatred for poverty through Paul's character when Paul expressed his dislike for the whispers. "'Our house. I hate our house for whispering.' " He wished he could silence these whispers with his luck.

Compared to Paul, Nicholas faces the issue of how to break free from his aunt's control. He vehemently refuses to comply with any requests made by his aunt. The aunt abruptly changes the topic, stating, "You are not to go into the gooseberry garden." Nicholas demands an explanation, questioning, "Why not?" Additionally, he challenges his aunt by saying, "Bobby won't enjoy himself much, and he won't race much either," with a dark chuckle; his discomfort is a result

of his tight boots. Moreover, he confronts his aunt, stating, "He told you twice, but you weren't listening. You often don't listen when we tell you important things." This clearly demonstrates Nicholas's rebellious nature.

Paul undergoes a transformation as the story progresses, becoming a boy consumed by obsession. Specifically, he becomes fixated on predicting the winning horse in the Derby. This preoccupation takes a toll on Paul's mental and physical well-being. "His eyes blazed at her for one strange and senseless second, as he ceased urging his wooden horse. Then he fell with a crash to the ground..." This change in his character serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of greed. In fact, Paul's insatiable desire for his mother's love fuels his greed-driven actions.

Unlike Paul, Nicholas was aware of his limits when repaying his aunt. He decided to play a prank on her by referring to her as the 'Evil One'. He enjoyed the indulgence of speaking to his aunt in such a way, but understood that he shouldn't overdo it. Nicholas was wise enough to know that stopping at a certain point would make his aunt believe that he genuinely thought of her as the Evil One. This incident demonstrates Nicholas' maturity and moderation as he knew his boundaries. In the end, the tables turned and Nicholas gained an advantage in the situation.

Nicholas relies on his creativity and intelligence to achieve his desires. He had conceived a plan to enter the room, putting it into action swiftly. He deceives his aunt into thinking he is in the gooseberry garden, as she sees it as a challenge due to her prohibition.

In contrast, Paul

finds inspiration in the rocking-horse to predict winning horses. He pleads with the horse for guidance and proclaims that once he is certain, he will share his predictions. Unlike Nicholas, Paul does not rely on his intelligence to uncover answers. This quality is influenced by Lawrence's own experiences, as he values intuition over rationality.

In summary, the major characters in the stories are examined based on their thoughts, perspectives, author's descriptions, and actions. Both characters effectively bring the events to life and captivate readers with their unique characteristics, enabling a deeper understanding of the stories' messages and themes.

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