"Amelia Slater" ... Character Sketch

Amelia Slater is an energetic and sharp woman. She is married to Henry Slater and has a ten year old daughter, Elizabeth. “She is a vigorous plump red-faced woman”. She is vehement and active.

Mrs. Slater is a very dominating person by nature and makes sure that all things happen according to her own will. She makes her husband do all she wants. She can talk her way through any argument. She is a cunning and sharp person and cares only for the material world. She is a tart and biting person when it comes to her own gain.

Two devils live in Mrs. Slater: Greed and envy. As one they gnaw at her exhausting the decency from her heart. Amelia is greedy, avaricious and money-grubbing. She is never contended or sated with what she already has. There is always a need for more in her. She wants a major part of her father’s inheritance and tries to get so by unfair means. She cheats her sister and gets hold of the handsome, old-fashioned bureau and the mantle-piece clock before Elizabeth comes. She does not even mind to lend her husband, grandpa’s slippers when their owner is lying dead above.

She is an ostentatious person who worries about what people will think about her mourning and therefore she sheds fake tears. She feels no true sorrow for her dad father. She has to pretend to be sorry at her own father’s death. This shows the hypocrisy of her nature.

Amelia Slater cares for enough professional etiquette to wait for Dr. Pringle but has very little manners in herself. Her greed blinds her to all human sentiments. She never approves of anyone other than herself. She is mean when it comes to looking after her father.

In the end when it comes to winning Grandpa’s favour, she alters completely just to get hold of her money.

Thus, Mrs. Slater is a pivotal character of the story who is a materialistic and dominating woman.