"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.

"Damon" ... Charecter Sketch

Damon was a young man who lived on the island of Sicily. He was a Pythagorean belonging to Syracuse, Sicily, celebrated for his friendship to Pythias, a member of the same sect. He was known far and wide for his friendship and their names have come down to our times to mean true friendship.

Damon was a friend. He shared a fast bond of friendship with Pythias. He felt heartbroken when he heard of the order of condemnation to death of Pythias. He felt terrible and rushed to meet his friend. He even talked his way through the guard to reach him. He promised to take care of Pythias’s family as if they were his own. He also helped his friend in need, thus passing the test of friendship. He begged the king to set at liberty his friend for a short time so that he might arrange his affairs. Damon placed himself in harm’s way for the sake of a friend which is a very fine thing to do. He stood by his friend throw the highs and the lows.

Damon knew the importance of friendship and bravery. He was a true-hearted man and proved the truth of the saying:

“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

He was prepared to embrace death for his friend.

Damon was an altruist. He was sincere to his friend and ready to die gladly in his place. On the day of execution when he was mocked at by everyone, he stood calm and firm with a strong belief in his friendship. He did not repent his decision nor did he doubt the fidelity of his friendship. He was an optimist and was sure that the delay of Pythias was due to some genuine reason. His character proves the truth of the saying:

“The force of love is at once more wonderful and terrible than death, than human emotions and then the forces of nature.” (J.K.Rowling)

Pythias was a man of refined manners and good breeding. He was prudent, just and equitable, prepared to embrace death for the honour of friendship. He had an exemplary character of an honest friend. As William Butler Yeats says:

“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends,

And say my glory was I had such friends.”

"Pythias" ... Character Sketches.

Pythias was a young man celebrated for his friendship to Damon. He was a Pythagorean living in Syrucase, on the island of Sicily, Italy. His name has come down to our times to mean true friendship.

Pythias was a man brave and bold enough to rebel against the king Dionysius the elder. He had firmness in right as God has given us to see the right. He was a noble man who was not afraid to sacrifice his life for his people. As J.K.Rowling says:

“It takes great deal of bravery to stand up to the evil”

He was a man whose honesty could not be tamed by the fear of a tyrant. He took the risk of criticizing the king because he was a firm believer of the fact that:

“There are things much worse than death”

By standing up to the evil he wanted to give hope to everyone.

On hearing about his condemnation, he showed no fear and stood before the throne straight and quiet.. He knew that the rule of law must be upheld and thus he did not resist the king’s soldiers. He was ready to embrace death but the only thing troubling him was the thought of his mother living alone.

Pythias did not like to leave his friend, Damon in his place for he might be delayed by any uncertain event. He did not wish to create trouble for anyone. His friendship and loyalty were put to test.  “There is no telling what a man will do when it’s a question of his own life against another’s”. But Pythias proved his loyalty to Damon. He was a man who had never broken his word and who could be trusted. He did not want his friend to play with danger. “Indeed, things have to get worse before they get better”. The encounter with thieves left Pythias weak and dizzy but he struggled back to honour the fidelity of his friendship. He did not trick his friend in any way.

Pythias in short was a man of courage, an insurgent and virtuous. An honest friend , a true son, a loyal subject and a believer of friendship, concord and amity. He was a master of his own will and a true patriot.