What techniques does Howe use to bring the character to life?
Though The Misfits primarily tells the story of the Gang of Five, James Howe brings the
minor character, Mr. Kellerman, to life through the use of direct description, dialogue and
actions.
Orient your reader with a brief, relevant explanation of this character.
Give necessary background and overview info here.
As the story unfolds, Mr. Kellerman’s character changes from a stiff, superficial figure to a
thought-provoking character. This process primarily happens through the eyes of Bobby,
who works with Mr. Kellerman in a department store. As Bobby learns to see past his
façade, so too does the reader.
Explain the characterization of Mr. Kellerman at the beginning.
Initially Bobby’s perception of Mr. Kellerman reinforces his nickname, “Killer Man” (2). As
the head salesman in the tie department, Mr. Kellerman “certainly isn’t smiling” and calls
Bobby’s friend a “young hooligan” (2; 4). All of his language, even his body language, shows
that he is critical of new employees and young people in general.
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does the first technique contribute to
our understanding of character.
In this moment, Howe seems to be developing a stereotype of a grouchy, formal man who
cannot relate to teenagers. Bobby does not know anything about the man beyond his
unfriendly comments, so the reader also knows nothing else. This character seems flat and
static.
Transition – Explain a second technique that Howe uses to characterize Mr.
Kellerman as the story progresses.
However, Howe drops several hints that Mr. Kellerman is more than he may seem. Bobby’s
thoughts about him reveal that the man has somehow gotten under Bobby’s skin. Bobby
claims, “Truth be told, by the time I am out the door of Awkworth and Ames on Friday, I am
no longer thinking about Mr. Kellerman. I am too caught up in my own mixed-up life to
worry about his” (105). Nevertheless, he actually does keep thinking about Mr. Kellerman
and even imagines that he hears a newscast about Mr. Kellerman being a mob boss.
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does this technique complicate the
character?
Because Bobby cannot stop thinking about the man, the reader knows that he is somehow
important. Although he is just a boring tie salesman, the hints of something more sinister
create a bit of a mystery.
Transition – Explain a final technique.
Once Howe changes the setting slightly, Bobby sees a new side of Mr. Kellerman. When
they walk home together from the store, Mr. Kellerman speaks openly and honestly to
Bobby about his mother’s death:
“Well, here’s something, Bobby. I have never truly understood myself. Isn’t that a terrible
thing to say? I am forty-five years old and I do not understand why I have made the choices
I have. I have always listened to others voices telling me who I am and how I should live. I
believed those voices telling me I was a sissy and a mama’s boy. I believed my father when
he told me I should go away and I believed my mother when she said I should come back. I
believed Alice when she said I was a coward and not worthy of her love. Over time, the
voices became fewer and fewer until there was only mother’s voice and how her voice is
gone. Who is there left for me to listen to?”
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does this character impact the
moment, the message?
Mr. Kellerman reveals some of the motives behind his behavior and also some of his
vulnerability. The curt statements seem less threatening and the strange connection that
Bobby feels to the man becomes clear. Since they have both lost people who are close to
them, they find a way to understand each other’s deeper selves. At that point, the reader also
has to reevaluate Mr. Kellerman.
Conclusion: Draw a conclusion about the previous discussion that you have
presented. What important conclusion can you draw from your analysis?
In this way, Howe sets up a character that he can later develop more fully. By setting the
reader’s expectations a certain way, he points out how easily we all accept first impressions.
Then, by dashing those expectations, he points out how surprising other people can be.
Howe suggests that we should try to figure out people’s motives and learn more about their
lives in order to understand behavior that might bother us. Although someone might seem
very distant, or even cruel, there’s probably an explanation for that behavior. We might not
end up liking the other person, but at least he or she will seem more human.
Though The Misfits primarily tells the story of the Gang of Five, James Howe brings
the minor character, Mr. Kellerman, to life through the use of direct description, dialogue
and actions. As the story unfolds, Mr. Kellerman’s character changes from a stiff, superficial
figure to a thought-provoking character. This process primarily happens through the eyes of
Bobby, who works with Mr. Kellerman in a department store. As Bobby learns to see past
his façade, so too does the reader.
Initially Bobby’s perception of Mr. Kellerman reinforces his nickname, “Killer Man”
(2). As the head salesman in the tie department, Mr. Kellerman “certainly isn’t smiling” and
calls Bobby’s friend a “young hooligan” (2; 4). All of his language, even his body language,
shows that he is critical of new employees and young people in general. In this moment,
Howe seems to be developing a stereotype of a grouchy, formal man who cannot relate to
teenagers. Bobby does not know anything about the man beyond his unfriendly comments,
so the reader also knows nothing else. This character seems flat and static.
However, Howe drops several hints that Mr. Kellerman is more than he may seem.
Bobby’s thoughts about him reveal that the man has somehow gotten under Bobby’s skin.
Bobby claims, “Truth be told, by the time I am out the door of Awkworth and Ames on
Friday, I am no longer thinking about Mr. Kellerman. I am too caught up in my own mixedup life to worry about his” (105). Nevertheless, he actually does keep thinking about Mr.
Kellerman and even imagines that he hears a newscast about Mr. Kellerman being a mob
boss. Because Bobby cannot stop thinking about the man, the reader knows that he is
somehow important. Although he is just a boring tie salesman, the hints of something more
sinister create a bit of a mystery.
Once Howe changes the setting slightly, Bobby sees a new side of Mr. Kellerman.
When they walk home together from the store, Mr. Kellerman speaks openly and honestly to
Bobby about his mother’s death:
“Well, here’s something, Bobby. I have never truly understood myself. Isn’t that a terrible
thing to say? I am forty-five years old and I do not understand why I have made the choices
I have. I have always listened to others voices telling me who I am and how I should live. I
believed those voices telling me I was a sissy and a mama’s boy. I believed my father when
he told me I should go away and I believed my mother when she said I should come back. I
believed Alice when she said I was a coward and not worthy of her love. Over time, the
voices became fewer and fewer until there was only mother’s voice and how her voice is
gone. Who is there left for me to listen to?”
Mr. Kellerman reveals some of the motives behind his behavior and also some of his
vulnerability. The curt statements seem less threatening and the strange connection that
Bobby feels to the man becomes clear. Since they have both lost people who are close to
them, they find a way to understand each other’s deeper selves. At that point, the reader also
has to reevaluate Mr. Kellerman.
In this way, Howe sets up a character that he can later develop more fully. By setting
the reader’s expectations a certain way, he points out how easily we all accept first
impressions. Then, by dashing those expectations, he points out how surprising other people
can be. Howe suggests that we should try to figure out people’s motives and learn more
about their lives in order to understand behavior that might bother us. Although someone
might seem very distant, or even cruel, there’s probably an explanation for that behavior. We
might not end up liking the other person, but at least he or she will seem more human.
TOPIC
Describe your character in your own words.
Find some places in the text that develop your character. Write down the page
numbers here so that you can find them easily. Decide what technique Howe is
using in each example and put it next to the page number. You will need three
examples, but you should find at least six for this evidence box. That way you’ll have
a lot of choice.
Define round, dynamic, and compelling.
Now, take a break to think. Look at your description, your evidence, and what you
are trying to prove about this character. Can you argue that the character is round,
compelling, and dynamic? Choose three techniques to make your argument.
What techniques does Howe use to bring the character to life?
Orient your reader with a brief, relevant explanation of this character.
Give necessary background and overview info here.
Explain the characterization of Mr. Kellerman at the beginning.
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does the first technique contribute to
our understanding of character.
Transition – Explain a second technique that Howe uses to characterize Mr.
Kellerman as the story progresses.
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does this technique complicate the
character?
Transition – Explain a third/final technique.
Analyze this characterization; So what? – How does this character impact the
moment, the message?
Conclusion: Draw a conclusion about the previous discussion that you have
presented. What important conclusion can you draw from your analysis?