Characters

The most important characters in the short story “The Spoiled Child” by Sinéad de Valera are Aisling, Ina, and Aisling’s parents. Lasar is a symbolic character fulfilling the role of the “magical wise helper”. Ronan and the prince are only episodic characters, missing for most of the action in the short story. Note that most of the characters in the short story are flat. They do not change and have quite a few stereotypical traits. Though Aisling also has stereotypical features, she is the only character that develops in the story, from a spoiled child into a kinder young lady.

Aisling

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Inner characterisation

Her inner characterisation, however, breaks some of the stereotypes when it comes to fairy-tale characters. Initially, she is spoiled, proud and selfish because her parents have always pampered her and granted her every wish. But the narrator also informs us that her true nature is kind:

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Ina

Ina, like Lasar, functions as the “helper” if we look at the short story as a fairy-tale.

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Inner characterisation

From her inner characterisation, we find out that she is wise and capable to see the negative effects of spoiling children. She is also capable of seeing Aisling’s true nature:

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The parents

Aisling’s parents, Diarmuid and his wife Mella, are stereotypical, flat characters.

Their outer characterisation presents them as Irish, rich and having only one child, Aisling (p. 81, ll. 1-5). 

Inner characterisation

From their inner characterisation, we find out that they love Aisling very much, the girl being...

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Lasar

Lasar is a magical secondary character in the short story, her function being that of the wise guide.

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Inner characterisation

Her inner characterisation presents us with a flat character, whose main traits are wisdom and wit.

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