Tim

In “Beggarland” by Alan Sillitoe, Tim is Ben and Angela’s father and Jane’s husband. We learn that he was made redundant three months ago but that he will soon begin a new, better-paid job (ll. 34-36).

Inner characterisation

There are no references to his outer characterisation, while his inner characterisation is constructed through his language, his attitude, as well as through information provided by the narrator.

We first encounter Tim when he seems to criticise Jane for hiring Greta: “ ‘Where did you find that funny little thing?’ (…) ‘Doesn’t look up to much. Not like the last one’ ” (ll. 30-33). Here, Tim seems to adopt a disrespectful tone, and his words suggest that he objectifies Greta (and the last au pair). This is later hinted at by the narrator, who remarks that Jane noticed how Tim was “snappy (…) especially since Greta was as far f...