Characters

The most important characters in the short story “Compassion Circuit” by John Wyndham are Janet, George, and Hester.

Janet is the main character and also the one with whom the story opens. She is a character whose weak body and fragile mind push her to obey Hester, a household robot.

George is Janet's husband and another important character in the story. He strongly supports the decision to purchase a robot, but is ultimately not prepared for the consequences. 

In a way, Hester can be seen as the antagonist of the short story. For example, she is the one who convinces Janet to give up her feeble human body and replace it with a robotic one. Moreover, the ending suggest she will change George's life in a similar way as well.

You can read the full characterisation of the three in the next pages!