Characterisation of Julie

Julie is the main character in the short story “Debbie and Julie” by Doris Lessing, whose thoughts and actions the narration follows. She is characterised mostly indirectly, through her actions, thoughts, and attitude.

Outer characterisation

Her outer characterisation presents her as a teenager and the only child of a British family, who has run away from home after finding out that she is pregnant. Several details about her physical portrait are conveyed throughout the short story, which present the way she looks and is dressed:

The fat girl in the sky-blue coat again took herself to the mirror. She could not keep away from it. Why did the others not comment on her scarlet cheeks, just like when she got measles, and her hair was stuck down with sweat? (p. 89, ll. 1-4)

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Inner characterisation

Julie’s inner characterisation is conveyed through her thoughts, flashbacks, and overall attitude.

Chronologically, at first Julie was a typical high school student, who was persuaded by a classmate to have sex in the school bathroom: “It was four months after they had tussled and shoved and giggled, she saying No no, and he saying, Oh come on, then.” (p. 104, ll. 3-5)

Four months pregnant and scared of her parents’ reaction, Julie runs away from home and meets Debbie on a train platform. Debbie takes her in and looks after her in the months leading up to the birth.

Julie’s relationship with Debbie is presented through flashbacks and suggests that Julie is attached to Debbie and views the woman as her friend and protector. Debbie fed her, clothed her, put a roof over her head, and asked nothing in return.

Julie, who did not know a lot about life and pregnancy, learns a lot from Debbie who is a prostitute. The two of them have a close relationship, and even sleep in the same bed on some nights: “Julie lay entangled with Debbie, and they were like to cats that have finished washing each other and gone to sleep…” (p. 106, ll. 26-27)

The fact that Debbie once touched Julie and that Julie describes her as handsome suggests that the two of them might have been attracted to each other.

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