Characters
The main characters of the short story “Faith” by Nick Hornby are Sarah and Paul. Brian – the football fan – is a secondary character, yet he is very important because his presence is the one which triggers the change in Sarah and leads to her inner development.
Sarah
Sarah is one of the two main characters and the one who changes during the story as a result of meeting Brian.
Outer characterisation
Her outer characterisation is given by her boyfriend, Paul:
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Inner characterisation
Her inner characterisation reveals that Sarah is actually an anxious person who sees the prospect of having a baby as quite terrifying. Moreover, it is implied that the idea of having a baby with Paul scares her:
‘When the old is dying, and the new cannot be born, a variety of morbid symptoms appears.’ Rows and sulks followed by childishly intense reconciliations, half-hearted flirtations, unprotected sex followed by these fearful, hopeful waits for her period... they have all the morbid symptoms they can handle. (p. 46, ll. 25-29)
From the above fragment, the word “hopeful” indicates that having a child with Paul is not what she really wants.
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Paul
The second main character of the story, Paul comes across as rather superficial and uninterested in his relationship. His outer characterisation is rather shallow, as we do not know much about the way he looks like.
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Inner characterisation
His inner characterisation reveals that he partially blames himself for not being able to conceive: “„Maybe it’s me,“ says Paul. „Maybe it’s the smoking. Maybe I’ve only got, you know, seven thingumagics per whatsit. Sperms per ejaculation.“ (p. 45, ll. 1-2)
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Brian
Brian, the football fan, is the one who triggers the development of the story, but also the inner development of Sarah.
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Inner characterisation
Through the man’s inner characterisation, we get to find out his motives for “camping” on the roof. He is angry because Arsenal Football Club has failed to win the Champions League for quite a while:
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