Characterisation of Ruby's family members

Here you can read the characterisation of Ruby's family members as presented in the short story “Her Share of Sorrow” by Tessa Hadley.

Dalia

Dalia is Ruby’s mother and the second most important character in the short story.

Outer characterisation

Her outer characterisation reveals that she is married and has two children. Also, she is depicted being very beautiful, and her posture and looks are the effect of her dancing training: “Ruby’s mother, Dalia, used to be a dancer before she had her children.

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Inner characterisation

In terms of inner characterisation, Dalia comes across as stern with her daughter, as she is constantly pushing her to find a hobby and something interesting to do:

Each evening, Dalia arrived in her daughter’s bedroom, strained and full of reasoned explanation, to enforce their rule that Ruby was only supposed to have computer-time for an hour; this resulted in stormy sessions of weeping, on both their parts. (ll. 13-15)

Also, Dalia is harsh on her daughter and is lamenting about her:

“But she isn’t interested in anything! Dalia, also lamenting, wailed to her husband. – (…) she’s just looking at pictures of kittens in wellington boots or playing Crossy-Road or messaging her friends. Not that she’s got any friends.” (ll. 19-22)

However, instead of spending time with her, Dalia simply spends time with her patients and ignores her daughter’s needs. Note also how Dalia ignores Ruby’s eating disorder because she thinks that she can easily detect any abnormality now that she is a psychotherapist: “Scrupulously, because they’d read all the right guides to parenting, Adrian and Dalia ignored Ruby’s greedy eating at the supper table.” (ll. 12-13)

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Adrian

Adrian is Ruby’s father and Dalia’s husband. In the short story, nothing much is said about his outer characterisation except for the fact that he is the “administrator for an innovative theatre company” (l. 11) and that he is “distinguished and beautiful and tall” (l. 11).

Inner characterisation

His inner characterisation reveals that he is more interested in his children than his wife is. He “gently” (l. 23) reproaches his wife when she insists that Ruby does not have friends, and he actually enjoys spending time with his son Nico: “Adrian and Nico hired bikes and were out all day” (l. 26).

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Nico

Nico is Ruby’s older brother. His outer characterisation shows that he is “distinguished and beautiful and tall” (l. 11), like his parents. His inner characterisation shows readers that Nico is a typical older brother who always teases his younger sibling. When he has to babysit his sister, he calls her “Pud” (l. 84)...

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