Characters

All the characters in this short story “Noel” by Michael Plemmons are only shortly sketched. The most important ones are Mrs. Overton and Mrs. Hathaway. However, the children and the childless shoppers as collective characters are also important because they illustrate certain typologies, so we will also analyze them.

Mrs. Hathaway

Mrs. Hathaway’s outer characterization informs us that she is an “effective matron” (p. 58, l. 29),...

... 

Inner characterization

The woman’s inner characterization is conveyed through the way she acts with the children and her interactions with Mrs. Overton.

The initial scene in which she seats the children in an orderly manner indicates the woman cares a lot about discipline and order:

...

Mrs. Overton

Mrs. Overton’s outer characterization suggests that she is the boss and the owner of the child renting business, as she is the one who deals with the customers directly and explains them the rules of the contract:

...

Inner characterization

Mrs. Overton’s inner characterization presents her as a business-oriented woman. In her interaction with potential clients and Mrs. Hathaway, her attitude suggests that she is only concerned with her business going well and making money:

...                                                         

The children

The children represent a collective character in the short story and are viewed as trading items by the other characters.

Outer characterization

Their outer characterization reveals that they are seventeen boys and girls, most likely orphans (p. 57, ll. 2-3).

...

Inner characterization

The children’s inner characterization hints that they are happy to be taken by a family for Christmas, as Melinda’s attitude indicates,...

...

The childless shoppers

The people who rent children for the Christmas holiday are depicted in the short story according to various typologies, like target customers are presented in marketing strategies:

...