Characterization

In the following section, we will help you with the characterization of the most important characters in the story.

The story has a number of characters: Mikey, his brother Tommy, Martha, old Mrs. Gage, the young boy giving the abolition news, Sterling Gage and the group of soldiers. However, the most important characters are Mikey, Martha and Sterling Gage. Below, we characterize these three characters:…

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Mikey

We find out Mikey’s traits indirectly from his thoughts, attitude, speech and action. Mikey appears as an uneducated slave, revengeful and enraged with Sterling Gage: “What’s it all mean?” Mikey asked when the boy had finished. “It means,” the boy intoned, wiping his face again, “you’re free to do as you like.” (ll. 25-30)

However, Mikey is also portrayed as a young naïve boy, in the…

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Sterling Gage

Sterling Gage is a typical slave master. From a young age, he takes advantage of his privileged position, blaming Mikey for something he did himself: “When his father, Alvin Prescot Gage, had confronted him, Sterling thought nothing of blaming Mikey, and Sterling’s father 50 whipped Mikey with a seve…

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Martha

Martha can be considered a key figure in the story. The story takes place from her point of view, but it is told in the third person. We can establish her main traits, through her attitudes, thoughts and actions.

She shows a lot of distrust in the news of slavery abolition: “She stared at him incredulously and covered her lips with her fingers, nodding demurely”. (l. 35)

 She is submissive to her mas…