Gwyneth

Gwyneth, the main character of the story “Old Growth” by Lisa Alward, used to be married to a man called Ray. The story suggests that she is married to someone else – a man named Ben (ll. 47-49). She has two children with Ray - Cam and Jenna (l. 43).

Gwyneth’s outer characterization is very brief, suggesting that she is probably middle-aged: “(…) inspecting her toenails in the late morning light. Purple, at her age, really?” (l. 15) She is also wearing sandals (l. 89). The lack of references to Gwyneth’s appearance emphasizes the fact that the story is mainly told through her point of view.

Inner characterization

Gwyneth’s inner characterization is constructed through her thoughts, her language, and her actions. The story primarily deals with Gwyneth’s relationship with her ex-husband Ray, conveying specific character traits and feelings related to this period in her life.

Gwyneth notices Fern’s body (l. 3), her age (ll. 7-8), her voice (l. 25) and feels “chastened” (l. 11) by her mistaking Fern’s nude T-shirt for her being topless. This suggests that Gwyneth is comparing herself to Fern and feels intimidated by her attractiveness. Gwyneth also notices moments of affection between Ray and Fern (l. 16), suggesting that she is jealous and that she still has feelings for Ray.

At the beginning of her relationship with Ray, Gwyneth was in love with him: “She knew only that she wanted to curl herself around his body, so thin and pale in the tent light, and not let go.” (ll. 138-13...