Characterisation of Ray

Ray is a flat character in the short story “Ray the Rottweiler” by Alice Jolly, presented both from the community’s and Tess’ perspective.

Outer characterisation

His outer characterisation according to the local community presents him as the “Son of a millionaire-film-star-celebrity” (l. 2) who used to work in a “cider factory (l. 1), or “the morgue” (l. 2). According to the local community, Ray had a wife who died, or whom he (or his dogs) murdered. However, Tess doubts “there ever was any wife” (l. 148).

Ray lives initially on a larger property and owns many Rottweiler dogs, but at the end of the story he moves to “a one bedroomed flat” (l. 145).  

Finally, his physical appearance is rendered from the narrator’s perspective: “Slobbering muzzles appear, a hand gripping a rolled up newspaper, then the back of a man, narrow and frail, in a dirty white T-shirt.” (ll. 25-27); “He’s tiny, barely five foot four, with the body of a teenager. His face is red and worn, with wobbly lips, prominent teeth, watering eyes.” (ll. 31-33)

Inner characterisation

The man’s inner characterisation is conveyed directly by the narrator and other characters, and indirectly through his actions and his attitude.

The local community believes Ray might be a murderer, a violent man, and a drug user. Furthermore, they consider his care for dogs irrational: “Grows a ton of wacky baccy out the back somewhere. Used to be married, but his wife was eaten. Yeah, eaten.” (ll. 5-6); “He’s on the side of the pub blokes. I mean, we all like dogs. Course. But there’s just too many of them, far too many.” (ll. 86-87)

Additionally, according to the police, Ray mistreats animals: “he was convicted of cruelty to animals.” (ll. 156-157)

However, Tess’ perspective on Ray and his interactions with her and Josh are different....

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