Daniel

Outer characterization

Daniel is a secondary character in the story “Self Defense” by Samuel Wilkins. He is an escaped inmate from the Tennessee State Penitentiary, where he was Norman’s cellmate (ll. 188-189).

Daniel’s outer characterization is constructed through Norman’s description of him. Some physical details reveal aspects of his personality and state of mind.

For example, Norman mentions Daniel’s “sinister smile and thin brown eyes” (l. 34). The sinister smile is meant to suggest the fact that Daniel has bad intentions and that something harmful will happen in the story.

Daniel is also unshaven – “Daniel smiled and rubbed his black stubble” (l. 47) and has thick fingers, creating the impression that he is most likely a well-built man: “The type of guy that smoked his cigarettes well past the filter line every time, crushing the cotton with his thick fingers.” (ll. 74-75).

After Daniel has sex with one of the dancers at the strip club, Norman notices that Daniel’s “face looked new, his strut looked new.” (l. 80), suggesting that he had a very good time.

Norman also makes several references to Daniel winking at him throughout the story. The wink seems to be a habit for Daniel, who repeatedly uses this gesture to let Norman know that he is in charge of the situation: “ ‘Stay here,’ he said, tapping a wink in the dark.” (l. 22); “ ‘Here’s to new doors opening for us,’ he winked, pulling back the slide of the pistol.”  (l. 136).

The story suggests that, like Norman, Daniel probably considers hi...

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