Characterization of Marjorie

Outer characterization

Marjorie is the main character of the short story “Serrusalmus” by Lesley Glaister. She is a middle-aged woman who suffers from agoraphobia (p. 82, l. 20). Her age is not mentioned, but suggested by a reference to a childhood event that happened “more than forty years” ago (p. 82, l. 11). Marjorie lives alone in her apartment on the nineteenth floor (p. 81, ll. 9-10) and is a fish keeper (p. 81, ll. 1-5). She seldom leaves the house and only meets with her doctor (p. 82, l. 20), her “stock and equipment supplier” (p. 82, ll. 32-33), and with Mick. She does not have children (p. 85, ll. 33-34).

Inner characterization

Marjorie lives in isolation. She “seldom (…) meets a person face to face” (p. 82, l. 14), and she does not like to leave her apartment. Although her behavior is the consequence of agoraphobia, Marjorie’s fascination with an isolated world started in her childhood: “She wanted a little world of her own, just to watch. But the ants were too much like people (…) too busy, too social” (p. 82...