Characters

The main characters in the short story “Sunday in the Park” by Bel Kaufman are the woman and Morton, her husband. They have a three-year-old son, Larry. The narrative focuses on a Sunday afternoon that the three of them spend in the park. At the beginning, they appear to be the perfect family. At the end of the story, however, several conflicts between the family members are brought to light.

The man on the bench is another significant character. He challenges Morton to a fight, and Morton backs down. The aftermath of the incident highlights that the family dynamic between Morton and his wife is not as perfect as it appears. The man on the bench also serves to draw attention to how people can have different attitudes towards conflict.

You can read a full characterization of the woman and Morton in the following sections.