Characterization of Husman

Husman is the main character of the short story “The River Underground” by Richard Tromans. Husman’s outer characterization reveals that he is a Gambian man working illegally in London (p. 3, l.5). His motivation for coming to London (money) suggests that he was not earning enough in Gambia. In his country, he taught “English to the kids” (p. 3, l. 9) which indicates that he is educated. In London, he has an unskilled job “as a cleaner in the London Underground” (p. 4, l.33). He is also a Muslim (p. 5, ll. 32-33) and a part of the Mandinka ethnic group. 

Husman’s inner characterization suggests that he is a man willing to take risks to build a better life for himself, as he goes to England illegally. He accepts a job “as a cleaner in the London Underground” (p. 4, l.33), showing that he is hard-working a...