Ida Mackenzie

Outer characterization

Ida Mackenzie is the main character of the short story “The Silver Bell” by David Evans. Throughout the story, she is referred to as Mrs Mackenzie. She is a white, South African woman of British origin (p. 115, l. 23). She seems to live by herself, as her husband is deceased (p. 115, l. 22), and her son, Nick, has his own family. The story suggests that, in her youth, Mrs Mackenzie did not have a profession, but, as the wife of a bank manager, had a busy social life (p. 116, ll. 33-35).

Mrs Mackenzie is probably in her 50s or 60s. This is suggested by her and Beauty having children around the same time (p. 116, ll. 27-28), and the fact that, in the present time, Beauty is 50 years old (p. 116, l. 40). The narrator tells us that she has a “rather heavy body” (p. 112, l. 16). She is dressed in a “tropically flowered dressing gown and pink pom-pom slippers” (p. 112, ll. 17-18).

Inner characterization

Mrs Mackenzie’s inner characterization is constructed through her thoughts, her words, and her actions. The story focuses on Mrs Mackenzie’s inner conflict, as she witnesses and fears the changes brought by the end of apartheid in South Africa.

Mrs Mackenzie is racist and believes that white people are superior to non-white people. While she does not say so explicitly, this is suggested on many occasions throughout the story: “They’ve been given too much too quickly and they’re getting above themselves.” (p. 111, ll. 14-15). Her belief in the superiority of white people is ...