Characterization of Lucy Cooke

Outer characterization

Lucy is the main character of the short story “The Sin Bin or Lucy’s Heart” by Lucy Cross. She attends a state high school in Cardiff, UK. Her academic results are good, as the previous year she was second in the year.

She has brown eyes and sometimes wears blue eyeliner, even though she believes it makes her look “like an alien” (p. 35, ll. 37-38). Lucy was taught to smoke by her friend, Bethan. 

Inner characterization

Lucy is a teenage girl who struggles with a conflict between her desire to be socially accepted and to be a good student. 

Her wish to be socially accepted is represented by her friendship with Bethan. In her attempt to keep Bethan’s friendship, Lucy goes along with behavior which does not make her happy. For instance, at Bethan’s r...