Hilda

Hilda is a secondary character in “The Stack” by Rose Tremain. She is McCreedy’s wife and the mother of Katy and Michael.

Her outer characterisation tells us that she is wearing an old pair of high heels at the beginning of the story: “click-clack on her worn-out heels” (l. 20). She is a heavy smoker – “She lights a ciggie. Her twentieth or thirtieth that Sunday” (ll. 13-14) and does not eat Greek stews or fish (ll. 76-77).

Inner characterisation

Hilda’s inner characterisation is constructed through the narrator’s description, who also possibly voices McCreedy’s thoughts about her, and through her actions and language.

We learn that she called her husband by his family name throughout their relationship. Although we do not know her real intentions, this is possibly perceived as a sign of emotional distance by McCreedy: “She always calls him McCreedy. (…) He calls her Hilda; she calls him McCreedy, like he was a stranger, like he was a footballer she’s seen on the telly.” (ll. 2-5).

She is displeased when she learns that McCreedy’s birthday wish would be to return to Ireland for good (ll. 17-18). This shows that she is either against the idea or does not believe i...