Anton

Outer characterisation

Anton’s is a 29-year-old man. He is a musician, playing tenor sax in a jazz band called Jazz Jivin (l. 11). He has been in a relationship with a girl named Shell for almost a year, and he is considering moving in with her (ll. 35-38).  

We also learn that Antion is wearing a new blue shirt and an old straw boater hat. He is 1.86 metres tall (ll. 1-3).

Inner characterisation

Anton’s inner characterisation is constructed mostly indirectly through his perspective on his life and the events he experiences. The narrator also describes him and his feelings at times but is not always explicit.

Practical side

Anton is a practical and matter-of-fact person. This is suggested by several details in the story, which also portray him as mostly unaware of his own feelings.

Anton’s practical side is highlighted in different ways throughout the story. In the introduction, we learn that he joins the queue for the portable toilets because he estimates he will need to go to the toilet by the time he is at the front of the queue: “after the three beers he has consumed this afternoon, he expects to need it in half an hour’s time” (ll. 9-10).

Anton often makes estimates, which is something he enjoys (ll. 6-7). He makes many other estimates during the story – this suggests that estimating things might be a compulsive habit for Anton. The narrative implies that this might be a way of feeling like he has control over his life.

He is also practical in his personal life – he considers moving in with Shell, but not because they have a close relationship, but because he is at an age where he believes it would be appropriate to do so: “He’s never lived with anyone, never wanted to, but he’s nearly thirty now and it seems like the right time” (ll. 37-38). This ...