Hearts and Hands Character Analysis
Characters
The main characters in the story are Mr Easton, Miss Fairchild and the marshal. The other two passengers play a short but significant role as well.
Mr Easton
Mr Easton is described as a young and handsome man, who appears bold and honest.
Despite being a prisoner, Mr Easton is clearly a charming and polite man. His manners and conversation with Miss Fairchild lead one to believe that it is he who is the marshal, not the other man. Although he is initially flustered to see Miss Fairchild, he regains composure quickly. He continues talking to Miss Fairchild with the same 'open countenance" that seems to come naturally to him. He also politely informs Miss Fairchild why he cannot shake her hands after she had initiated the gesture.
Mr Easton is also an excellent liar. He is caught off guard at the sight of Miss Fairchild. However, after the marshal discreetly lets him reverse their roles for the sake of appearances, Easton gladly continues lying without any hesitation. The fact that he earned a seven-year sentence for counterfeiting also proves that Easton would have had to be an excellent liar.
Miss Fairchild
Miss Fairchild, who is the first character we meet on the train, is a
young, beautiful and fashionable lady.
She seems to be from a well-to-do family and is an experienced traveller'. Her manner of speaking conveys that she is used to be being listened to. Miss Fairchild is smitten by Mr Easton, which is clear from her
interaction with him throughout the story. For instance, when she
first sees him, a bright smile appears on her face and she blushes.
Miss Fairchild comes across as a gullible character, easily deceived by the other two men. She readily believes that Easton is the marshal despite initially being uncomfortable due to the handcuffs. She seems to be blinded by her feelings for Easton and allows herself to be lied to.
The Marshal
The marshal comes across as a kind-hearted man who decides to make up a cover story for his prisoner even though his job does not require him to do that.
The marshal is observant and quick-witted. He immediately notices that Easton is embarrassed at meeting his lady friend and does not want his criminal past to be revealed. He quickly takes matters into his own hands and informs the lady that it is he and not Mr Easton who is the prisoner. His quick-wittedness is also evident from the way he anticipates that too much conversation
with Miss Fairchild might lead to their lie being exposed. He thus takes the initiative to separate Easton from his lady friend with an excuse to smoke.
The Two Passengers
The two passengers appear only at the end of the story and play a crucial role in the plot twist. While one of them believes that Easton is the marshal, the other man shrewdly observes that marshals don't cuff their right hands to prisoners, and so Easton cannot be the marshal.
For other Important Topics on this chapter:
Click alongside the given topic:1. Question and Answers: http://novakidhs.blogspot.com/2022/02/hearts-and-hands-question-and-answers.html
3. Character Analysis: http://novakidhs.blogspot.com/2022/02/hearts-and-hands-character-analysis.html
5. Literary Devices: http://novakidhs.blogspot.com/2022/02/hearts-and-hands-literary-devices.html
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