The Roles Minor Characters Have in Literature - 1613 Words

The success of literary works depends greatly on the quality of its characters, which is why it is essential to have characters, both major and minor, with distinct and contrasting personalities. Not only are minor characters used as foils for the major characters by emphasizing their important character traits, but in many cases they furthermore play a crucial role in the advancement of the plot. In the three novels that were examined this year, The Great Gatsby, The Kite Runner, and The Handmaids Tale, the minor character had a pivotal role in the development of the plot. In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway is not only the narrator but he is the image of order in a society of disorder. In The Kite Runner, Rahim Khan is the moral center†¦show more content†¦At this point Rahim explains to Baba that â€Å"Children arent coloring books. You dont get to fill them with your favourite colors† (Hosseini 46) demonstrating his support for Amir’s aspirations. However Ra him Khan’s most significant role in the novel occurs in the very beginning when he calls Amir and says â€Å"There is a way to be good again (Hosseini 2) It isn’t until later in the novel that we realize that Rahim Khan had summoned Amir to Kabul to rescue Hassans son, Sohrab, from an orphanage and to ultimately redeem himself from past wrong doings. Rahim Khan also tells Amir about the relationship Baba had with Alis wife, Sanaubar and that Hassan was actually Babas son and therefore Hassan and Amir were half-brothers. Overall the impact Rahim Khan has on Amir’s life is equivalent to that of the relationship between my mother and I. Rahim Khan is undeniably a role model for Amir, much the same way in which my mother is a role model for me. Like Rahim, she appreciates my interests and encourages me to peruse my goals. The most important characteristic about my mother is that if I make a mistake she doesn’t just ‘give up’ on me. Instead she requests that I make it up somehow, much in the same way that Rahim Khan tells Amir how to redeem himself. Without the guidance and support I receive from my mom I know that my life would in fact be very different today. The character Moira fromShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald979 Words   |  4 PagesWilson a minor character in the novel who is also the mistress of Tom Buchanan, along with the person Daisy kills. Notably, Nick Carraway â€Å"feels a palpable repugnance for the Myrtle Wilsons of the world† (Voegeli). Set in 1922, Myrtle embodies the failure of the American Dream during the roaring twenties; furthermore, Myrtle and her husband George Wilson â€Å"preside over the valley of ashheaps† (Telgen), and George has a meager job working for Tom Buchanan. Because Fitzgerald develops the character MyrtleRead MoreMinor Characters Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1232 Words   |  5 PagesAny piece of literature would not be complete without the simple pairing of major characters and minor characters. Although major characters make up most of the storyline, minor characters support it and easily add to important elements of the story. This is evident throughout the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F.Scott Fitzgerald. This novel has a narrator by the name of, Nick Carraway, and over the course of the novel, he learns about many other minor characters namely Dan Cody, Meyer WolfshiemRead MoreThe Death Of Ivan Ilych By Leo Tolstoy And Franz Kafka s The Metamorphosis1103 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the course of this class we have discussed various works of art, music and literature. A central theme among some of the literature we read was how a minor character is often central to both the stories progression and conclusion. 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There are definitely numerous depictions of these characters in A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens. Two examples are Lucie Manette Darnay and Miss Pross. Both of these flat characters are important in the development ofRead MoreA Tale Of The American Dreamer1410 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Dreamer. In order to dive into the book, me must first know our important characters. Our first character is Mr. Francis Scott Fitzgerald himself. He is an eccentric body filled with whimsical and many key noted values. His age is varying upon the point we dive into the biography. (Authors note: Due to the fact the book is a timeline of his life.) Mr. Francis F. is quite a character, yet displayed a greater intelligence side we all saw. (On the contrary†¦.) He is also a well dressedRead More Antigone Essay1318 Words   |  6 PagesAntigone Essay In any story or piece of literature, there will always be the main characters to fill the pages with incessant adventure. 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