Graham Greene's Use of Characterization in A Little Place off the Edgware Road

Graham Greene's Use of Characterization in A Little Place off the Edgware Road

In 'A little place off the Edgware Road' there are two focal

characters. We learn the name of only one of these characters and the

other remains unnamed throughout the story. This is the first

interesting thing about Greene's use of characterization. By not

naming one of the characters we see him as more mysterious and it

helps us to realise at the end that he is just a figment of Craven's

imagination. Greene writes in the third person rather than giving us

the ultimate insight into Craven's head by writing in the first

person. This also gives us a certain distance from Craven and this is

much like real life as we always feel a certain distance from mad

people mostly because we are not mad ourselves.

In the first paragraph we are given the impression that he is a

solitary, lonely character. We know this because when we meet him it

is 'only just after lighting-up time' and this is the time when it

just starting to get dark and most people are just about to go out for

a good time. But not Craven. He stares bitterly at the cars on their

way for a good time. We wonder why he has no home to go to. Later in

the story he becomes aware that his breath might be foul, "but who

could he ask?" Craven clearly has nobody in his life, any family or

friends. His separateness from the rest of society is strongly

emphasized,

Greene also shows Craven as being an envious character. "He hated

them, and hated his hatred because he knew what it was, envy." Craven

covets money and love, "He was reminded of passion, but you needed

money for love. . . love needed a good suit...

... middle of paper ...

... himself. Craven asks himself of the bearded man, 'Was he mad?'

The characterization of this character is interesting because it makes

us realise more about Craven. It makes us realise the fear Craven has

of turning mad. What the bearded man is is a part of Craven's mind. He

is not really there and is just a figment of Craven's imagination. But

Craven and the bearded man are one and the same. Both are unkempt and

lonely.

At the end of the story Craven calls the police. "It's the body that's

disappeared." It is Craven's body that has disappeared. He has been

murdered and his body has gone. When he looks at himself in the mirror

he sees blood on his face.

By losing his faith in religion Craven has lost the only thing which

was really important to him. He had no family or friends and his

solitude consumes him.