The Importance Of Minor Characters In Nanberry By Jackie French

The novel “Nanberry” written by Jackie French, tells the story of early European settlement in Australia. Nanberry, Surgeon White and Rachel Turner are all main characters in the novel but three minor characters who could have been examined in more detail were Maria, Colbee and Mr. Trench. Each of these characters either performs something or states something that is vital to the story line and plot. This essay will also suggest ways that these three characters could have been developed to make “Nanberry” a little bit more thought – provoking.

Maria is a minor character in the novel Nanberry and she is also important to the novel’s storyline. She is important because she is the maid and cook for Surgeon White and once Surgeon White takes Nanberry into care, Maria becomes the carer for him as well. An example of how important and useful Maria is to the plot is uncovered early in the novel when she says, “I’m sick of being his maid and cook”. If Maria thought about it in a more positive way she could have enjoyed it more and she could have made the most of it as she did the wrong thing in the first place. Another character that has equal value as Maria is Colbee.

Colbee, who is a minor character in the novel “Nanberry” is very important to the storyline and plot.

He is an important character because he survived the smallpox and he is Nanberry’s Uncle. Colbee fled as soon as he was cleared from the smallpox. An occasion that highlights Colbee’s importance to the plot is when he states that he is Nanberry’s Uncle. Colbee could be more involved in the novel by being there for Nanberry and he could have told the “white ghosts” information instead of escaping. There are many more minor characters in this novel but one that is of equal value to the others is Mr.

Trench.

Mr. Trench is a minor character but he also appears more than Colbee in the Novel “Nanberry”. He is a very important character to the storyline and the plot because he was interrogating Colbee and Colbee’s other tribe members. Mr. Trench disappeared after a few chapters but later on in the novel he reappears. While he is fulfilling his role he demands that Colbee speak and give him information. His exact words were, “Colbee speak to me and tell me more about your tribe”. He is important to the novel’s storyline because he is the one that discovers more about the Cadigal Tribe and more about Colbee.

The aforementioned characters all could have featured more prominently in this novel by being portrayed more positively in their respective situations. Maria, Colbee and Mr. Trench were minor characters but they still played their part in the plot and storyline. Jackie French has conveyed a very important message through her writings of “Nanberry”. That message is that people should always be generous and respectful to our nation’s indigenous inhabitant, as we are all human.