The characters present in the exert were; the minister, Jailor, Sailor, Mariner, and Gammar.
First was the minister; it was known that he was young, "...He was only twenty-six years old!" And the exert started with in a dark, mysterious, creepy chamber. "His heart beat so loud in his ears he thought the other two must hear the pounding." This gave me the idea that the minister was not as brave as a leader should be, he also seemed anxious and terrified. Though he did have little courage to keep going knowing that he had to meet with the creature. When the minister had crime face to face with the creature he said, "'Can she speak?' the minister whispered." But it wasn't exactly what he said that caught my attention, but the way he said it. He whispered, and this showed that he was uncomfortable or scared with the surrounding people in the room (I'm thinking its the creature...no surprise). Towards the end of the exert the creature decides to do some voodoo magic and talks to the spirits but while she is doing this the minister eagerly stops her, "'Enough!' The young minister cried out, dashing the stone from the aged hands. 'No more of these hellish demonstrations! Oh what a direful thing is it to fall into the hands of the devils!'" This got me thinking that he was very religious and lived in a time when witchcraft and magic were seen as signs of the devil or they were brought from hell. To complete the exert the minister arrives back in Boston where his home is, "The young minister felt a quick moment of cheer at the sight of his comely wife...", this made me think that the minister was possibly a family or home man that was away on business for the time being but would rather be in his safe home. And this also shows me that the minister was definitely scared when going to see the creature because he was glad to be back at his safe home, with his beautiful wife, in the safe state of Boston.
The next character mentioned was Jailor; "Neither of his two companions seemed to notice the foul odor, both Jailor and Sailor oblivious to the stench." This shows mew that the Jailor was used to the stench or scent of the chamber and probably came down to see the prisoners often. This is also shown here, "'Come Gammar, there's a good girl.' The Jailor chirruped with his lips much as he would call a dog. He set the lantern upon the stool." Gammar is the creature and Jailor seems fairly comfortable around the Gammar, and more importantly Gammar seems comfortable or trusting around him. Being trapped in a dark cell makes you fairly anti-social and distrusting, so I found it interesting that Gammar seemed so close to the Jailor.
"'Bless you, yes,' the Jailor chuckled."Sailor was mentioned along with Jailor in the beginning; "Neither of his two companions seemed to notice the foul odor, both Jailor and Sailor oblivious to the stench." This gives me the same hint that it gave me for Jailor, he seems to come down to the chamber often. Then, "...the minister instructed his interpreter, the stripe-shirted sailor who stood beside him." This explained it all, the sailor is an interpreter therefore he is in the chamber often translating for the prisoners and visitors.
Next introduced was a small and fairly inimportant character, the mariner. "The mariners body exuded fumes of rum. He spoke Gaelic in a thin, lilting cadence." This gives me the feeling that the mariner is an alcoholic and probably faced some post-war (marine) trauma, or was faced with a great amount of stress, or he just hates his job and life.
And last, but certainly not least Gammar! Introduced last this old lady/ creature looking thing is stuck down in the dungeon and meets the minister. "The thing grinned at him with black, gaping mouth. The minister's flesh quivered with goosebumps. A witch! A confessed witch!" This sentence also helped me confirm the witchcraft era theory that I earlier had. Gammar looks like; "The skeletal figure in wretched rags crept forward, drawn to the light." And "The minister stared at the withered face, her beak of a nose curving like a bird of prey to meet a pointed chin. Black eyes darted from one man to another with the rapid flick of an adder's tongue. She grinned at them through toothless gums." And "The creature did not respond; she starred at him with her black adder's eyes."
Marilyn Kemp in the beginning gives us a detailed setting; "The smell of urine-soaked straw and overflowing pot...". She then hints on the characteristics of the characters through dialogue or actions (seen above). Lastly she sets the scene with an interesting plot. The plot made me wanting more, and the exert left me with many questions like; Why did the minister have to meet Gammar? Why is Gammar in the chamber? Why don't the Jailor and Sailor have real names? Is that just because the minister does not know there real names? Why did the minister just immediately leave after meeting Gammar? Why didn't they elaborate more on the scene there? Why wasn't Gammar killed if she was a confessed witch? I thought in the Salem Witch trials, or any witch trials for that matter, that the witches were drowned or hung. Anyway I might even pick up this book and begin to read so these lingering questions can soon be answered.
Questions:
1) What made her want to get into Mystery specifically?
2) Was her background (way she grew up) and active ingredient in the reason why she became a writer?
(ex. parents supportive, house filled with books, education important in household, creativity supported and cherished, etc.)
1/6 Speaker = (4)
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