Lamp+at+Noon+-+Character+Sketch

Lamp At Noon Character Sketch Assignment Name:__Aaron Kao__

Paul

1. Stubborn

2. Independent

3. Hard working

Find three pieces of evidence to support your describing word choices. Include at least one quote.

1. Paul is stubborn because he does not want to move, and refuses the to face reality. He believes he can save the farm, and he can pull off money miracles. The story makes him out to be stubborn, for example "... we keep on right where we are." even though the dust storm is raging and his baby is endangered, he wants to stay right where he is.

2. Paul is Independent because he does not want to work for anyone but himself. He likes to be alone with his farm animals, and be isolated from the disaster waiting at home. From what Paul says in the story, "Even as a desert it's better than sweeping out your father's store, and running his errands.", you can tell that Paul does not want to leave his farm, and does not work for someone else, especially for his wife's father. Paul wants no master, but to be the master of himself in his own rancid farm in the prairies.

3. Paul is very hard-working. He works in his farm, counting on nobody but himself, trying to grow crops on land that is very not fertile, with the dust storms wrecking havoc. Paul knows that farming is never easy, but is important for his family to survive. From what Paul says in the story, "Farming's never been easy, and never will be." shows that his job is very difficult, but he will never quit on it because he has farmed for many years, and is experienced in it. Because Paul is hard-working, I believe that Paul, and Ellen will live happily under the strive that Paul has if there is ever a sequel to this story.

Ellen

1. Fearful

2. Caring

3. Witless

Find three pieces of evidence to support your describing word choices. Include at least one quote.

1. Ellen is a very fearful women. She is fearful because of Paul's decision to stay, which she thinks could lead to tragedy. Ellen is also fearful for many things that surround her in her every day life. This includes feeding her baby enough food, her husband working out in terrible conditions, and most importantly, the fear of the dust storms that can hit any moment. From what Ellen says to Paul in this story, "Look at the sky --- what's happening. Are you blind? Thistles and tumbleweeds --- it's a desert. You won't have a straw this fall. You won't be able to feed a cow or a chicken. Please, Paul, say we'll go away--" you can feel the emotions Ellen is feeling about the safety, and poverty of her family. Ellen tried very hard to get Paul to leave with her, but she was just wasting her time as Paul did not budge. Trying this hard, and getting no result is what a very fearful women would do.

2. Ellen is a caring wife that loves her family very much. Ellen warns Paul about the dangers of staying, and what disasters could come in the future, but Paul didn't listen. For the safety of her baby, Ellen attempted to leave the isolated, and deserted home she had, but failed. Because of Ellen attempting to leave, this caused her baby to inhale too much dust, which caused the baby to die. Ellen then showed her deepest emotions when Paul found her, which proves just how caring she is. Ellen even cares for the little things for her family, such as what they eat. This is proven from what she says in the story, "Go on---your dinner's getting cold".

3. Although Ellen is a wonderful women, a big decision she made was witless. Ellen attempted to leave her deserted home during a dust storm with her baby, which I thought was very thoughtless. Instead of leaving during a dust storm, she could have left when a dust storm ended. From what Ellen says in the story, "Hold him until I tidy my hair" this shows that Ellen could not handle the truth of the terrible, and sudden decision she made.

Character Sketch (on Ellen) Done by: Aaron Kao

Ellen is a fearful, and caring women that always tends for her family. Ellen is constantly feeding her baby food, and making sure her husband, Paul's food isn't cold when he eats it. This outstanding, and loving wife is living with her husband, and her baby during the occurrence of many dust storms on dry, deserted land somewhere in the prairies around the 1930s. Because of the appearance of disastrous, and mind-blowing dust storms, Ellen and Paul argue on whether to stay, or not to stay, with Ellen on the side of leaving her once beloved home. Ellen gives her reasons why, while Paul gives his. Ellen had many reasons for leaving, such as avoiding disaster from dust storms, giving her baby more food, buy pretty things, stop living in poverty, and being isolated in her house. Paul does not agree with Ellen's reasons, and continues to work on his farm with dry soil in which not much crops can grow on, but soon realizes that Ellen's decision was right, but before he could tell her, Ellen left with her baby. This was a witless decision of attempting to leave her deserted home during a dust storm with her baby because this ultimately caused the death of her baby. In conclusion, Ellen is an outstanding wife that cares very much for her family, but is fearful for their safety.

Character Sketch (on Paul) Done by: Hwi Kim

In the short story "Lamp at Noon" Paul is stubborn, independent, and hard working. He displays his stubbornness by acting like a 5 year old kid! He does not want to face the fact that his farm is dead so he delusions himself by thinking his farm will bare plants again. He wants to say where he is, "... we keep on right where we are." even if it meant that he will go bankrupt or his new born baby will die. Paul is very independent, he would rather stay with is farm animals then with people. He does all his work without anyone ’ s help, and he never complains. From what Paul says in the story, "Even as a desert it's better than sweeping out your father's store, and running his errands.", you can tell that Paul does not want to leave his farm, he does not work for someone else, he likes his solitary work, and he takes great pride in it. Paul is a hard working man, when theirs work to be done, he does it. He works the merciless farm land he has, willing it to bare food. Paul says in the story, "Farming's never been easy, and never will be." shows that his job is very difficult, but he will never quit on it because he has farmed for many years, and is experienced in it. Overall Paul is a earnest blue collared guy who you can count on, he might have some flaws in his personality but all in all he is a good reliable guy.