Characterization

Introduction to Characterisation

The characterisation in the Ballad is one that is both unique and well integrated. The major characters include – the narrator, the narrator’s brother and Baboolal.

Baboolal – Baboolal is the only named character in the story. He is of East Indian descent and is described as thin and brown skin in complexion. He lives on the estate and is great friends of the French Creole sons. Baboolal represents the vivid, adventurous and innocent old world of the narrator and his brother. Even his name id reminiscent of the old world – of a time and place. His religion is not given and he is also not given voice within the story. Lastly, he belongs to the lower class within the society.

“I’ Narrator

 The nameless narrator is the younger brother and member of the family. He is the ‘Peter-Pan’, the changeling companion, fairy child; he is the baby . He is French- Creole, belongs to Roman Catholic home and is particularly reminiscent of the author- though as Mr. Scott says; “ He’s not me”. The narrator presents himself as adventurous, brave, loving and caring especially to his brother and mother. This young man is the one that composes ‘The Ballad for the New World, and in this Ballad he tells of the fallen heroes he tells of his brother.

In the story that he tells he does not present himself as in control yet he is in charge of telling all of their stories. “I” the narrator is in fact a curiously shaped character as his own self and representation is formatted to breech the old world and the new.

The Older Brother

 The protagonist. He is the only character where time is reflected by physical changes throughout the story. At first, he is a creolised representation of American movie stars; “ the American kinda looking guy- slim, fresh faced, dark, fit, handsome, soft eyes and chiselled cheek bones. He is adventurous, vividly exciting and ambitious. He is a self-made man who becomes a millionaire in the oil industry.

However his addiction to alcohol leads to his downfall.

He represents the Ballad for the New World and through him we see the influence that alcohol plays in society. At the end of this story he is described as; drained looking, with his broad shoulders caved in, bare backed, brown stained, smelling of cigarettes, rum and hands smelling of oil. He epitomizes hamartia for this new world. Consequently he becomes pessimistic, poor and unhealthy.

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