Character Sketch of the Automated House, Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children, Others

Character Sketch from ISC Class 12 Prism Book Chapter – There Will Come Soft Rains of the Automated House, Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children, the Dog, the Robot Mice and the Voice Clock and other Voices

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of the Automated House, Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children, the Dog, the Robot Mice and the Voice Clock and other Voices from ISC Class 12 English Prism Book Chapter – There Will Come Soft Rains.

Character Sketch of the Automated House
Questions related to the Character of the Automated House
Character Sketch of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children
Questions related to the Character of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children
Character Sketch of the Dog
Questions related to the Character of the Dog
Character Sketch of the Robot Mice
Questions related to the Character of the Robot Mice
Character Sketch of the Voice Clock and other Voices
Questions related to the Character of the Voice Clock and other Voices

Character Sketch of the Automated House

The house is the main character in the story. It is a fully automated, intelligent dwelling designed to serve a human family. It performs all daily tasks like cooking, cleaning, waking up residents, and providing entertainment. The house is highly self-protective, equipped with cleaning robots, fire suppression systems, and security features. It continues its routine even though its human inhabitants are gone, showing a mechanical dedication to its purpose. Its eventual destruction is the central event, symbolizing the end of a technological era and the indifference of nature.

Questions related to the Character of the Automated House

Q1. How does the house work in the absence of humans?
Q2. What leads tro the destruction of the automated house?

Character Sketch of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children

These are the unseen human characters, the family who once lived in the house. Their existence is only shown through their silhouettes burned onto the charred west wall of the house, indicating their sudden demise in a catastrophic event, presumably a nuclear explosion. Their absence is central to the story, as the house continues to function without them. Their individual identities are hinted at through the activities depicted in their silhouettes like a man mowing the lawn, a woman picking flowers, a boy with hands flung in the air, and a girl reaching for a ball. They represent the vanished human civilization.

Questions related to the Character of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their Children

Q1. Why are the humans not seen?
Q2. What changes does the absence of humans lead to?

Character Sketch of the Dog

The dog is a minor but significant character. It was once a large, fleshy pet but is now a skeletal, diseased creature, showing the devastating effects of the unseen disaster on living beings. It whines and yelps, desperately seeking its human family inside the empty house. Its frantic search and eventual death from radiation poisoning highlight the biological impact of the catastrophe and the ultimate loneliness of the house. Its decay is quickly and mechanically cleaned away by the robot mice, further emphasizing the house’s impersonal efficiency.

Questions related to the Character of the Dog

Q1. How does the dog show signs of devastation?
Q2. What leads to the dog’s demise? Who cleans the mortal remains and how?

Character Sketch of the Robot Mice

These are tiny, mechanical cleaning devices that dart out from warrens in the walls. They are made of rubber and metal, with whirring runners and electric eyes. They are programmed to keep the house spotless, diligently removing any dust, hair, or mud. They are portrayed as angry at inconvenience, showing a programmed diligence. They also serve the grim task of removing the dog’s decaying body. They represent the house’s persistent, unthinking dedication to its programmed tasks, even in the absence of humans.

Questions related to the Character of the Robot Mice

Q1. What do the robot mice do?
Q2. Why are the mice working despite the absence of humans?

Character Sketch of the Voice-Clock and Other Voices

Various automated voices throughout the house serve different functions like waking up residents, announcing the time, delivering news, and even reciting poetry. The voice-clock is a prominent example, repeating its commands into the emptiness. These voices represent the pervasive and tireless nature of the house’s automation. The final fading voices during the fire, sounding like children dying in a forest, add a tragic, personified element to the house’s demise, even as they continue their programmed functions with sublime disregard for the destruction.

Questions related to the Character of the Voice-Clock and Other Voices

Q1. Describe the various updates given by the voice clock.
Q2. In the absence of humans, who is benefiting from the voice clock?

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