Character Sketch of the Narrator, King, Old Man, Maid and the Child from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Poem 3 – The Last Bargain
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 Narrator, King, Old Man, Maid and the Child from Class 8 English Honeydew Book Poem 3- The Last Bargain.
- Character Sketch of the Narrator
- Questions related to the Character of the Narrator
- Character Sketch of the King
- Questions related to the Character of the King
- Character Sketch of the Old Man
- Questions related to the Character of the Old Man
- Character Sketch of Maid
- Questions related to the Character of Maid
- Character Sketch of the Child
- Questions related to the Character of the Child
Related:
Character Sketch of the Narrator
The narrator is an individual who was looking for a job where he could work with freedom and no boundations. The storyteller introduces the speaker and starts an adventure which is full of purposeful learnings and a variety of different people. The narrator meets a variety of people, like a king, a charming woman, a worker, an old man and a child. Each character offers something in exchange for their companionship or service. At first, the narrator does not accept any of these offers, realizing that wealth, beauty, power, and wisdom are not enough to give him the true peace and freedom he desires. The storyteller’s journey represents a search for deeper meaning that goes beyond money and social expectations. By ignoring these many trade-offs, the storyteller overlooks the limitations of earthly desires, which can never provide lasting fulfillment. In the end, the storyteller discovers the genuine trade-off in the child’s proposal: liberty, simplicity, and innocence which symbolize the core of happiness and tranquility. The moment of this realization means the understanding of the speaker that happiness is not an external thing, but a mental freedom and simpleness.
The narrator’s last choice reflects the deep truth. The true fulfillment is that inner peace and freedom. The narrator, after understanding all circumstances, decides to choose freedom over any other material and superficial thing of the world. His acceptance was to choose freedom with all his wiseness.
The narrator also encounters people who try to convince him for trade and services. However, his response is the same as before: to choose ultimate freedom and enduring happiness.
Questions related to the Character the Narrator
Q-1: How does the poem contrast external desires with inner peace and freedom?
Q-2: How do the different characters the narrator meets (king, woman, worker, old man, and child) represent various aspects of human desires like wealth, beauty, power, and wisdom?
Character Sketch of the King
The King accords a great deal of wealth with the narrator during their initial meetings. He symbolises earthly possessions and power, which for many of us are the key to a successful life and pleasure. The poem conveys the idea that happiness and contentment come not from material wealth, beauty, or power, but from freedom, simplicity, and spiritual fulfillment. The king, who is a symbol of wealth and power, also represents the various diversions that can mislead people. Beauty symbolizes attraction and desire, drawing people into pursuits that may not bring true happiness. The narrator understands, though, that embracing this wealth would not bring true happiness or individual freedom. The glamor of richness fades when it is compared with a sense of freedom and more meaningful pursuits.
Questions related to the Character of the King
Q-1: How does the pursuit of wealth differ from the pursuit of inner peace?
Q-2: Why does the narrator reject the King’s material wealth and power?
Character Sketch of the Old man:
He proposes his advice to aid the narrator in understanding what is actually and honestly important. The old man shares his wisdom and life lessons with the narrator, where he shares his life’s experiences and perceptions. However, the narrator declines the wisdom shared by the old man. Instead, he believes that all the knowledge shared doesn’t match his feelings, desires about freedom, joy and enlightened happiness.
He understands that true happiness comes from simplicity and living in the moment and which symbolizes a state of independence and appreciation for the present, beyond material wealth or traditional wisdom. The old man advises him to live in the past.
Questions related to the Character of the Old Man
Q-1: Why does the narrator reject the old man’s advice and wisdom?
Q-2: Briefly explain the role played by the Old man in the story?
Character Sketch of Maid
In “The Last Bargain,” when the narrator meets the handmaid, she offers him beauty and love in return for the bargain. The Handmaid, representing youth, charm, and physical beauty, promises to give the narrator her affection and kindness. However, the speaker rejects her offer as well. He understands that a love based solely on attractiveness and superficial appearances will not bring lasting satisfaction or peace of mind. The Virgin’s beauty is fleeting and may give momentary pleasure, but it will not bring the deeper satisfaction that the narrator seeks.
The narrator’s rejection of the Virgin Mary’s proposal of marriage emphasizes the idea that true happiness cannot be found in external or temporary things such as beauty or superficial love. Instead, the speaker desires something more permanent, something that comes from the inner freedom and simplicity that she ultimately finds in the vast sky and pure freedom that a child provides.
The harmony represents the constraints associated with pursuing happiness through external factors, such as physical allure or romantic relationships. In the end, the speaker opts for liberation rather than being bound by material or emotional dependencies, finding fulfillment in the simplicity and joy of a life unencumbered by attachment.
Questions related to the Character of Maid
Q-1: What role does the theme of liberation from attachment play in the narrator’s final decision?
Q-2: Why does the narrator find the handmaid’s qualities of youth, charm and physical beauty insufficient for lasting fulfillment?
Character Sketch of the Child
The child offers the speaker the final deal, which he is happy to accept. The child represents innocence, freedom and simplicity – qualities that are unrelated to material desires, strength or even emotional attachment. The child offers nothing tangible except the vastness of the sky, freedom, and the joy of simple existence. For the narrator, this is the most satisfying and rewarding because it embodies the peace and contentment he has been searching for. In contrast to the king, beauty, laborers, and the elderly, everyone brings something valuable to the world, such as riches, beauty, strength, and wisdom. However, the child’s contribution is rooted in the purity of freedom. The child’s offer symbolizes a state of grace and spiritual liberation, a life unencumbered by the limitations of wealth, authority, or societal roles.
Thus, it serves as a metaphor for a profound truth: genuine happiness and fulfillment are derived not from external accomplishments or material possessions, but from inner freedom, simplicity, and the joy of experiencing the present moment. By embracing the child’s offering, the speaker welcomes the simplicity and purity that facilitate the attainment of true peace and satisfaction.
Questions related to the Character of the Child
Q-1: Why does the narrator find the child’s offer of freedom, simplicity, and innocence more appealing than material wealth or power?
Q-2: Compare the child’s message with our own lives in today’s world?
Overview of the Poem
The Last Bargain explores the narrator’s search for true happiness and fulfillment. The narrator encounters different individuals who offer wealth, beauty, power, and wisdom, respectively, in exchange for service. Each offer is rejected as the narrator realizes that material possessions and social status do not bring lasting peace. The narrator’s ultimate realization comes when a child offers simplicity and freedom, representing true happiness. The poem emphasizes that inner peace and mental freedom are the keys to fulfillment. Ultimately, the narrator chooses freedom over worldly desires.
Also See: