CHARACTERISATION “The Woman in Black” by Susan Hill

Arthur Kipps Main character/protagonist In the first and last chapters: we see him as a retired lawyer Settled with his second family at Monk’s Piece

Arthur Kipps and the ghost story First chapter Telling ghost stories Arthur begins to tell the story of his encounter with “The Woman in Black” (Jennet Humfrye) hoping he can exorcise her once and for all

How Arthur Kipps changes Before Educated Rational (doesn’t believe in ghosts) Adventurous Arrogant Brave Thinks he’s superior to the people of Crythin Gifford After Fearful His belief has been shattered A broken man Emotionally frail Nervous Eventually finds peace with Esme Ainley and her family

Mr Bentley Lawyer Head of the family firm of solicitors His former client was Alice Drablow

Samuel Daily Late fifties Meets Kipps on the train Wealthy landowner Friendly towards Kipps Acts as a guardian angel to Kipps Down-to-earth

Keckwick A local man Drives the pony and cart Blunt/reticent His father was killed in the marsh along with the child and the child’s nurse

The Landlord of the Gifford Arms Unnamed His role: to provide an air of mystery He is at the centre of the village Part of the conspiracy of silence

Alice Drablow Old client of Mr Bentley’s Died alone – 87yrs She had an adopted boy – Nathaniel Pierston In reality her nephew

The Woman in Black and Revenge

The Woman in Black (Jennet Humfyre) Alice Drablow’s sister She was 18yrs old when she gave birth to a son Boy was taken against her will Adopted by Alice and her husband The child Nathaniel Pierston drowned (6yrs old) His nurse Rose Judd and Keckwick Senior died with him Jennet Humfrye died 12yrs later – wasting disease/heart failure

Mr Jerome Alice Drablow’s land agent Strange man – wears a ‘shuttered expression.’ He was one of the woman in black’s victims – lost a child

Stella Not a fully developed character Young Arthur Kipp’s fiancée. They marry and have a child – a boy They both die later in an accident in a pony and cart at a park in London

Esme and her Family The Ainley Family Establishes a happy domestic scene This contrasts with the terrifying past events Used as a plot device to begin telling a ghost story