While
Jacobs Wake is set in Newfoundland, it is primarily a drama about family
relationships. In order to write an effective character analysis, an initial step is to identify
which of those relationships you think are most significant. The character of the father,
Skipper, dominates the story in many ways because most of the other characters are his children
and their spouses.
In addition, most of them are male; there is only one
daughter, Mary. She is the most devoutly Christian member of the family. If Christianity is a
major theme that you want to consider, Mary would be a good character to focus on. You could
address the disparity between the Christian principles she advocates and her behavior, as the
others frequently point out to her. Her uniqueness as a female member of the family could also
be a subject to address: is she realistically depicted as an individual? How does she compare to
her male family members?
Another type of character study could address the
type ofthat the author employs. As in the title, the play is in many respects an extended wake
for the deceased son, Jacob, who was lost at sea. Yet he plays a significant role in their
lives, especially that of the father, who seems consumed by guilt over his
death.
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