characterization of uncle henry

Characterization of Uncle Henry This characterization of Uncle Henry
focuses on the two main ways that he is portrayed in "Luke Baldwin's
Vow." These two ways are: what Morley Callaghan, the author, reveals
through the narrator and what other characters say about Henry. In this
short story, Henry is usual referred to as Uncle Henry because he is
Luke's uncle. The narrator of this story portrays Henry in many physical
and psychological descriptions. He is the manager of a sawmill, where
he employs four men. When working in his sawmill or anywhere else for
that matter, he never wastes anything, big or small. Henry is very
organized when it comes to the business of running his sawmill. He even
keeps a little black book to record every single transaction of the sawmill.
Henry is big and burly, weighing in at more than two hundred and thirty
pounds. He has a black, rough-skinned face. Luke's uncle is said to look
like a powerful man, but his health is not good. Henry has aches and
pains in his back and shoulders, which his doctor cannot explain. He is
respected by his family and friends, and no one ever disobeys him.
Uncle Henry thinks that everything has to have a specific purpose. For
example, he thinks that his old dog, Dan, is ". . . not much good even for
a watchdog now," and is ". . . no good for hunting either." The narrator's
description of Henry is so well done that one can picture him in one's
mind or even compare him to someone in one's day to day life.
The second main way that Henry is portrayed throughout
"Luke Baldwin's Vow" is what other characters say about Henry. In this
story Henry has a wife named Helena. She says that her husband is
"wonderfully practical." Helena also says that Henry takes care of
everything in a sensible and easy way; therefore, that would make him an
efficient worker. Secondly, Luke, Henry's nephew, looks up to him as a
role model. One reason that Luke does this is because "he had promised
his dying father he would try to learn things from his uncle"; so he
watches him very carefully. Finally, Mr Kemp, Henry's neighbour, says
that he is a practical and straightforward man. The other characters in

this short story describe Henry just as well, but not as thoroughly as the
narrator.