Character Sketch of Margot’s Classmates in All Summer in a Day

The Antagonists Support: The Children
Margot and Willian are the only named characters in the story while the rest students in the classroom are referred to as the children. These children speak the voice of Willian. They are wholly motivated by Willian’s words and thoughts. They blindly follow him and never try to ask him any question. By following William blindly, they do not consider the impact their actions might have on their own feelings. They are creatures of the moment and they experience enjoyment and displeasure according to the nature of the strongest stimulus in front of them.

The revelation of Children’s Outer Characterization
In the story, the children have been depicted as a collective character, sharing the same wishes and fears. Their outer characterization reveals that they are the children of the rocket men and women who had come to a rainy world to set up civilization and live out their lives. Although they are not individualized, we can easily assume that they look pale because they have spent almost all their lives without the sun.

The revelation of Their Inner Characterization
Regarding inner characterization, the children initially come across as excited and happy about the impending arrival of the sun:

‘Ready ?’
‘Ready.’
‘Now r ‘Soon.’
‘Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it ?’
‘Look, look; see for yourself!’ The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed, peering out for a look at the hidden sun.’

The Children’s Being Jealous and Cruel
In the beginning of the story, the writer writes about these children that ‘The children pressed each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed…………’. They are truly like a bouquet of flowers-enjoying life in all its happiness and joy. If this is one side of these children, the other side is their jealousy and bullying. They are jealous of the fact that Margot has experienced the sun on the Earth and may go back to the Earth. So they bully her all the time and the moment when the sun comes out in Venus, they lock Margot in the closet.

The Children’s Being Overwhelmed with the Feelings of Guilt and Remorse
When, after enjoying the sunshine, they return, they are reminded that before going out, they had locked Margot in the closet. Soon, they realize their unfair act done to Margot. All they go remorsefully to make Margot free. Now they are able to comprehend how much Margot sacrifices when she moves from the Earth to Venus. The following lines show how they were ashamed of their cruel behavior and action:

‘They stood as if someone had driven them, like so many stakes, into the floor. They looked at each other and then looked away. They glanced out the world that was raining now and raining and raining steadily. They could not meet each other’s glances. Their faces were solemn and pale. They looked at their hand and feet, their faces down.’

Treasure Trove Poems and Short Stories Workbook Answers

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