‘FROM MOTHER…….

WITH LOVE’ A STORY BY ZOE SHERBURNE

CHARACTER SKETCH OF MINTA’S FATHER

‘From mother….with love’ is an interesting and emotional family fiction. All the three main
characters, the mother, father and the daughter-Minta revolve around the family situation
which is the deteriorating health condition of Minta’s mother and eventually her death.
Although the central character in this family tragedy is MINTA-the daughter and her
intense desire to promote her education in one of America’s topmost popular school called
Marry Hills School, the other two characters-mother and father are equally important in
taking the plot of the story to its climax and finally to its moral end. However, what really
attracts the readers is THE CHARATER OF MINTA’s FATHER!

I am really excited to share some of the traits of this wonderful character in the story –
From mother….with love. Without this character, the story would not move further to its
logical finish.
A LOVING AND CARING HUSBAND

Minta’s father is the head of the family of three persons-Minta,her mother and her
father. He is a loving and caring husband. He loves his wife and takes a great
care of her during her illness. He is in constant contact with the family doctor
regarding the health of his wife. After his wife is diagnosed with an incurable
disease, he gives her any possible emotional support during her sufferings. He
brings her gifts and gives her valuable presents on special occasions like
Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving. He spends most his time by her side
consoling her with his sweet talks replete with care and love. He is more
concerned and focused on the health of his wife than his own as he usually
misses his own vitamins doses. Once he knows the fact from the family doctor
that his wife is not going to live longer and is slowly getting closer to death, this
situation starts corroding his heart and mental state with sadness. His love and
care turns into intensity as the days of his wife get nearer. This particular trait of
his character further pushes the plot of the story to its eventual end.
A FAMILY LINK BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

As a family head, Minta’s father has always been a nice connect between the mother
and her daughter. His presence in the house brings Minta and her mother in any lovely
conversation of mutual family interest. He is always available for the two of them and
shares his side of the thoughts with them on any matter related to the house or to the
neighborhood. His primary focus revolves around the happiness of his daughter and
wife through engaging them in a lovely talks. He sometimes reads them family oriented
stories from the newspapers that he is regularly engaged in every mornings. He has
deep knowledge about the situations of his daughter and wife, and he links both of
them by informing them about each other’s circumstances, dreams, desires, ambitions
and personal likes and dislikes. By his being an immediately available link between his
wife and daughter, the communication part in the story develops smoothly taking the
plot of the story to its next stage. Were his family linking trait missing in the story, Minta
would have never been able to be ready accept the reality of her mother’s ailing
condition and eventually her sudden death.
SOCIABLE, OUTGOING AND LOVER OF NATURE

As family man, Minta’s father is also a people’s person. He likes to be the part of his
community and extended family relations. He is a known person in the neighborhood. He
socializes with people on different occasions and takes part in family events. Also, unlike
his wife, he is an outgoing person He loves nature especially the beach part. He often goes
swimming and fishing and enjoys life outdoors. He sometimes takes his family for picnic at
the seaside. He is familiar with the climate in the surroundings and its effects on human
health as he once said to his wife to accompany him to the beach to get relief from her
headaches in the dank salty air at the coast. When he has an issue to discuss with his
daughter, he takes her outdoors to the sea-side to talk. Through the sociability trait in his
character, the readers are introduced to new people in the Hawley family and in the
neighborhood. And with help of his outgoing nature, readers come across a vivid
description of nature in the story.
 COURAGEOUS AND PATIENT

Minta’s father is one of the most attractive characters in the story. His courage and
patience are the most appealing traits of his role, and the readers admire him for his
bravery to cope with any serious and unpleasant situations that may arise slowly or
suddenly. He deals with each trouble very patiently and shows courage how to keep his
daughter and wife safe. When the news of his wife’s illness is received from the family
doctor, he responds to it very courageously to take every possible step to take of her health
and treatment. Also, when he is informed that his wife will no longer live than three months,
he is shocked, but, ultimately, he patiently accepts her situation. As a result, he always
carries the burden of grief in his heart and lives with it with patience. He never tells Minta,
until the last moment, the news of her mother’s fast approaching death in fear of seeing his
daughter collapsing. However, he tells everything at the beach once he is sure that it is the
right time to inform the daughter to prepare her in advance and to save her from the
sudden grief of her mother’s death. After his wife’s death, he suffers mental torture by
feeling the absence of his loely wife, however, he bears the loss with courage and
patience!
 RESPONSIBLE, REALISTIC AND WISE

Readers are really impressed by Minta’s father’s attitude towards his family matters. He
shows a sense of responsibility, realism and wisdom during various situations. On one
hand, he is responsible for feeding his daughter and wife, on the hand, he is also taking
care of their feelings and emotions with responsibility as a family leader. On knowing
about the ailing condition of his wife and eventually her approaching death, he behaves
very responsibly taking care of her and Minta’s feelings. The way he tells the news to
Minta about her mother’s health, makes him a very responsible person in the story. Also,
he hears that his wife will die soon, he does not panic but responds very practically and
wisely. He accepts the reality of health and makes wise decision before and after her
death. He even prepares Minta and makes her ready to accept the condition of her
mother with responsibility and reason. In short, Minta’s father’s shines in the story as a
man of trust, practicality and wisdom.