Compare how Delia in 'After The War' and the narrator of 'The Pit And The Pendulum' are portrayed.

 The situation in ‘The Pit And The Pendulum’ is that a English, fifteen year old girl called Delia is on a French exchange trip and is staying with a French family called the Rameaus. They are living in a remote cottage in rural France for a month. However this eerie cottage is virtually isolated from the rest of the world and therefore Delia feels restless. She is very conscious and uncertain of herself especially when speaking in French. She is also shy, however when her beliefs are tested she has very strong opinions and is willing to voice them. Another aspect to her personality that she shows off is her courage, when she stands up to a grown up who is purposely trying to make her feel bad. She even manages to do this in French.

   At the start of her stay the father of the family, Mr Rameau, suppresses her. She soon learns his weaknesses though and uses them to her advantage. He is very unpleasant and is extremely anglophobic. The other members of the Rameau family are Mrs Rameau, Ann-Marie and Tony. They all feature greatly in the story aswell. Mrs Rameau is very passive and is easily dominated by her husband who is incredibly overpowering with her. Ann-Marie is the Rameaus only daughter but cannot act naturally- how a normal fifteen year old girl would, when around her father as he dominates her just as much as Mrs Rameau, if not more. Both female members of the Rameau’s are subservient and are much more relaxed when Mr Rameau is away- they can act themselves without feeling scared or worthless. Tony is their only son and is described to be an incredibly irritating young boy. He is even praised by Mr Rameau who is affectionate towards him even when he is being especially annoying!

   During Delia’s stay with the Rameau’s she has to put up with Mr Rameau picking on her and criticising her. She feels apprehensive and caged in. He deliberately misunderstands her Delia’s worst punishment is when she refuses to go with the family to the circus, so he leaves her on her own in pitch black in the cottage. The family does not return for some considerable hour but it is obvious to us, and Delia that “his punishment was his own fear.” He gives out orders and uses darkness as a punishment.  However all of his punishments are mental- Delia is physically safe.