Examine the Portrayal of the Outsider in Three Short Stories - 'The Son's Veto' by Thomas Hardy (Sophy) 'The Basement Room' by Graham Greene (Philip).

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David Humphries

Examine the Portrayal of the Outsider in Three Short Stories

'The Son's Veto' by Thomas Hardy (Sophy)

'The Basement Room' by Graham Greene (Philip)

'Uncle Ernest' by Alan Sillitoe (Ernest)

In each of the three stories, 'The Son's Veto' by Thomas Hardy, 'The Basement Room' by Graham Green and 'Uncle Ernest' by Alan Silitoe, the respective writer conveys a sense of isolation regarding the central character. There are numerous similarities between the characters based on their common plight, but each story differs in the portrayal of these characters. The writer's effectively present the characters using a varying range of literary styles. In 'The Son's Veto' the disabled Sophy is denied happiness from not fitting in to a higher social class. Graham Green in 'The Basement Room' employs a surreal situation to demonstrate the vulnerability and naiveity of youth. 'Uncle Ernest' is a story, which adopts a dreary approach to Ernest's life.

The opening descriptions of the three characters are very effective and induce stereotypical views. This applies to Ernest especially in 'Uncle Ernest' as we first hear of him wearing a "dirty raincoat" and looking as though he "hadn't washed