Character analysis
Character analysisHow would one define a heroine? According to the old Webster, a heroine is a
woman of heroic achievements or qualities. When compared to other females, Catherine
seems to be somewhat of an outcast. With that in mind, how is it that a person such as
Catherine Morland fits into the category of a hero?
Catherine Morland certainly had not been a born heroine. At a young age Catherine is
opposed to the common activities of young girls. While many girls are playing house with their
dolls, Catherine's dolls are left untouched as she entertains herself playing cricket. Her most
favorite thing being a hearty roll down the green slope behind her house. Unlike most girls, her
thumb is far from green. She can be found in a garden only when picking forbidden flowers.
Catherine is never able to figure something out on her own. She needs to be taught something
before she knows it. Sometimes she still doesn't learn because her mind tends to wander a bit.
Catherine is quite fond as books so long as they are far from educational. She has a
high amount of creativity however learning is not something she is fond of. She loves books
that have a mystery to them. Along with fantasy novels, Catherine (at age eight) feels she
would be fond of music lessons. She tries them for one year and of course does not like them.
Her mother is not one to hold her child to something they do not like, so she allows Catherine
to quit. The day that Catherine left her music teacher was "the happiest day of her life" (22). It
is not that Catherine despises music, she just does not prefer the lessons. She does, however,
enjoy
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drawing, although it does not rank the highest of her fancies. Her supply of paper is not
plentiful, so she draws on "any other odd pieces of paper" (22) that she can get her hands on.
She is taught lessons by each of her parents, but she gets out of both whenever she can.
Though her qualities are not near ladylike, Catherine keeps a pleasurable personality. She is
not often stubborn, or cruel, and she is nice to the younger children. At the same time,
Catherine has a wild spirit that just wants to run free.
Not only is Catherine an outcast in her enjoyments, she does not have a beautiful
appearance either. She is a very plain young girl. She has a "thin awkward figure" (21), she
lacks any color or tone but has very strong features, and she has very "dark lank hair" (21).
As she grows older, her physical appearance begins to change. She starts to curl her hair and
"long for balls" (22). Her complexion begins to improve as her color comes in followed by
tone and "plumpness" (22)....
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