Characterization of Robyn Penrose

(Nice Work, by David Lodge)

The novel develops around two main characters: Robyn, the woman, and Vic, the man.

All the extract we have analyzed is about the characterization of the female character.

How does the writer build the characterization?

·        He puts Robyn in contrast to the male character Vic

·        The first information he provides us is about the way she thinks (she doesn’t believe in the concept of character).

·        He tells us her name which reminds an idealist character (Robyn Hood).

·        He gives information about her work position (she is a Temporary Lecturer in English Literature at the University of  Rummidge).

·        He informs us that Robyn is perfectly conscious about the concurrence between literature and capitalistic society.

·        He also underlines that her way of thinking has been influenced by many writers.

·        He tells she has a subject position about an infinite range of discourses (she discourses of power, sex, family, science, religion, poetry, etc..).

·        He explains Robyn’s philosophy: “You are what you speak” (she agrees with Jacques Derrida that there is nothing outside the text and nothing more important than the language).

·        He provides some information about her behaviour (she seems to be not very noticeably influenced by her philosophy, she seems to have ordinary human feelings and to have an inclination to try and to make it a better place).

·        He puts in contrast Robyn’s awakening with Vis’s one.

·        He tells us how she faces worries rushing into her consciousness (she faces them in a rational, orderly manner).

·        He explains the reason and the way she controls her twinge of anxiety about her work (she does exercises to calm herself and this demonstrates that she want to take control of herself).