Character Analysis II: The Graveyard Book

Character Analysis: Graveyard Book

Liza Hempstock, Abanazer Bolger, and Tom Hustings

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Chapter 4: The Witches' Head Stone

LIZA HEMPSTOCK: 

    Liza was a ghost in the story who was regarded as a witch in her time. She experienced traumatic events that even led to her death. She was drowned, killed, and in her death, she cursed her murderers with her last breath. She did nothing to a single soul in her life and was clueless. Why did she deserve this? She pleaded that she never did anything. But the suspicion of other people towards her murdered her. Liza now lies in the graveyard where Bod Owens lives. Bod and her met and formed a friendship. With so many people being so cruel to her, she was touched with Bod's determined spirit to take his time with her. She got what she needed in her afterlife, something that she will never experience in her time as a living soul. In my perspective and thoughts, Liza Hempstock is a misunderstood and unique character with so much more to analyse about. Her lovely spirit was put down and she didn't deserve any of that. It was only then in her afterlife that she can rest from all that has happened when she was still alive. 

ABANAZER BOLGER:

    Abanazer kidnapped Bod due to his greed, hunger, and ambition for the brooch from pagan times found by Bod Owens in the graveyard. He held Bod hostage, wanting more than just what was found. I have a feeling Abanazer Bolger might have some cunningness and intelligence in him since he is described as a business dealer of a man with thick spectacles. But this thought becomes much more when the book stated that Abanazer can cheat people out of their valuables without a soul noticing. Abanazer has a sour mood with a very precise character. He studies artefacts carefully and the value of money he earned. I like that even though Abanazer Bolger acts like a fraud, he is intelligent, cunning, and strategic. But I am much more disgusted with this character because of his cheats, acting like a fool, and capturing Bod. I also do not like that he is a support to one of my least favorite characters, Jack. 

TOM HUSTINGS:

    A pal of Abanazer. Or should I say his partner in crime and business? Tom Hustings is described as a tall and big man known for scaring people. Not only did Abanazer Bolger took the brooch from Bod, but so did Tom Hustings. According to me, Tom Hustings is a man with a vile character and boring personality. It seems to me all Tom Hustings is interested about is serious business. I think of him as the literal definiton of a narcissist. But the book wouldn't be as interesting as it is if it weren't for him. He played the role in the plot as a character who was close with Jack and joined the challenge to hide Bod which in my opinion, made the chapter much more tempting. He does so little to care about other people and only strives to keep the brooch all for himself. 

CONCLUSION:

I chose these three characters to analyse what each of them share that is different from one another and how each of their personalities symbolize either what happened to their life, actions, and etc. But all of the figures chosen play equally important roles in the book and only do better to make things much more interesting.