Character6


 * __CHARACTER__**

An important character in 'Mr Van Gogh' is Frank Wilcox. Frank is an elderly, eccentric pensioner who is obsessed with the art of Vincent Van Gogh. He lives in an olde wooden bungalow which the council want to tear down to build a bridge. Many people in the town think Mr Wilcox is strange and often tease him. They nickname him "Mr Van Gogh" due to his obsession and passion for the artist.

__**TECHNIQUES USED TO CREATE CHARACTER:**__

> policeman and fireman braces over grey workshirts, > clean-shaven, derisive, eloquent, curt and fervent.
 * **Adjective :** Old fashioned clothes, garbadine coat, concealed buttonholes,


 * **Simile :** “His hair was long, though, and grey like his shirts.”

> Art = “It was his necessity and power. It was what he was”
 * **Metaphor :** “His hair settled in tresses, giving him the look of a careworn lion.”


 * **Cliché :** “On art, though, he would have argued with Lucifer”

> Morals/values vs Materialism > Beauty is on the inside vs Small town mentalities.
 * **Contrast :** __Mr Van Gogh__ vs __Mr Souness__

> homage of Mr Van Gogh…It was an interplay of light and > colour that flamed in green, yellow, and prussian blue." > Compares the “husk of the chrysalis to the risen > butterfly” (house) > “Mr Van Gogh was standing before the laughter with his arms > outstretched like a cross” > (religious imagery- symbolic of a martyr or innocent victim > persecuted by others)
 * **Symbolism:** “through that worn chapped doorway...was the art and


 * __WHY IS THIS CHARACTER IMPORTANT?__**

Mr Wilcox is important as through his character and actions readers learn the main themes of the story. These include the issues of small town mentalities, materialistic values, and not to judge people by appearances or because they are different.

Small town mentalities are shown in the way that Mr Wilcox is targeted for ridicule because he is different. People in the town do not understand his passion for art and make fun of him as a result. This is a typical reaction of people in small towns. Outsiders or people who are different in some way are often ridiculed or cast out of society because of their differences. The townspeoples treatment of Mr Wilcox, in particular Mr Souness, helps portray this issue. The fact that they also value the building of a bridge over the destruction of a mans home and lifes work also shows how materialistic society is becoming. Mr Wilcox in contrast values beauty and life and highlights to readers that they need to reflect on what is truly important in life.

Mr Wilcox also helps show the theme that you should not judge people by appearances. Although on the outside Mr Wilcox is old, scruffy and somwehat eccentric on the inside he is an intelligent, passionate, and capable of creating beautiful artwork. Mr Wilcox tranfsforms the inside of his house into an amazing montage of Van Gogh paintings. This work is in stark contrast to the simple objects he sells for art money in the shops. Mr Wilcox and his home helps show that people often have hidden qualities and that you should look deeper before judging someone or something simply be how they look.


 * __CHARACTER CONTRAST__**

An important contrast in this story is between Mr Wilcox and Mr Souness

Mr Wilcox is a very introverted character who bases his life around his morals and values. He is passionate and simply loves beauty and life. He spends all his money on his artwork rather than fixing his house, buying new clothes or other material posessions. To others in the community he "didn’t appear to have anything worth stealing”. Mr Wilcox is somewhat eccentric and often shy or submissive around others in the community “on art though he would have argued with Lucifer”.

On the other hand Mr Souness is a materialistic man with few morals and little acceptance for people who are different. He nicknames Mr Wilcox "Mr Van Gogh" and only talks to him in order to make fun of his passion. The text states that “Only those who wanted to mock him would encourage him to talk- like Mr Souness”. Mr Souness also supports the destruction of Mr Wilcox's house in order to build a bridge. Even when he discovers the beautiful artwork inside the house Mr Souness takes pleasure in its destruction.


 * __WHY IS THIS CONTRAST IMPORTANT?__**

These contrasting personalities help illustrate the themes of small town mentalities and beauty being on the inside. Mr Souness singles out Mr Wilcox because he is different, this is a characteristic or trait often associated with small towns. He is symbolic of how society has become materialistic and shallow. Mr Wilcox in comparison is moral and passionate about life and beauty. He emboldies the qualities which everyone should strive to obtain.

The contrast between Mr Wilcox and Mr Souness also shows the theme that true beauty is on the inside and that you should not judge people by appearances. Mr Wilcox does not appear to be anything special and on the outside seems somewhat odd or unremarkable. On the inside howwever he is a talented artist who is modest, passionite and caring of others. Mr Souness while he appears normal is on the inside shallow, materialistic and mean spirited. This again helps convey the theme of not judging people by appearances and that looks can be decieving. This also harks back to the old adage "don't judge a book by its cover".