A Quality of Mercy (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Paul West
- First Published: 1961
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Black humor
- Time of Work: The late 1950’s, with flashbacks to World War II and earlier
- Setting: Rural Connecticut, England, Italy, and Manhattan
- Genres: Long fiction, Grotesque literature, Dark comedy
- Subjects: 1950’s, Family or family life, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Love or romance, Suicide, Murder or homicide, New York City, World War II, Religion, New England, God, England or English people, Connecticut, Death or dying, Tragedy, Loneliness, Italy or Italians, Old age or elderly people, Retirement, Isolation, Fishes
- Locales: Manhattan, NY, Connecticut, England, Italy
Characters Discussed
Camden Smeaton, a retired schoolmaster and writer of textbooks. Articulate and cynical, he is prone to poetic tirades, which are delivered to anyone who will listen, including trees, to which he offers a passionate monologue while flailing madly at their limbs. He is fifty-seven years old and views himself as a romantic figure who utilizes his superior knowledge to remain aloof from other people. He is obsessed with incidents from his past, including the deaths of his parents and spouse. He lives in rural Connecticut, in constant turmoil, with his sister,...
[The entire page is 534 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
