Discussion Topic
The main and important characters in Heidi by Johanna Spyri and their traits
Summary:
The main characters in Heidi by Johanna Spyri include Heidi, a cheerful and kind-hearted orphan; Alm-Uncle, her gruff but loving grandfather; Peter, a goatherd and Heidi's friend; and Clara, a wealthy, disabled girl who becomes Heidi's close companion. Each character contributes to Heidi's growth and the story's themes of kindness, resilience, and the healing power of nature.
What are the main characters' traits in Heidi?
In a nutshell, here are some main characters in Heidi with a quick character sketch for each:
Heidi, the protagonist, is a young girl whose kindness and open spirit bring joy to everyone around her. This starts when she moves in with her grandfather, a cantankerous old man, and through her joyful personality she brings light into his solitary life. Heidi's goodness does not change throughout the book, even as her situation evolves and she moves to the city. She is always eager to help others and goes out of her way to show friendship to all.
Alm-Uncle is Heidi's grandfather. At first he seems grumpy and aloof, only concerned with maintaining his solitary existence in the mountains with his goats. As the story goes on, however, we understand how deeply he cares for Heidi and how good his heart truly is.
Peter is Heidi's first friend, if you...
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don't count the goats. He is a boisterous and energetic boy. Although he struggles in school, especially reading, and has some strong opinions, Peter knows a lot about caring for goats and living in the mountains. Heidi learns from him and gently guides him toward success in school as well.
"Grannie" is what they call Peter's grandmother. She is blind, but Heidi and Peter bring joy to her life when they spend time and read to her. Grannie values this time and does all she can to encourage Heidi and Peter.
Fraulein Rottenmeier is the housekeeper in the Frankfurt home where Heidi goes to work as a companion. She is quite strict and has no sense of fun. Heidi's exuberance only annoys her, and she spends her time being disagreeable toward Heidi.
Clara is the frail city girl whom Heidi befriends during her work as a companion. Through this friendship, Clara grows into a more adventurous and joyful girl, and she eventually finds healing with Heidi in the mountains.
Who are the important characters in Heidi by Johanna Spyri?
The characters are split into the "bad" characters, who represent hypocrisy and excessive concern with outward appearances, and the "good" characters, who live honestly and authentically, full of love for God, nature and other people, embodying the virtues of humility and simplicity.
The "bad" characters include minor characters such as Heidi's Aunt Dete and the housekeeper Fraulein Rottenmeier.
The "good" characters are more important and central: they include Heidi and Alm-uncle, her grandfather, who has tried to live a more geographically isolated life to escape society's hypocrisy. Others include characters, major or minor, whose physical or outward disabilities only magnify their inner goodness, such as Peter's blind grandmother and the "crippled" (or, as we would say, disabled) Clara Sesemann.
Peter stands out as a "mixed" character. He can be lazy and jealous, but he is loyal and wedded to the simple life. He is the one character to undergo personal transformation, learning to rely more on prayer and to become more forgiving.
The protagonist is Heidi, a Swiss girl who lives with her aunt, Dete (also called "Detie"), in the mountains. Her aunt regards Heidi as an imposition, as she has to raise Heidi after her sister and brother-in-law die. Dete takes Heidi to live with Heidi's grandfather, Alm-Uncle, who is the father of Heidi's father. Her grandfather lives in Dorfli, where he maintains his distance from others and grazes livestock ("Alm" refers to the mountain ranges where he grazes his flock). Alm-Uncle grows to love Heidi, and she also gets to know Peter, a goatherd, and Peter's blind grandmother, Bridget (also called "Grannie").
Heidi later goes to Frankfurt to work as a companion to Clara Sesemann (spelled "Klara" in German), a sick girl who can't walk and who lives with her father, Mr. Sesemann. Heidi charms Clara with her friendliness and country manners. Fraulein Rottenmeier, Clara's housekeeper, is a strict woman who dislikes Heidi. Doctor Classen diagnoses Heidi with homesickness and sends her home to the mountains.