Characters

Gemma Doyle was the ‘main character’ in The Sweet Far Thing. She reminds me of a sweat and innocent looking girl on the outside but a fierce, brave misunderstood woman on the inside. I think she would make a great friend because she is a good listener and she sticks up for her friends. She doesn’t always like to hear the truth but she always ends up accepting it. In the beginning of the book Gemma was dead set on stating that everything was going so badly for her but through the book she comes to the conclusion that the world isn’t always flowers and candy. Through the book Gemma was a popular lady that all the others girls were jealous of. She was however humble and honest even with all the power she inherited.

Felicity Worthington was another main female character. She is considered sensuous, self-loathing at times, loyal and envious. Felicity will not take any crap from anyone, she is a natural born leader and a quick thinker. She is quick to stand up for her friends verbally and physically. Felicity is one of those girls that doesn’t like other people having more power than she does, that’s why at times she envies Gemma. The shocking event that occurred in the book was when I learned Felicity was molested by her father as a child. It explained her behaviour to men, longing for power and persuasion for attention. In the end Felicity was able to follow orders instead of giving them, and trust in her friends better.

Pippa Cross was best friends with Felicity and Gemma. Pippa was the most beautiful woman and most elegant of the Spence girls. She described in her own words that “beauty creates problems. Its misery”. Pippa always followed Felicity around like a lost puppy. I found her to be greatly annoying at first, and undoubtedly stupid. Going through the book you learn more about why she is sometimes like a sheep, it is because everyone around her wants to ‘own’ her.

The last of the main Spence girls is Ann Bradshaw. Ann is the ‘ugly duckling’ of the four girls. All Ann wishes is to be beautiful like her friends. She is very shy and insecure. Ann has the voice of an angel however. She lives for the theatre, but that is a place for beautiful people she explains. All Ann has is her friends and her dreams. She is considered poor which further condemns her to the lower class. Ann is the one character that seems the most real. She has the problems that more kids can relate too. I get angry at her character because she gets stepped on all through the book, and it pains me that she doesn’t stand up for herself. Overall Ann is a kind character that was very well put together.