Ethical and Social Functions of Characters in the works of Susan Hill
Keywords:
Susan Hill, characterisation, ethical functions, social functionsAbstract
This thesis investigates the ethical and social functions of characters in Susan Hill’s A Kind Man and A Question of Identity. Hill’s narrative strategy demonstrates that character identity is not merely psychological but is constructed through actions, dialogue, and social interactions. In A Kind Man, characters’ moral qualities are revealed through everyday interactions, ethical decisions, and communal perceptions. In A Question of Identity, Hill portrays characters navigating social norms and moral dilemmas within a crime investigation context. Drawing on narrative scholarship (Jackson, 1982; Kanitrová, n.d.; Reynolds & Noakes, 2003), this study demonstrates that Hill consistently positions characters as ethical agents whose social conduct shapes narrative meaning, providing readers with insights into morality, responsibility, and community dynamics.
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Hill, S. (2014). A kind man. Random House.
Jackson, R. (1982). Cold enclosures: The fiction of Susan Hill. London
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Reynolds, M., & Noakes, J. (2003). Susan Hill: The essential guide to contemporary literature. London: Random House.
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Tavener-Smith, T. (2022). Adapting representations of death from page to screen in Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black (1983). Revenant: Critical and Creative Studies of the Supernatural. Falmouth, UK.
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